GREENSBURG — The local Sigma Chapter of the Psi Iota Xi Sorority once again teamed-up with the Physical Therapy Department of Decatur County Memorial Hospital to give children with speech and sensory needs an extra special summer learning experience. Last month marked their 2nd annual Speech Articulation Camp held at DCMH, as well as the inaugural Sensory Camp held at the Decatur County Family YMCA. Both camps were funded through a generous donation from the Psi Iota Xi ladies, who continue to live their purpose of “Making a difference in the lives of individuals, one community at a time.”
“The funds from the Sorority were amazing and we were able to provide some really neat, quality craft items for the children, games and activities, as well as themed snacks each day!” shared Dana Boyd, Speech-Language Pathologist at Decatur County Memorial Hospital. Boyd also highlighted the Psi Iota Xi members that volunteered at each camp: “The volunteers they were able to send were also amazing and were always willing to participate and get involved as much as they needed to. Honestly, without the volunteers and funding they provided, the camp would not have been the same.”
It was the first time for the Sensory Camp, with the program divided into stations based on each sense. Each day camp leaders had a vestibular, tactile, oral sensory, and auditory/visual processing station, utilizing the blue gym and racquetball courts at the local YMCA. The vestibular station consisted of activities involving spinning, bouncing, and changing body position to improve motor control and balance. The tactile station was based on processing different textures in activities such as playing in shaving cream or sand to improve children’s sense of touch. The auditory/visual station used tools such as flashlights and music to address children’s ability to discriminate shapes, sounds, backgrounds, and colors. The oral motor station incorporated a snack, which involved various textured foods to improve children’s sensory feedback of taste and touch around the mouth. Children took an active role in each station, often getting lost in the sheer fun of the activity.Hospital Foundation Director Bryan Robbins picked-up on the environment: “You just had to follow the sounds of kids having fun. The staff and the volunteers did a great job of offering a structure while making the tasks enjoyable enough that the kids can get motivated and focus.”
The Speech Camp took on a movie/television theme this year, with a new theme each day (i.e., Finding Dory, Paw Patrol, Minions, etc.). During the hour-long program the children would complete an activity centered around the theme: fishing, pin the tail on the lion, scavenger hunt, various crafts (which included Dory hats, Minion goggles, a fox puppets), eat a snack, and targeted reading from a book focusing on different letter sounds. Each activity would be created around specific sounds, drawing the children to help formulate various aspects of speech. Group games such as “Ryder Says” – like Simon Says, but changed for the Paw Patrol theme—also added to the camaraderie of the group.
For a single day, the two camps overlapped, which Boyd felt worked to great effect, “It turned out amazingly! Incorporating both the sensory and motor activities with the speech activities worked really, really well.”
Those wanting more information about supporting quality healthcare in our community and the various programs of Decatur County Memorial Hospital can contact the Hospital Foundation of Decatur County at (812) 663-1220 or visit their web page at www.dcmh.net/foundation.