In-Person Clinical Placement

Handi-Care Intl. (HCI) has been facilitate clinical placements for PT/ OT/ SLP students in India since 2006 at our partner organization – Amar Seva Sangam (hyperlink to ASSA webpage) located in the rural town of Ayikudy in Tamil Nadu, India. HCI has agreements in place with 10 Canadian Universities and 1 university in USA to facilitate these placements. In addition, we have had North American OT, PT, SLP volunteers come to ASSA to act as mentors and coaches to both students and India therapists.

We have placed over 250 occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech therapy students and professionals in this clinical exchange. Students and therapists work in ASSA’s  various departments where they provide assessments and interventions for clients with disabilities, including both adult and children. The placement focuses on capacity building, knowledge exchange, and sustainable interventions.

Testimonials from the students (In-Person)

Therapy centers at Amar Seva Sangam where student placements can occur:

Institution Based Rehabilitation (IBR)

• Young Adults with Spinal Cord Injury (inpatient)
• Early Intervention of children (age: 0-6) with developmental delay (CP, autism, speech, lanugauge, hearing impairment, and congenital deformities)
• Children (age >6) with physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities
• Special Needs School (Children with Intellectual disabilities)
• Outpatient Stroke, MSK, and Neuro Rehab

Village Based Rehabilitation (VBR) / Community / Home-Based Program

• Children (age >10) with physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities
• Early Intervention, age: 0-10 with physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities

Clinical Placement

• Physiotherapy, Occupational therapy, and SLP graduate students are invited to apply for clinical placements with Handi Care Intl. for a duration required by the university (which range form 6 – 12 weeks)
• Placement will involve clinical work and project work (with dedicated time for project work)
• Students will be placed at Amar Seva Sangam(ASSA)- our partner facility in South India, where food and accomodations are provided on campus
• Supervision will be provided by PT, OT and SLPs working at ASSA
• North American volunteer therapists (OT, PT, SLP) are also welcome to apply for a volunteer position to support and mentor both North American students and ASSA’s therapists.

Handi-Care Intl.’s role:

• We act as liaison between the university, students, volunteers and Amar Seva Sangam for the placement
• Once your application is received and approved, you will be given a shared link and are required to read the orientation manual. You will find all the relevant details, contacts and info in these document, that can help you with preparation.
• We provide orientations online before departure and connect you with alumni.
• Universities and families can contact us in case of emergency.

Requirements from applicants:

• A donation of $200 is payable to Handi-Care Intl. per week of placement for students. Tax receipt will be provided.
• Professional volunteer are not charged a fee, but are welcome to give a donation to cover the cost of accommodation
• An application to be filed with HCI.
• Feedback form to be completed and submitted to HCI and the end of the placement.

Travel and Accommodation

Getting their / Flights:

1.   Flight:

• Costs vary depending on time of year (from $1200- $2000)
• We recommend using a travel agent as you may get better rates and support. Feel free to use local travel agent.

2 options: In both options, travel time by taxi to ASSA is approx. 3 hours.

1. Fly into Trivandrum (also known as Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala).
2. Fly into Madurai.

Pick up from airport will be arranged by ASSA. Details in the orientation manual.

Passport and Visa

• You need a passport valid for at least 6 months after arrival.

Valid VISA will be necessary. Please see orientation manual for more information

Pre-Departure and Depature

• Please check Guidelines for International Travel from Govt of India:
• https://www.mea.gov.in/guidelines-for-international-arrivals.htm
• You must be fully vaccinated with a WHO-approved COVID vaccine
• Submit the self-declaration form on the online Air Suvidha portal (www.newdelhiairport.in) before the scheduled travel
• Upload a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR report.
• Each passenger shall also submit a declaration with respect to the authenticity of the report

After Arrival

• Submission of sample for post-arrival COVID-19 test at the point of arrival after which they will be allowed to leave the airport
• Home quarantine for 5 days within ASSA campus

Re-test on the 5th day will be arranged within ASSA campus and if negative, can be out of quarantine on Day 6.

Health and Vaccination

• Vaccines needed:
  Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Typhoid, Covid-19
• Malaria Prophylaxis and Dukoral recommended (not mandatory)
• Medications to bring: Advil, Tylenol, Benadryl, Imodium, and rehydration salts
• Personal prescriptions: anti-malarial, emergency antibiotics, mild laxative, travel strength Probiotics, and epi-pen

Insurance

Travel medical insurance is required.

Accommodation Information

Included in this are:

• Rooms are provided on ASSA campus in a dedicated guest house and have attached washroom and may have to be shared with up to 2 other students.
• 3 vegetarian meals a day and access to coffee and tea all day long. The kitchen staff is very accommodating and understanding. They will oblige and prepare the meals to your liking and tolerance. E.g., less spicy, etc.
• Visiting North American supervisors will not share accommodation with students.
• Work-related trips to adjacent villages
• Minor health issues can be treated by the staff doctor on campus at no fee. (You will have to pay for the medicines)

Not included:

• Additional snack items, such as fruits, cookies, etc.
• Personal trips for sightseeing, shopping, etc.
• Medical consultations and medicines (Your insurance will cover most of this)

Virtual Placement Overview

Handi-Care Intl. has been facilitating virtual placements since 2020 and over 30 OT, PT and SLP students from various Canadian universities have participated. This placement  occurs with students based in Canada and with clients and lead therapist supervisor in India with a North American support mentor usually available as a coach. Students will video-conference in to synchronous therapy session and also work asynchronously on intervention research, planning, consulting with supervisors and project work.  This placement will focus more on providing education, mentoring, and intervention approaches. There will be a strong emphasis on community development compared to individual therapy. An active role is to be taken to make a positive impact among clients and the environment.

Testimonials from the students (Virtual)

Details

• Students will work in pairs and be assigned a Indian OT, PT, SLP
• Students may each be assigned a North American off-site support coach.
• The Indian OT, PT, SLP will be lead supervisor. Off-site supports will provide preceptor coaching to the Indian OT, PT, SLP as needed and provide support to students. A key role of off-site coach is helping students with bridging knowledge across contexts.
• Indian supervisor will complete student evaluations while taking input from the North American therapist.
•   North American OTs, PTs and SLPs are not required to register with the licensing body in India.
• North American OT, PT, SLP support people can connect via email, text, asynchronous meetings or join directly during the sessions with clients. This is determined based on their availability.
• WhatsApp is a common means for communication at ASSA. A group will set up for each set of supervisors and students. This can be used for questions/discussion so long as no identifying client information is shared here.
• You will be assigned a project and your supervisor for the project could be different than your clinical placement supervisor.

Important Documents

Click here to view the “In Person Orientation Manual”.

Click here to view the “Virtual Orientation Manual”.

Hello everyone,

We are a group of enthusiastic students from Queens University School of Rehabilitation, looking eagerly forward to do our clinical internships this spring.

We will be doing our placements at Amar Seva Sangam (ASSA), a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to the rehabilitation, education and empowerment of people with disabilities located in rural southern India. The Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy students will be spending a minimum of 90 days at ASSA, working alongside their staff to help the individuals at the Centre get the care they need.

The Centre includes: integrated schools, a Centre for early intervention for children with delayed development, an outpatient rehabilitation facility for stroke, neurological and MSK injuries, a post-acute care rehab Centre for individuals affected by spinal cord injuries, a vocational training Centre, a village based rehabilitation program for child rehab and a hostel for children and youth affected by physical disabilities and Residential home for intellectually and/or physically impaired children.

Handi-Care Intl.  is a registered Canadian charity, that facilitates these placements and funds programs at ASSA to fulfill their goal of serving the needs of people with disabilities in rural India.

We want to raise funds to support the current campaign run by Handi-Care Intl., to purchase rehabilitation equipment that will be used at the Centre and customized assistive devices for people with disabilities.  Some of these items are very reasonably priced in India, compared to prices for similar items in Canada. For example, a custom-fitted wheelchair in India costs merely $500, while such a wheelchair costs over $4000 in Canada. So, every dollar you donate will go a long way.

There are also certain items that are not easily available in India, such as kinesiology tapes, Thera bands, hand grips, thermoplastic material for molding, wrist stabilizing bands, low-weight hand splints, thera-putty, playdough, etc. Your donations towards any of these are most welcome.

For more information,  please see https://www.handicareintl.org/assistive-technology-program/

Awaiting your favorable responses,

With warm regards,

• Callum Fleming
• Griffin Douglas
• Holly Henderson
• Makenna Weir
• Lesley Williamson
• Evelyn Brine
• Maeve Hay Cooper

NCCO, HANDI-CARE, and ASSA Collaboration

Hello Everyone,

NCCO Rehabilitation services is excited to be partnering with HANDI-CARE International and Amar Seva Sangam (ASSA) to make a difference with the populations we serve. NCCO is a team of experienced Occupational Therapists and Rehabilitation Assistants who provide rehabilitation services to those with physical, cognitive, and psycho-emotional limitations. Our services occur in the client’s home, typically located in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). While we provide services to a wide range of clients, we have strong experience in supporting those with a traumatic brain injury, and in the completion of community assessments.

We have decided to partner with ASSA, a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to the rehabilitation, education, and empowerment of people with disabilities located in rural southern India. Our goal is to build a long-term sustainable relationship in which we can both benefit from knowledge translation and resource sharing to better serve our clients.

To achieve this, NCCO plans to send team members for 4-6 week recurring learning opportunities at ASSA. In addition, Toronto-based team members may participate in weekly virtual learning opportunities and participate in development of resources. During our partnership, NCCO is hoping to share its knowledge on traumatic brain injury assessment and treatment through the development of resource manuals and implementation, through knowledge translation, of clinical assessment and treatment skills. NCCO also hopes to engage in knowledge translation with the therapists of ASSA on environmental assessment including differences and similarities between the GTA and rural India.

HANDI-CARE International is a registered Canadian charity, that facilitates these learning opportunities and funds programs at ASSA to fulfill their goal of serving the needs of people with disabilities in rural India.

We want to raise funds to help support the current programming at ASSA, including the purchasing of local materials and supplies for treatment. Some of these items are very reasonably priced in India, compared to prices for similar items in Canada. For example, a custom-fitted wheelchair in India costs merely $500, while such a wheelchair costs over $4000 in Canada. So, every dollar you donate will go a long way.

Funds will also be used to help reduce the cost of travel for our volunteer providers, to remove barriers to participation. Of all funds donated 60% will be given directly to ASSA and 40% will be used to remove travel barriers.

For more information about NCCO, please see: https://www.nccorehabilitationservices.com

Thank-you from the team at NCCO!