08 Feb Occupational Therapy Student at SonRise Camp

Twenty students from the Huntington University attended a weekend retreat for adults with intellectual disabilities January 22-24. Each student was paired with a camper and helped them through all of their daily tasks and activities. The students were part of HU’s doctoral program in Occupational Therapy, class of 2018.

This is the second year the OTD program has partnered with Camp SonRise to provide students with a service experience. Camp SonRise is an overnight camp for adults with intellectual and physical disabilities that provides respite for their caregivers for a few days. The camp is a ministry of Bethesda Lutheran Ministries, a Christian organization that provides homes for people with developmental disabilities across the country.

At Sonrise, the volunteers participate in Bible studies, worship, and prayer sessions. On the last day, the students met to discuss the experience and how they had seen God work during their time at the camp and in their interaction with campers.

“HU is already distinguishable from other programs in our mission to educate students through the teachings of Christ,” she continued. “The foundations of occupational therapy align well with a Christian view in that we make a commitment to serve others. Our understanding of the Christian faith and our incorporation of faith in the classroom and in experiences like SonRise provide students with a well-rounded and empathetic foundation on which to build their identities in the OT field and in their communities.”