Students from the Â鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ State East Liverpool physical therapist assistant program observed National PTA Month in October by donating $500 to Focus Hippotherapy.
Each year, PTA students from the Â鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ East Liverpool campus find unique ways to increase awareness about their field, while raising funds to donate to a cause chosen by the class.
Located near Canfield, Focus Hippotherapy was founded in 1993 by Dawn Speece, a licensed physical therapist. The facility offers physical and occupational therapy from licensed physical and occupational therapists using horses to develop strength, balance, posture, motor planning, body awareness, task focus and confidence for individuals with special needs.
The facility serves the tri-state area by providing services for those with challenges such as cerebal palsy, spinal cord injuries, autism, traumatic brain injuries, Down Syndrome, developmental delays and spina bifida. Hippotherapy is medically based intervention that differs from therapeutic riding, which is recreationally based.
For the past several years, students from the East Liverpool Campus’s PTA and occupational therapy assistant program have supported this facility through clinical rotations, volunteering and fundraising.
The East Liverpool Campus PTA students involved with this effort include Brian Ferry, Joel Gropp, Ethan Dech, Evan Stine, Sarah Singleton, Ariel Cortez, Jared McCauley, Alysa Krupa, Samantha Plottner, Josh Zickefoose, Spencer Woolley, Marta Eelen, Victoria Bosze, Mike Gainan, Laura Lanterman, Cate Davis, Alec Turnbull, Rachael Warino, Grace Slimon, Zayda Creque, Lily Gibbons, Rick Kyser, PJ Morris, Brooklyn Carlson-Byrd and Regan Brown.
Cutline A: PTA students presented Focus Hippotherapy founder Dawn Speece with a check to represent their donation.
Cutline B: PTA students observing hippotherapy at work.
Cutline C: East Liverpool PTA students donated $500 to Focus Hippotherapy.
