When Can I Travel?
Applications are currently open for Summer 2024 and Winter 2025. We have a rolling admission process, which simply means that the window for applications closes when all of the spaces are filled.
Dates: May 19- May 31 (Program Full) June 2 -June 14 (Program Full), 2024 / June 16 -June 28, 2024, June 30- July 12, December 29 -January 9, January 7 -January 18, 2025
Where Am I Going?
Nicknamed the “Jewel” of the Caribbean, Belize is a unique Central American country nestled between Guatemala and the Caribbean Sea. Belize was previously known as British Honduras before gaining its independence from Great Britain in 1983. Labeled a developing country, Belize is working hard to bring much needed services to its special needs population. Because of Belize’s history with Great Britain, the official language of the country is English. However, there are about eight different prevalent languages spoken throughout the country. Each language comes with its own bit of history and culture. Throughout your time in Belize you’ll have the opportunity to see and learn about the varying cultures and how they all blend together to create the unique experience that is Belize
Who Should Sign Up?
Undergraduate students, graduate students, recent graduates, and post-bacc students.
This award-winning program was designed to give every CSD/SLP student the opportunity to gain hands-on experience!
- May 4 -May 17 (Program Full)
- May 18 -May 31 (Program Full)
- June 1 -June 14 (Program Full)
- June 15 -June 28 (Program Full)
- June 29 -July 12
- July 13 -July 26
- July 27 -August 9
- August 10 -August 23
2020 -2021 Winter Program Dates (Now Accepting Applications)
- December 7 -December 19
- December 28 -January 9
- January 11 -January 23
Why Should I Travel with Therapy Abroad?
More than ever, speech-language pathology /speech therapy program selection committees are looking for well-rounded students who have a thorough understanding of their respective fields of interest and the ability to work collaboratively across cultures. SLP graduate programs, clinical rotations, and clinical fellowships are increasingly difficult to get into. In this program, you will work with and learn from a distinguished group of professional SLPs in a cross-cultural setting. We created this program specifically to help participants not only grow in the above areas, but also gain hands-on experience that’s hard to duplicate in the classroom: professional observation hours, one-on-one time with professionals in your field for formal and informal settings, direct experience in public and allied health, and a chance to support local children, adults, and families with special needs.
What Will I Do?
Your group will collaborate with government organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private clinics, and our local community partner organization to bring services to children and adults. With an intentional focus on cooperative learning and capacity building for both visiting and hosting professionals, our ASHA-certified Speech Therapists will take you through a cross-disciplinary, cross-sectoral and cross-cultural program that will change the way you develop within your field.
During your time in Belize, you will participate in a variety of activities that may include both formal and informal assessments, group therapy (Tykes Camp), individual therapy sessions, school-based screens and assessments, caregiver training, and time working and learning from other healthcare professionals.
Therapy Abroad students will learn about diverse approaches to teaching and implement methodologies for designing and evaluating learning experiences used in the education of patients/clients, students, colleagues, and the broader community.
Excursions: While you will earn observation and clinic hours, there will also be opportunities for fun, cultural excursions. You will enjoy ziplining through the rain forest, cave canoeing, snorkeling in the world’s second largest barrier reef, exploring a Mayan archeological site, and more!
Will I Get Observation, Clinic and Volunteer Hours?
Yes! If you are interested in becoming an SLP, observing and volunteering are essential to providing you with first-hand experience of the profession and helping you build your case for graduate school and beyond. Our programs are a perfect way to diversify your experience working in different settings and gain needed observation, clinical, and volunteer hours. Because you will be completing observation hours with an ASHA licensed SLP on all of our programs, these hours may also count towards clinical competencies for students planning to pursue graduate education in speech-language pathology.
- June 16 - June 28
- June 30 - July 12
- December 29 - January 9
- January 7 - January 18
We have a rolling admission process, which simply means that the window for applications closes when all of the spaces are filled. If these dates do not work with your schedule, CSD and SLP students can also look at dates for our European CSD and OT program in Bulgaria/Greece and our SLP & AAC program in Thailand. All of our programs offer the same hands-on experience and our award winning curriculum for speech-language pathology and occupational therapy students!
What Is The Itinerary*?
Day 1: Fly to Belize either on a group flight (most popular choice) or on your own**
Day 2: Arrival Day/Orientation
Day 3: Team building and get to know your peers and clinical supervisors
Day 4-6: Tykes Therapy Camp
Day 7-9: Excursions
Day 9-10: Screenings, Evaluations, & Home Visits
Day 11-12: Beach excursion
Day 13: Fly home
*sample itinerary can vary based on the group and dates
**students taking their own flight will pay a $300 admin fee to cover the cost of private transportation to/from airports and a Therapy Abroad staff person.
Where Will I Stay?
Students and faculty will stay in boutique-style hotels and guest houses (small family-run hotels) with communal areas to relax, meeting areas for group discussion, and plenty of beautiful outdoor spaces to explore with fellow students. You will be transported to different locations via a private bus and driver for the duration of your program.
Every day you will have access to Wifi, fresh drinking water, western style toilets and showers, and laundry services (laundry will be on site or nearby). Meals will be a combination of Belizean and Western cuisine. We have a 100% guarantee that you will have plenty of amazing food! We can cater to specific dietary needs as long as you let us know ahead of time. In addition to Belize’s many scenic charms, the warmth and hospitality of the people and culture will make you feel at home in no time!
Free Time
Students with Therapy Abroad will find out that we pack a lot of activities into a two week program, but we will also make sure you have down time to relax, write in your journal, use the internet, talk to our staff and explore. Our Staff are a great source of advice and are here to help you make the most of your time abroad. If you have any questions about any opportunities not listed in our program, want to try some new food a friend has told you about or just try something different, then let us know any time before or during your program and we will do our best to make it happen.
Benefits for Students Who Participate in this Program Include
- Hands-on experience
- Build experience and resume for graduate school admissions
- Minimum of 20 hours of observation with ASHA licensed SLP
- Learn & practice Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
- Cultural responsiveness
- Learn from professionals in small discussion based groups: Topics include disorder vs difference, oral motor and feeding techniques, applied behavior analysis, working with culturally & linguistically diverse groups and more.
- Practice skills in a multicultural environment
- Learn to compare and contrast speech-language pathology services in developing countries with that in the United States.
- Intercultural exchange in creative learning environment
- Increased skills of intercultural communication
- Experience in research and collaboration
- Greater international understandings of social issues
- Better understanding of global social change
- Greater understanding of inequalities and differences in world systems
- International travel experience
Tuition
2 Week Programs are $3,950 USD not including international airfare.
Airfare from the Continental US is estimated at $700-$900. Therapy Abroad will organize group flights from Houston International Airport (IAH) as soon as airfares have been published.
What’s Included?
We got you covered: Travel and study abroad is a big investment and our commitment to you is that we will work hard every day to make sure you are going to have the most amazing experience: professional staff, tasty meals and comfortable accommodations, and overall, a well-crafted itinerary full of diverse activities and good people.
With the exception of international airfare, our trips are all-inclusive. We won’t try to upsell you on any “additional activities” or “additional optional activities” that aren’t advertised as part of the program. More specifically, your program includes:
- Pre-departure support
- Group flight booking
- Professional ASHA licensed staff
- 24-hour emergency support staff
- Airport pick-up in Belize
- Private transport
- Experienced professional staff
- Safe shared accommodations
- All meals
- Snacks
- Orientation
- All necessary equipment, materials and supplies
- 24-hour in-country support
- All activities listed in the program itinerary
- All domestic transport
- Materials, tests and diagnostic tools
- Therapy Abroad tee-shirts
IMPORTANT NOTE: There are no prerequisites for this program, and students from any relevant department or major may apply. Spaces for this program are limited and fill up quickly. All applications will be individually evaluated on a rolling basis.