Page 13 - ARUBA TODAY

A13
Friday 17 august 2018

Mickey’s Foundation Aruba

children in need of special a pre verbal speech thera- with local therapists and
care and education. It is an pist. They worked for three professionals. Transmitting
initiative by and for parents months, between 2-5 hours their knowledge is essential
of Aruba. Our objective a week with 13 children. for the continuity.
as parents is to organize They also worked together
specialized and intensive with the local therapists The board of Micky's Foun-
therapy in the homes of who are treating the chil- dation consists of a chair-
the children, for free. Fur- dren on Aruba throughout man (Gijs de Rooij), a sec-
thermore raising aware- the year. In August 2015 our retary (Audrey Knijn) and
ness and creating an on- 2nd project started with 15 a treasurer (Harriette de
line community. Together children. which brought the Kool). The board has regu-
we stand stronger. Micky's total of treated children in lar meetings to safeguard
Foundation is a member of 2015 to 22! In 2016-2017- the quality of the activities.
Plataforma pa Persona cu 2018 we have organized In short Micky's Founda-
Limitacion (PPL) on Aruba. our 3rd, 4th, 5th (with for the tion on Aruba is about: Free
first time a pediatric ergo therapy, specialized thera-
The foundation, until now therapist), 6th, 7th, 8th and py, intensive therapy, con-
has provided specialized 9th project with 24 children. tinuity of therapy, transmit-
therapy to 72 children. We We are now starting our ting knowledge and home
have around 60 children 10th project and are busy therapy.
within our network. And preparing for project 11.
we also work with a wait- Adopting the “Yes we can”
ing list. Micky's Foundation The therapy is always given mentality and focusing on
organizes projects of three with the assistance of at what they can do vs. what
months each, to maximize least one parent, so they their limitations are. The
progress with the children. can learn to give (easy) projects are 100% spon-
The goal is to provide 20-25 therapy exercises to their sored by the community
children on Aruba with spe- child. In this way we strive (service clubs, companies
cialized intensive therapy in to continue helping our and subsidiaries). Together
the homes of the families, child’s physical and men- with the parents we form a
for three months in a row. tal development through a support group to help each
These projects will be orga- combination of (imported) other in periods of our lives
nized three times a year, therapy and stimulation which are characterized
so continuity of therapy is techniques, improving the by despair, distress lack of
guaranteed. quality of life so that they information and solitude.
ORANJESTAD — On Aruba life. The mother fortunately in the end are healthy, ac-
specialized therapy as in was barely harmed. In December 2014 Micky's tive, and can participate in For more information vis-
pediatric physiotherapy, Foundation has started everyday life to the best of it their Facebook page
pediatric occupational and Micky's Foundation aims to their first project with a pe- their ability. The therapists Micky's Foundation Aruba.
pre verbal speech therapy reach out to parents with diatric physiotherapist and focus on working together q
for children is non-existent.
And this was exactly what
Micky needed. But not only
Micky suffered from the
consequences of cerebral
palsy, many other children
on Aruba have severe mo-
toric and/or mental prob-
lems.

Micky's Foundation was
founded in December
2014. It is an initiative of
the parents of Micky. They
live in Aruba where Micky
was born in 2009. Only five
months old the mother
and Micky were almost
killed when a drunk driv-
er crashed into their car.
Micky survived the acci-
dent but, because of se-
vere brain injury will remain
with only 40% of his brain
capacity for the rest of his