In-Person Clinical Placement
Virtual Placement
Learn more about the clinical volunteering placements:
To learn more about how to apply for clinical volunteering placements:
Clinical Placement
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)
Village Based Rehabilitation (VBR) / Community / Home-Based Program
Clinical Placement
Handi-Care Intl.’s role:
Requirements from applicants:
Getting their / Flights:
2 options: In both options, travel time by taxi to ASSA is approx. 3 hours.
Pick up from airport will be arranged by ASSA. Details in the orientation manual.
Valid VISA will be necessary. Please see orientation manual for more information
Pre-Departure and Depature
After Arrival
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
Travel medical insurance is required.
Accommodation Information
Included in this are:
Not included:
Interested applicants are asked to contact Handi-Care Intl. at info@handicareintl.org or Dr. Krishna at dkrish6@gmail.com for placement availability. Upon confirming availability, Please click and apply and upload photograph of yours and the indemnity form .
Click here to Apply Clinical Placement Form
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
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,
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!