1 World Foundation team notes successful trip

A 1 World Foundation clinical team recently wrapped up a mission to Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribbean.

The team focused on Providenciales Children Home and individual and clinical needs of the island’s special-needs children. It consisted of Joseph J. Colarusso, retired director of state Sunmount Developmental Disabilities Services Office, Tupper Lake, along with occupational therapist Claire Richardson of Canton and Joseph L. Rich, co-founder of 1 World Foundation and the first president of its board of directors.

In addition, the team consisted of psychologist Thomas Turner and language pathologist Deborah Venditti, both of Ontario, Canada.

Mr. Turner lived in residence at the Providenciales Children’s Home for 10 days. He also visited and consulted with the schools where the children attended.

Ms. Venditti and Ms. Richardson provided followup clinical services to more than 25 children they had evaluated the previous year and assessed more than 20 new children. In addition, the therapists visited several schools and met with staff, parents and children, providing training and strategies to meet needs of individual children. One child also was presented and fitted for a new wheelchair the team had brought for him.

In regard to the children who received followup visits, significant improvement was reported as a result of families and others employing realistic intervention strategies developed during the previous year’s visit, taking into account the limited number of resources available.

Mr. Rich focused his efforts on strengthening ties with the government to better address the challenges of persons with special needs, by meeting with and participating in a press conference with Turks and Caicos Island Governor Ric Todd and his staff.

He also gave interviews with local television, radio and print media, focusing on public awareness of persons with special needs. In addition, Mr. Rich presented a computer with specialized software to a visually challenged young man and participated in a Rotary meeting with the district governor for the Caribbean.

Mr. Rich said the 1 World Foundation humanitarian effort would not have been possible without the generous support of the Rotary Clubs of Watertown and Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands.

1 World Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bettering the lives of people with developmental disabilities. It was created in 1993 by a small group of CEOs from Northern New York and southern Ontario.