CITTI Project Ecuador Tour 2006

What we learned...

2006-08-26T20:49:00.000-05:00

Contributed by Heather Burns and CITTI project members

Now that the trip, the project, the dream is finished for this year. I think each of us know that brought us to Ecuador, but none of us knew what we would bring back. Apart from souvenirs, pictures, fun stories, and cherished memories, each one of us brought back new or deeper friendships. For me, along with the previously mentioned, I have taken with me new and deeper understandings. Understandings of cultures, beliefs, values, definitions, languages, and the many ways to show love. On one of the last days of the trip, I sent around a small notebook of blank pages. I simply titled the top, "What I learned in Ecuador." Each member of the CITTI project took their moment to reflect and place one or two of their own lessons learned. The list I returned with is moving and funny and just makes me love and respect my fellow group members on a whole new level.

What I learned in Ecuador by: CITTI Project Member 2006
No matter where in the world you are, the sun still feels good on your face
All people smile
Bunny ears in pictures is funny to all
Love is universal
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Every child in the family takes care of their siblings
Community is everything
Inclusion is a value
The children are all BEAUTIFUL!!!
Family is everything & always comes first
Lunches are a family/community even and are filling
Everyone pitches in to help
What family means
That language is only a barrier if you want it to be
The language is the way to understand the culture while at another level people are people
One person + one person + families + children + workers = community which is powerful and can move the world
Being gentle and polite is strong ? not weak
That THINGS are not what makes life rich
That generosity can be a cultural norm
That emerging design? can be applied to dwellings as well as actions
That baby steps can be enormous
That you can listen with your eyes
Two pair of socks is a luxury
Roosters have no sense of time in Ecuador!
That there is a place on this earth where life is how I always thought is could be ? filled with unconditional love and acceptance
A chicken has more parts and uses then one ever thought possible
With love and patience everyone wins!
Leaving the United States does not guarantee freedom from Easy Listening music
Bananas are cheap; pancakes are time-consuming; people are priceless; roosters must be destroyed
Remember we don't get to choose where we are born!
Never order the Austrian Crepe Dumpling soup
It's an honor to have an entire pig killed and cooked for you
Vehicles often pass on the left on two lane roads
It's necessary to have small bills
Aguacafe (avocado) ice cream is tasty
The temperature can become quite chilled at the equator
Hugs are free; coffee is extra
Medical care is thorough and inexpensive
Thank you with a smile is understood anywhere
Be observant and help
Determination is a human trait, but how you use it is individual

I am sure there are more lessons out there and more realizations that each of us will come to in future days. Many of these lessons seem like things that you would find on an All I ever needed to know I learned in Kindergarten? poster. I am almost saddened that it took us going to a whole new county and culture to learn things that should be out our front door. Basically, human life and the relationships we form are priceless. There are no regrets, just lessons learned. I was blessed to be picked to go on this trip, and I have been blessed 100 fold for going. I love you all, Ecuador, America, CITTI project, friends, now family.

Leading the Journey Forward

2006-08-18T21:46:00.000-05:00

By Bridgett Perry, Director and Founder

Since my return to the US, I have spent several days quietly reminiscing. This trip to Ecuador is neither my first journey nor my last. But my personal experience this summer merits some reflection. I knew that to lead a group, I must provide purpose and direction. I had been clarifying our purpose for years, raising the funds, planning, and implementing. I had my sight on Ecuador since our visit last summer. Surely, I was prepared to set the pace and guide the way. Yet, as I set out on the road, I couldn’t help but notice a signpost that read “Empowerment, this way!” How could I resist? As assistive technology specialists, our creed is to empower others to live up to ones potential, regardless of the barriers. Then it became clear. Where the road led was on a quest for my own empowerment. The ability to live up to my own potential. With 16 people in tow, I pushed forward.

Expanding from a small team to a tribe in one year did not happen without its growing pains. Granted, they are the kind of aches one gets when working out new muscles. A bit sore, but it feels good. Expanding the team this year meant more. More talent, more insights, more perspectives. It also meant extra accommodations, larger restaurants, and a bigger bus. It meant being personally responsible for 16 fellow travelers. It meant staying present and open to the process that 16 people were each forming and shaping. It meant being accountable for the things that were said and the deeds that were done. It meant exhaling at the relief of assembling a remarkable group of people. Not once did I wince!

There is a great deal that goes into the success of a project like this. It goes beyond the logistics and event planning. For the CITTI Project to be successful, I knew from the beginning, it must be community based, culturally appropriate, and ultimately sustainable. It’s one thing to envision the outcome, another to live up to it. I attribute the success of the CITTI Project to these guiding values, but also to those learned along the way. I learned about the meaning of respect as I was greeted by friends made a year ago. Last year, I was seen as a North American who had good intensions, like all the others. But then I came back! With 16 friends! A lifetime of lessons fulfilled me as I looked evenly into the eyes of the parents acknowledging my return.

Ultimately, the empowerment, success, and respect are for all of us to share. They belong to the families who have taught me how to cope with so little, and yet thrive so graciously. They belong to the teachers and therapists who model enormous commitment, compelled by their own personal desire. They belong to the children whose unconditional love was shared without measure. They also belong to those of us who came to share of ourselves, without knowing exactly how deep that would go.

It’s incredible to imagine the affects of Tungurahua on our friends throughout Ecuador: Banos, Quero, Pelileo, Salasaca, and our dear Huambalo. Since we have come home, the volcano has transformed the land and possibly the lives of our “community.” What is it that I can do from so far away? Short of aide, relief, supplies, we continue to find ourselves at a loss when such natural disasters take place. It is especially so when we were just standing there on the soil, among our friends, only a week ago. Our hearts are still there.

I find myself in transition. This past week feels like a metamorphosis. I am in a cocoon, waiting for what will emerge. I am not the same person as when I started this journey. I am incredibly grateful to be empowered and touched by the world around me. I am thankful to the talented team who joined me in this vision and gave their all to this effort. I welcome the ongoing challenges and pleasures of transforming my dreams to reality. The successes of the CITTI Project are just the beginning. And just as a gloating parent, I couldn’t be more proud.

Un fuerte abrazo,
Bridgett

“…as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” Marianne Williamson

A Milepost

2006-08-13T19:21:00.000-05:00

Today the Sitemeter software indicated that over 1,000 people have visited this CITTI Project blog. That's quite a few people who have heard of the project and followed our progress.
Cheers

Finishing in Ambato, Huambalo and back to Quito

2006-08-12T16:43:00.000-05:00

Contributed by Beth Hoffman

Back in Quito at Papaya.net. Chauncy, the folks here have been asking about you! They must miss you.

Our last day in Ambato was a bit hectic as we visited several copy centers trying to have our book copied with color photos, not an easy task in Ecuador. At last we were successful and made five copies of the book, one for Asoplejicat, Quero, the SPED school in Ambato, Huambalo, Gladys and the original for Bridgett.

We were supposed to meet Bridgett, Chaya and Maggie at 6 in Quito for dinner. Well, we didn´t even leave Ambato until 5. Big surprise, right? The scheduled van didn`t show and we thought we were going to have to take public buses to Quito. It sounded like a hassle due to our luggage. Luckily, a van came through and we had a very bumpy, and at times harrowing, ride home. Our driver seemed intent on passing every vehicle possible. However, Cotopaxi was snow-capped and quite beautiful. We also tried our best to entertain ourselves by making music in the car. If anything, we had reason to laugh at ourselves and each other.

We arrived in Quito only to realize that our hotel rooms had not been reserved. Yikes! Lady luck was still on our side. We ended up at the Sierra Nevada and finally went out to dinner at the Magic Bean with the Citti Project leaders. Our debriefing dinner went well, and the food was quite tasty to boot. We presented our book to the leaders and they seemed quite pleased, especially considering that they weren´t expecting something quite like that.

We parted ways after dinner and many hugs. At Plaza del Quinde, the next block down, an open air opera was in progress so we (Andrea, Sonia, Gladys, Adam and I) went to check it out. It was a nice cap to our evening.

So, that´s all folks. This has been an incredible experience for all of us it seems. I am very fortunate to have met you (all of you) and wish you all well with.

Love to everyone, beth

News from Beth

2006-08-11T09:47:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone,

It´s Beth again with the most recent update for the interns.

Yesterday (Wednesday) we made more models of head wands, hand splints, hand sticks and communication boards for the SPED school. Osima bought supplies to make repairs at Asoplejicat and worked there yesterday and today replacing windows, replacing switches and fixing the doors. Go Osima! Adam, who caught whatever Gladys was sick with, helped too despite feeling miserable. Go Adam!

Today we wrote a proposal to assist Norma, the lovely 22 year old from Huambalo who has brain cancer. We´ll give the proposal to the CITTI Project leaders tomorrow when we have our debriefing meeting.

We´ve also been putting together a master book with instructions for each of the models we´ve created. The materials and procedures for each model are being translated and we printed photos of the various steps to accompany the written directions. The completed book will be copied and distributed to the various organizations we have assisted. It feels good, and necessary to include the book of instructions, as this will help ensure our work here is sustainable.

Tomorrow the plan is for us to eat lunch with our host families at noon and then return to Quito. We´re scheduled to meet Bridgett, Chaya and Maggie at 6 for dinner. We´re banking on being late, or simply arriving on Ecuadorian time.

That´s it for now. Although, we did hear that there are new restrictions for flight travel into the US thanks to that most recent bomb scare yesterday. Wish us easy traveling.

Be well, beth

News from Osima

2006-08-11T09:30:00.000-05:00

Contributed by Osima

Hi I am taking a mid day break at the internet cafe -called The Cafe....
I finally got back to the independent living center and found out that I measured one window centimeters in one direction and inches in the other SO the glass was too short... Oh well Adam went with me and helped take the broken window out and I put the other 2 windows in, reinforced the doors with plywood and put a switch on those live wires hanging by the door..

Gladys and I will return this afternoon with a piece of glass the right size and put it in. I think I´m done (except for the window I´m replacing at my host family´s house.)

Tomorrow after lunch we go back to Quito, have dinner with Maggie, Chaya and Bridgett, and then I get up at 3:45 to come home.

I just read about the new restrictions about No liquids in carryons.

Yesterday as I was wandering around the town with Andrea and Gladys and I found the wide hoe-dad tools Dennis and I wanted. I bought two. (You can see them in the pictures on the blog) Now my checked baggage is really heavy....

Osima says The Ramp is DONE!!

2006-08-09T18:52:00.000-05:00

The Word from Osima:

The ramp is done and the rail is done. Monica will tighten the bolts and have the kids sand it . I have the pictures and will get Gayl to forward them to you when I get home

Glad to hear everyone is safe and home

HUGS to all

Osima

A Recap of our Activities

2006-08-09T14:06:00.000-05:00

Contributed by Beth Hoffman

We`re in Ambato having a slow morning. Don`t worry though, we`ve been working.

Here`s a brief recap of our activities the past few days.

Sunday we split up into two groups and bought supplies to begin making models of head wands, hand splints, mouth sticks and hand wands. There was a bit of trial and error for us but we actually made several models and were even proud of ourselves. Monday was a full day for us. We first went to Asoplejicat (the computer and copy center). Most of the main folks were not there but we were able to meet with two men and an intern. We showed them the models and talked about adapting in different ways depending on the needs of the individuals. Later, a few more people came and we guided two of the men as they made hand splints. It felt good to assist them while they gained the experience of making the necessary models.

After breaking for lunch, we went to the independent living center and observed several people making dog bones out of raw hide. We saw that a few people needed taller chairs or shorter tables because their positions were not ideal. It also seemed they had to work harder at cutting the raw hide because the knives looked dull. We were told they sharpen them about eight times a day. We also looked for ways to streamline the work by separating the tasks. Although we had some ideas, the principal people in charge were absent and it wasn`t our place to make those changes. We will, however, relay the ideas to Adam and Gladys.

Tuesday we visited Quero. We met with the therapists (the same lovely folk who were there before and also a speech therapist). Again, we made models of head wands, hand wands, hand splints and communication boards. Just as at Asoplejicat, we worked side by side with the Quero employees. We had intended to buy foam to place in wheelchairs but didn`t since none of the kids were present. Also, Andrea and Osima`s host mom Laura was kind enough to sew together fabric to make a sensory tunnel of sorts. We`ll give this to Dayan to take back to Quero.

Also on Tuesday, Osima returned to Huambalo with Adam and Alejandro (Gladys`s son). They finished the railing and told us the cement ramp is as complete as they`re able to make it. They took photos of Adam sitting in a wheelchair trying to make his way up the ramp. It was a long day for them and we`re very proud of their accomplishments.

Today we`ll make more models for the SPED school in Ambato. We won`t visit the school again since everyone is on vacation. Tomorrow we intend to return to Huambalo. I know that Andrea wants to visit Norma.

As our time here in Ecuador winds down, we feel satisfied with what we have accomplished. We know that, given the circumstances this week, we`re doing all that we can. Still, we all have the feeling of wanting to accomplish much more. I`m sure many of you can relate to that feeling.

We`ve all enjoyed staying with our host families. As I mentioned previously, Osima and Andrea are living together (per Osima`s request to stay with someone who could translate). Sonia and I are staying a few blocks away with Gladys and Adam (in addition to Washo, Glady`s husband, Alejandro, and occasionally Pico, Alejandro`s cousin). It`s like living with the large family I never had. Gladys is simply amazing. She`s been rather sick (though she`s finally getting well), yet she still cooks every meal and helps to coordinate our tasks. In addition, she`s very accommodating and friendly. The ideal mom away from home.

We`ll return to Quito Friday afternoon to debrief with Bridgett, Chaya and Maggie over dinner. Saturday we intend to go to Otavalo before hopping on our plane (Andrea and me) that night.

CITTI Project lives on!

2006-08-08T09:02:00.000-05:00

Contributed by Sonia Thacher

Greetings from an internet cafe in Ambato, down the street from several barbecue joints which offer the cuy that Dennis so wanted to try. (Osima's going for it sometime this week...)

We four interns have had a producive couple of days. After getting into Ambato late Saturday night, we spent most of Sunday shopping for and making materials. On the menu: head wands, hand splints, hand sticks, and mouth sticks for Asoplejicat, and communication cards/boards/whatevers for Querro. Beth and I showed impressive restraint by walking away from a virtually ready-made mouth stick (plastic knitting needle--my god, it was perfect!) on the grounds that it was too expensive, at $3.25 a pop, to be replicated easily. Instead, we went the meat-skewers and silicon route, with a nice soft toothbrush handle to bite on. Andrea and Osima went right to work, and we had three good models (one of each thing, minus the handstick) ready before dinner; Beth documented everything and wrote up a how-to booklet, while I hit up the papeleria for pictures, plastic, tape, and glue.

Today, we went to Asoplejicat to show them our models and teach them how to replicate. Dion, the PT from Querro, joined us, and was a great help. Unfortunately, Mercedes (the goddess of the organization who showed us around last time) is in the hospital with something I don't understand when it`s said to me in Spanish: she'll be all right, but she's currently indisposed. Several other folks were there, though, and our models were very well received. We set up a workspace and made more materials, side by side with the folks from Asoplejicat; as clients dropped by, many pulled up alongside us and joined in as well. It was a great chance to really share ideas and adaptations: they had many suggestions and alterations they wanted to make. Since the only thing I can do around leather goods and rubber cement is make my fingers stick together, I spent most of that time checking out the accesibility features on their computers: rather than reconfigure each one for maximum accessibility, I typed up and printed out (in Spanish, thanks to Adam) instructions and information about what each feature could do for various users. My rationale: sticky keys blow when you don't really need them.

After lunch (mmm, fresh blackberry juice!), we headed to the sheltered workshop, aka the chew toy factory. One gentleman from the computer center had requested that we look at the work being done there in terms of increasing accessibility; he believes that individuals without the fine motor control necessary to complete the whole task of making the dog toys might still be very interested in doing a part. We did a task analysis with mixed results: most of the steps simply CAN'T be made less motorically complex without major financial outlays (paper-cutter strong enough to slice rawhide, anyone?), and the ones that can be done by someone without a lot of manual dexterity happen for about 2 seconds in the middle of the process. Options, which we will present, include completely changing the current start-to-finish model into an assembly line and delegating one person with less control to pack the chew toys at the end of the process. The challenge for us was to set aside our training in "full inclusion--everyone participates" long enough to ask the hard questions about whether our suggestions would help the business function AS A BUSINESS, not a day program: I know how to make it so everyone can get involved, but I can't guarantee that it streamlines the process. And at two cents a chew toy, there's no room to play around.

We also made some observations about positioning and the height of the tables, and politely but firmly let one gentleman know that, no, we weren't actually there with the express purpose of buying him a new wheelchair. Personally, I left feeling a bit sad at how little I was actually able to help: sometimes, there just aren't the answers people hope you can give them. I consoled myself with the knowledge that Osima was able to make a tangible contribution: looking at the doors for accessibility and fixing a light so you could turn it on and off without first reattaching loose wires. The center is in the poorest, most crime-ridden sectorof Ambato, and fixing a broken window is also on the list so that they can safely house any equipment they might acquire in the future: in this case, there is such a thing as TOO MUCH accessibility.

Tommorrow, 3 of us are heading to Querro while Osima wraps up Huambalo, with help from Adam. And from there...stay tuned! (It is, after all, an emergentdesign...)

When I think of Socks

2006-08-07T12:38:00.000-05:00

Contributed by Gayl Bowser

I've been home for two days now. My little house in the north woods looks so much more elegant than it used to. Huge by comparison to those in Ecuador and there are only two of us who live here.

Yesterday I did my laundry from the trip and thought about socks. For me, socks are coming to represent many things about the CITTI Project trip. When I think of socks, I think of Norma.

Norma is one of the adults we met in Ecuador. She had a brain tumor that caused significant muscle weakness over most of her body. Stacey and Lori and Andrea went to visit her home at Norma's request. She's a beautiful young woman with many skills and abilities. When someone asked her to write something, she wrote in English. She had a list of things that she was having trouble doing and wanted help with them. Stacey referred to the visit as "Classic OT" becasue they were working to help Norma figure out how to do the things she had been used to doing before her illeness and also to discuss possible work opportunities for her future.

During the course of the visit, Norma mentioned that her feet were cold a lot. Poor circulation because of the tumor. It should have been an easy answer. Someone suggested that she wear two or three pairs of socks. But then came the reality. She only had one pair of socks.

As we shared the story among the CITTI project folks, we also shared socks with Norma. At last count, she now has nine pair and on our last day celebration, she was wearing two of them at the same time to keep her feet warm.

I keep thinking of those socks. When I packed to go to Ecuador, I packed enough clothes for a week. But that didn't make a dent in my very full closet and dresser. As I unpacked, I counted the socks. I had taken twelve pair, some for warm days, some for hiking and a couple pair for days when I dressed for more formal events in town. I am wealthy in socks.

I used to think that I live fairly simply. By U.S. standards my house and my wardrobe are small. But Huambalo taught me more about how rich I truly am.

Because of the CITTI Project trip, I have a wealth of new friends. I was gifted with hundreds of hugs. Children met me at the bus and shared their love with me every day in Huambalo. Parents smiled and encouraged me. Teachers tried to help me with my inadequate Spanish and children taught me how to pronounce their words correctly so that I would not sound silly. CITTI project members taught me more than they will ever know about love and caring. I came home a woman wealthy in love and caring.

Today I will count all the pairs of socks in my drawer. I want to know how many pair I have and to remember that number when I feel a lack in any part of my life. I want to always be grateful for the abundance in my life. I am a wealthy woman. I have good friends who love me, children who smile when they see me and many, many pairs of socks!

Adios Huambalo

2006-08-06T21:20:00.000-05:00

Contributed by Sonia Thacher

I’m writing from Ambato, where I am spending my last week in Ecuador (sob!) with 3 other people, tying up some loose ends with various organizations. We are going to be sharing some accessiblity tools (head wands, mouth sticks, and hand sticks to allow for typing without traditional use of the fingers) to a group of computer users with disabilities, reconfiguring the doors at a sheltered workshop, throwing a whole bunch of communication aids at 2 special education schools, and finishing the wheelchair ramp at the center in Huambalo.

Everyone was sad to leave the center (well, actually, we never spent much time IN the center, per se, as it was being used as a volcano shelter so everyone got shifted to the regular ed school down the street): it was a pretty emotional goodbye for all of us. The last day of our time in Huambalo, which coincided with the last day of school, was commemorated with a whole pig and roughly 300 speeches by various officials.

Personally, I’m going to remember that week in different ways from the culminating ceremonies. I’m going to remember Andrea and Lori stumbling back off the van after carrying a grown, non-ambulatory woman for about a mile when a mudslide took away the road to her house: dirty but triumphant, they still did their home visit. I’ll remember the taste of the llampingoches (oh so tasty fried potato things) served at lunch, and how pleased the women from the community were when we said we loved the comida tipica they made for us.

I’ll remember how my colleagues learned to let go of adaptive spoons when they realized that everyone who knew Miguel really WANTED to feed him with their own hands. Ill remember how excited the kids were when Chaya asked THEM to document the work taking place--and how one non-verbal child absolutely insisted that I also take a picture of him going down the slide. Coming as I do from a country where the children are so often so very privileged and unkind to one another, it’s going to be hard for me to forget how beautifully the kids in this community cared for each other and made do with tiny things. And the beautiful faces of all of the chidren: I can’t wait to share those pictures with everyone.

CITTI Tour 2006 Team

2006-08-06T15:31:00.000-05:00

It's been pointed out that several have contributed to this blog, but that the contributors to the success of the 2006 CITTI Tour to Ecuador include ALL of those listed below:

CORE LEADERSHIP TEAM

Bridgett Perry - California (Founder of the CITTI Project)
Maggie Morales - California
Joy Zabala - Texas
Chaya Spector - California

PROFESSIONALS

Dennis Martin - Maine
Gayl Bowser - Oregon
Heather Burns - Oregon
Linda Wilson - DC
Lori Haldeman - Illinois
Lynn Gitlow - Maine
Mimi Deegan - California
Stacy Springer - South Carolina
Chauncy Rucker - Connecticut

INTERNS

Andrea Del Rosario De Leon - Virginia
Beth Hoffman - California
Osima - Oregon
Sonia Thacher - California

DEFINITIONS

OT Occupational Therapist
PT Physical Therapist
SLP Speech Language Pathologist

Making adaptations

2006-08-06T15:30:00.000-05:00

Alfonso and Dianna giving Bridgett a gift thanking the CITTI Project

2006-08-06T15:26:00.000-05:00

Ramp almost finished

2006-08-06T15:23:00.000-05:00

Ramp day 3

2006-08-06T15:20:00.000-05:00

Ramp midway

2006-08-06T15:17:00.000-05:00

The ramp in stages

2006-08-06T15:14:00.000-05:00

Home Visit

2006-08-06T15:11:00.000-05:00

Visiting Santiagos home

2006-08-06T15:08:00.000-05:00

Ádaptations

2006-08-06T15:04:00.000-05:00

Adaptations

2006-08-06T15:02:00.000-05:00

Adaptations

2006-08-06T15:00:00.000-05:00

Adaptations

2006-08-06T14:57:00.000-05:00

Classroom observations

2006-08-06T14:54:00.000-05:00

Listening to the families

2006-08-06T14:51:00.000-05:00

Sharing the Process

2006-08-06T14:44:00.000-05:00

The photos above share the process of the various collaborations we have had with teachers, parents, therapists, and others. They show the interactions with the kids, their families, and community. Enjoy!

Chaya, Maggie, and Bridgett

Saying Goodbye to Huambalo

2006-08-04T10:22:00.000-05:00

Wednesday was a very special day, we experienced a minga of sorts. An entire pig was roasted for the festivities. Officials came from Huambalo and Pelileo. The teachers and therapists of the school soaked it up as they were honored for their committment and talents. The CITTI Project team could see the efforts of our collaboration. The classroom materials were displayed ...communication boards, manipulatives, hand splints, seating supports, adapted lessons plans, and so much more...all created from affordable materials found in the local community.

A personal highlight was watching Miguel use Gayl's walking sticks to walk independently. It was all rather imprompu. His mother happen to catch the moment. The second she saw him making his way across the room, she burst out in tears, hugging Gayl with all her heart. It was one of those moments I will never forget.

There were speeches of appreciation all around. Alfonso, one of the older kids, presented the CITTI Project with a very special gift of beadwork made by the older children. Many of us are already making plans for our return next year!

The goodbye yesterday was one of the hardest I have had for any of our CITTI Project journeys. I think it was because we had been a part of community in such a loving, fullfilling way. There were lots of repeated strong, heartfelt hugs. My comfort was knowing that we will return again to visit and work with our "family" in Huambalo.

A new person,
Bridgett

What is Chaya doing?

2006-08-03T22:46:00.000-05:00

Chaya is photo journalist for the CITTI Tour to Ecuador. She takes pictures with a huge digital camera with a wide angle lens. A wide angle is so fitting for what she wants to do. She wants to depict the process that is going on between students and the CITTI folks and teachers. So she does not do much in the way of head shots, which I do a lot of.

She is a keen observer and follows whatever the program is doing each day. She floats from room to room watching and photographing. She is particularly interested in following youngsters she saw last summer in Huambalo. So she spends a lot of time with Miguel and Santiego to see the changes from last year. Basically she is interested in the impact of the CITTI Project on their lives and on their families.

She follows the teachers to see what they are doing now in school. She is interested in the collaboration going on between the community and the CITTI Project. She is documenting information on children to compare what is seen next year when the project returns.

She was particularly interested in documenting the gift from the children to the CITTI people. The first day at Humbalo the children gave us the gift of their dancing. It was lots of fun to watch, but in my case, I also enjoyed being invited to dance.

Let me finish by telling you another very exciting project Chaya has taken on. It has already been mentioned here on the blog, but the coolest thing Chaya did was to give the children point and shoot digital cameras to record how they saw this experience. I am sure we will all look forward to seeing Chaya´s pictures and the photos of the children.

Miracle on the Ramp

2006-08-03T22:09:00.000-05:00

Up early to a bright sunny day. Packed for our trip to Quito. Ran for the laundry, but it was not open yet. Ran for café and was more successful. After breakfast, ran for laundry again and was successful. Bus was leaving at nine am, so I was just lucky to get my clothes before the bus left.

More café.

Boarded the bus, no problems on the ride to Huambalo.

Went right to the ramp. Hauled cement and water, and sawed boards for the railing. Victor our Ecuadorian cement friend had two Ecuadorian women with him when we arrived. They were hauling rocks and adding them to the ramp. For the rest of the day these two women mixed the sand, rocks, and cement. They did this from 11 to 2 pm when we finished. None of the rest of us could keep up with these two.

In Ecuadorian culture women may have jobs, but they are still expected to come home and make the meals, take care of the children, clean the house, etc. for their men. When I explained how I helped with laundry and washing dishes to the school physical therapist, she could not believe it. Now she would like to find an American husband.

About 1 pm the director of the school pitched in and helped mix cement. WOW!

By 2 pm we had finished pouring all the cement for the ramp. Later a thin smooth coat of cement will be added to it. We had started the hand rails, but Osima will come back next week to help finish that.

Another very filling lunch prepared by women of the community. Then it was time to say goodbye. Took quite a time to leave this very special group of children and parents and teachers!!

Just before we left Tungurahua, the nearby volcano, rumbled quite loudly. Tungurahua is a female volcano so I do not actually know why she rumbled, but I am assuming that she was simply pleased with our work on the ramp.

The ride home offered some fantastic photo opportunities with the Cotopaxi volcano. Hope to be able to show you.

Bus took a little more than three hours to reach Quito in the dark. We were assigned rooms in the Sierra Nevada Hotel, then dinner at a buffet. Joy and I left early so we could recount the day.

I thought I had solved the picture problem, but the Papaya Net Internet cafe here in Quito does not have the Microsoft photo editor on their computers, so I will try to find another cafe tomorrow.

I was convinced that we could not possibly finish the ramp today, but we did. We did it because of several teams of people working very very hard.

748 visits to the blog as of 10 pm or so Ecuadorian time Thursday.

NOTE: If you follow the link below it will lead to a few photos related to this post. Select My pictures (11). Start with the fourth photo. There are 8 new photos.
MY ERROR: In the celebration photo just after the photo of the completed ramp, I said the boy in the front was a star for us. Unfortunately I could only see the left side of the photo when I wrote that. I could not edit that text, but both boys in front are very special boys to all of the group!!!
Cheers,
Chauncy

The Ramp Gang

2006-08-02T20:55:00.000-05:00

Saw the results of a bus - car crash on the road to Humbalo this morning. It was a the very same spot we saw a crash yesterday. Our driver now slows down at this curve.

We went straight to the ramp and began our work. I´ll leave out the details, but we worked from 10 am to 2 pm. In that time we put cement along both sides of the ramp and a line of cement up the middle of the ramp.

At 2 we were told we needed to go up to the school because there were politicians coming to see the results of us working with the students and teachers at the school. It turned out that the meeting lasted until nearly 5 and by then the bus was there to take us back to Baños.

Tomorrow we arrive at 10 am again and work until 12 or so. Hope we can get a LOT of cement poured!

Could not add photos so I´ve put 3 photos on a webpage, hope it works. The text of the third photo has an error. The last person on the back row is Diego, a gentle giant. Size 15 shoes. Both Diego and Jorge turned out to be fantastic helpers. Diego could shovel cement longer than me and Jorge was so enthusiastic he ran with the wheelbarrow full of rocks.

Daily pleasures in Baños.....

2006-08-02T20:35:00.000-05:00

Contributed by Linda Bastiani Wilson
AT Consultant

Agua Santa de Baños is a small tourist town at the bottom of a valley near the Tunguragua volcano. It offers hot baths in the form of swimming pool complexes. The water is heated by the volcano. We have been going to the Baños de la Virgin (many things in Ecuador have religious names. The Virgin was a saint who performed many miracles in the region and the murals at the town church are mostly devoted to those stories).

The hot baths are packed, especially on the weekends. There is a large pool upstairs that is 38 degrees celcius. We usually dont go in that one because it is quite crowded. There is also a regular swimming pool up there where you can swim laps and the water is cool. Downstairs, is a snack bar serving up a variety of unrecognizable foods and some we do recognize, like watermelon and tuna fish. There is a round pool lined with stones that has water at 42 degrees and two smaller round pools that look like jacuzzis, but are really cold plunge pools (brrrr).

You collect a plastic bin from a stack near the wall. Go into the changing room and put your things in the bin. Then you take your bin to the coat check and you receive a rubber bracelet with your number on it. You are supposed to take a shower before entering the pool. It took us two visits before we figured out that you didnt have to use the cold showers in the changing rooms, but could use the warm showers around the corner. Since we are usually pretty cold when we get there as the weather has been chilly, this was an important discovery.

The proper way to bathe is to spend a few minutes in the hot pool, then switch to the cold plunge. The Ecuadorians are able to completely submerge themselves, but I can only sometimes get up to my neck. It is really great to get back into the hot pool after a quick cool-off. Usually, we do this cycle 4 or 5 times before we are ready to leave. It is amazing how refreshing and relaxing an experience it is! We have been in Baños for a week, and a few of us have been able to enjoy the baths almost every night.

Time to Reflect....

2006-08-02T19:44:00.000-05:00

Hola from Baños!... the Ciudad of Aqua de Santo!

Whew! The CITTI Project Folks are nearing the end of our project in Huambalo....
And for me - it means it will be the beginning of some time to Reflect.

Reflect... on the amazing journey we have all been on together since arriving in Quito on July 22nd (although some CITTI Project folks arrived earlier for some pre-work exploring of Ecuador on their own).

Reflect... on the team-building process.... some of which happened through planned activities... and a lot of the team-building has just unfolded naturally as we have grown to know each other personally and professionally.

Reflect... on this amazing experience of being students of another culture. We have been learning so much from the children and families of Huambalo.... learning about the collective strength of an amazing community... learning about true collaboration - not only between ourselves within the CITTI Project, but also between us and the professionals, the families, and the students of Huambalo. Si! The students have been a vital part of the collaborative process -as they participate in photo-documenting part of our project with our photographer, Chaya Spector. The photos these children have been capturing are soulful images of the spirit of Huambalo.

Reflect... on the amazing group of people that have chosen to spend their time, money, and much needed skills to further the CITTI Project´sgoal "to build capacity in developing countries to use assistive technology".Not only are these amazing folks supporting the school, the families, and the children of Huambalo with their educational no-tech, low-tech ideas and activities, but this experience is having a significant impact on us all.

When I return to Estados Unidos at the end of this project, I will continue to reflect on this experience. Reflect on each individual & event that has touched and enhanced my life during my time here....

Gracias por Todos Projecto de CITTI & FSD!
Maggie Morales

Santiago

2006-08-01T21:52:00.000-05:00

Jessica Maldando

2006-08-01T21:49:00.000-05:00

Diego writing his name and getting ready to photograph

2006-08-01T21:44:00.000-05:00

Through their own eyes

2006-08-01T21:04:00.000-05:00

Coming into this second year in Huambalo as the person documenting the CITTI Project I knew that I wanted to include the community , to see through their own eyes what they were seeing. Were they seeing the collaboration? Were they seeing us as part of their community? I wanted to see what was important to them , important enough for them to photograph. I brought 4 Fuji A210 cameras I bought on the Ebay from my own funds and brought with me lots of batteries,( or what thought was lots, we went through them in 3 days!) It wasn´t challenging tracking who was using what camera or who´s images were who´s as I came up with a system that has worked almost perfectly. Each child ( or adult ) escribe su numbre(wrote their name ) on a piece of paper and that became the first image with the second being a photo of themselves. As Lori wrote earlier this has been a dream come true for me. I wasn´t sure that there would be time enough for me to have this side project going on. The first day when I saw kids that we had visited with last year , and saw their happiness at and joy of seeing us again I knew I had to find the time. I asked Jessica,Anita´s older sister if she would like to help me and use a camera, she was honoured beyond my expectations and worked besides me at times and then as Lori mentioned she went off on her own , asking me if she could and documented her community, the women in the cocina making our lunch. I will share with the blog once I get home many more images. There are over 900 images just from the kids and I have over 2000 images for the CITTI Project on my two cameras.
The second day I was very popular (or as my grandfather would say, very populated). I had kids lining up and Marilyn and Santiago¨s sister Jessica Maldanado had their turn as well as Paola, Miguels sister and Jorge. Yesterday, Anton, Diego, two of the kids with disabilities and others had their chance. The images all show us the deep rooted feeling of family and community. Siblings photographing their sisters and brothers, their play time, their school time, their love for their teachers. I am astounded at the depth of their love of Huambalo. I had been aware of Diego watching me and when I asked him if he wanted to have a camera for the day his smile was so incredible I almost cried. He listened while I explained how to use he camera and then gave me a thumbs up and that gorgeous smile of his. The following hours he asked people to pose, and he moved when they were in his way. He has some great shots of the teachers and therapists as well as those of the other students. Antony had a bit more of a difficult time and needed more one on one instruction, but once he got it he was off and running. Today Miguel had use of a camera and with help of his sister.
I will be printing some of the images for them before we leave and have hopes to have an exhibit of their work either on line or in Oakland. I will defintely keep
you about this. I am looking forward to developing this aspect of the CITTI Prject .

The rain fell, but it didn´t dampen our spirits....

2006-08-01T18:32:00.000-05:00

We embraced another full day in Huambalo today.
Our ramp crew got a bit of a break from their sore-muscle
work due to a little help from the ¨llevia¨ (rain). Actually - Osima,
Dennis and Chauncy (our main ramp creators) are building
more of a ¨loading dock¨ versus just a simple ramp like we
are accustom to in Estados Unidos. The people of Huambalo
decided to ¨go for it¨and make a wheelchair ramp that can
also double as a loading dock. So... our dedicated crew is doing their
very best with a little assistance from the rest of the CITTI
Project folks (when they can slip away from their school-based
and home visit projects).

The rain was so steady that it actually created a mud slide on
the road leading to one of the home visit sites. That didn´t stop
Andrea, Lori, Stacy, and Monica (of Huambalo) from getting
the student - Norma to her home. They just took turns carrying
Norma on their backs through the mud!!

I can´t say enough about the amazing spirit and strength in each one
of the CITTI Project folks.... between them and the continuous support
from Adam and Gladys (from the Ecuador-based FSD), we are
managing to support the community of Huambalo with their
educational and functional goals for their children with special needs.

Maggie Morales
Team leader - CITTI Project, 2006

Rain in Huambalo

2006-08-01T18:17:00.000-05:00

We awoke today,Tuesday 8/01 with rain and worried it might have an impact on our cement plans. After breakfast off on the bus. I usually take the side of the bus for good pictures of the volcano, but I wanted to get a few of the mountain roads, so I changed sides. Besides, the clouds covered the tops of all the volcanos.

We we got to the school it was still raining and that was followed by pouring rain. I was assigned as a photographer to get pictures of what was going on at the school and the other building we are using.

The most fun of the day was watching the children take pictures. Chaya had given out several point and shoot digital cameras and let children take pictures from their perspective. Almost every child has had a chance to take pictures by now.

Several asked for my camera, but I wouldn´t risk it. Eventually though one girl was particularly persistent (and strong). So I put the strap around her wrist, showed her how to use the camera, and followed her closely. She would have done it all day, but eventually I did get it back.

Lunch was soup with quinon, potato and other vegtables, with chopped onions on the side. This was followed by avacodo, cucumber, rice with peas, egg, carrots, green peppers, and chicken.

And then?

And then the darn sun came out, so off we (Osima, Dennis, and I) went to the ramp. A wonderful ecuadorian cement man was already workinng there when we arrived. So we spend time adding the side boards and digging one more post hole (my job). Then our ecuadorian friend decided we needed MORE rocks. We put planks up the middle of the rocks and Dennis and I hauled 5 wheelbarrow loads of rock. As luck would have it, when I hauled my third load, the bus arrived to take us back to Baños.

Tomorrow we hope to mix sand, gravel and cement and pour it over the rocks (after we add a lot more rocks). If you happen to be in the neighborhood, please do stop by to help.

Assistive Technology

2006-07-31T22:35:00.000-05:00

Gayl Bowser

We have been very involved in the getting to know and trying to understand part of this trip and it is a wonderful experience. Today Joy and I created some lessons for the teacher of the older students to try to both add to her pool of resources and to help her understand some concepts about teaching adults with significant delays. I think a lot about what the basis purposes of education here might be.

One important aspect of our trip is to expand on the idea that the educational program has to be functional. General education here involves a lot of lecture and repetition. But that does not work well for the group that Joy and I are working with. (Older students with Developmental Disabilities) So we want to convey the idea that rather than practicing saying color names, the students could use this information to be more helpful and independent in their own lives. We have had to think a lot about the levels of instruction that might be applicable in this situation. As Stacey said, the cultural barriers are enormous. We don't know how to do many of the daily tasks ourselves, so it's impossible to apply the concept of task analysis. The good part of this is that we will have to work closely with the teacher for this group and she will be our guide for the curriculum part of the planning. We think that we have ideas about teaching strategies and adapted equipment if we ever understand the functional life skills and the way they are done here.

In the U. S. it strikes me that we might be talking more about independence than we are here. It is not necessarily a cultural value that ANYONE be independent. But being HELPFUL is very important. And if you can help and also participate with others in your family and community, then that is even better. It's called a Minga. In a Minga everyone works together to accomplish a task. I think we need to help develop the MINGA theory of assistive technology!

Thanks for all your comments and good wishes. It's a trip to be here and learning SO much.

PICTURES!!

2006-07-31T16:44:00.000-05:00

I wont go back to the text on the Otavalo market, but I think I can give you some pictures finally.

This is a one man band going through the market. On his back was a drum and symbol that he worked with a line attached to his feet. He is singing here, but was playing the rondador earlier.

Obviously I have not mastered formatting on the blog. Above are market scenes and a lovely woman dressed in traditional garb who agreed to a photo.

Wow, looks like I placed the last photo in this set at the top of the page. The photo is of the people who arrived early in Quito and were able to go on the 8 hour trip to the Otavalo market. Left to right, me, Linda, Stacy, not sure, Osima, and Gayl.
Looks like I will not get a job as a blogger after all.

It is 5 pm here. I started on this page at 11 am. Finally found someone who knew how to work a PC. This final page actually only took a little over an hour.

Families of Huambalo welcome us into their homes!

2006-07-31T14:01:00.000-05:00

Contributed by Stacy Springer

What an amazing day! Bridgett, Maggie, and myself went to a couple of homes today for some children whose family goals necessitated home visits. We were also accompanied by Adam, our translator, as well as Monica, an amazing mother and advocate for the village of Huambalo who started the school foundation. The first visits were arranged since afterwards the two mothers needed to go to the school to cook our lunches!

We first went to Miguel´s home, a 12 year old bright young boy with cerebral palsy. His family indicated that toileting was a high priority. Before going to the home, many were talking about fabricating an adapted commode, trying to figure out what materials to purchase, and such.

Although we could have bought some materials, I didn't feel comfortable buying any materials before actually going to his home. As an OT, I discussed that we couldn't do that since we didn't know how big his bathroom was, how close the wall was, where it was in relation to his room, etc. Well - I was on the right path in my thinking, but still way off base...

When we arrived at Miguel´s home, the family's bathroom is not in their house - its around the corner, down a small hill, and is fabricated out of 4 wooden tree posts with burlap bags as the walls and a round cement commode. A true example of how environment, both social and physical, can not be assumed or imagined without actually being there. We are still working through ways to modify and adapt Miguel´s bathroom using culturally available and relevant materials while still meeting the needs of Miguel and his family.

The next home visit was to Santiago's home, an adorable young 3 year old with cerebral palsy, whose family's goals included feeding and bathing. Again, his bathtub was vastly different from our cultural experiences; it was a round plastic basin. His mother explained that since Santiago has difficulties with balance, she has to hold him with one hand while bathing him with another. Our team came up with the low-tech tool of using a rope that could be fixed through either side of the basin. The family had one nearby in which Santiago was able to grasp with both of his hands while we held it across the basin. The family seemed pleased with this simple low tech idea that was able to be immediately implemented and easily replicable.

For feeding, it was an amazing process in which all of our perspectives, backgrounds, and expertise collaborated to suggest and implement supports for improving Santiago's independence with spoon feeding. Looking around quickly for materials in the home, Maggie and myself found a cardboard box in which we ripped off a piece, wrapped it around his spoon and then Bridgett had an elastic hair band to keep it in place.

This showed the family that they can find and adapt materials that they have and not needing commercially available materials. Bridgett and Maggie suggested having a lower, more shallow bowl that also increased Santiago's ability to scoop the yogurt onto his spoon. There were so many things that we were having interpreted from the family and then consulting and trying to suggest ideas in a way that empowered the family as the experts and not the 'professionals'.

Visiting the family's homes was an incredibly humbling experience. They welcomed us with open arms and offerings of food. Understanding again how each piece of the puzzle is completely interlinked and dependent on another. Our team was comprised of different disciplines & expertise - this is in part what I believe makes AT so powerful... collaborating together, blurring traditional lines and roles, to support the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families.

Photographs by the Children of Huambalo

2006-07-30T22:24:00.000-05:00

Contributed by Lori Haldeman - Ace Reporter
7/28/2006

On Friday one of Chaya´s dreams came true. She has wanted to involve the Huambalo community in the documentation of the CITTI Project. She wants to know the children's perspectives about the CITTI Project and what it means to them.

Jessica, one of the students in Huambalo, was taught how to use a digital camera so that she could begin to document the CITTI Project from her own perspective. As the day progressed, Jessica would look to Chaya as an example of what she should be doing. Additionally, she asked permission to take pictures in the kitchen and playground.

Wonderful images were taken. The pictures captured the importance of family. She took pictures of her siblings, groups of children inside working and outside playing, Maria feeding Miguel and her younger sister Deisy, carrying Anita, their baby sister. She documented the women in the community in the kitchen preparing food as well as the children playing at the playground.

The parents seemed to be pleased to see Jessica documenting by taking pictures as part of the CITTI team. In total, Jessica took 154 pictures throughout the day.

Ongoing documentation by the children in Huambalo will continue as two more children will have the opportunity to take photographs on Saturday.

Learning about Community

2006-07-30T22:07:00.000-05:00

Contributed by Lynn Gitlow:

Note: This is only a small part of the trouble Lynn and Dennis went through coming to Ecuador.

Well we are the high maintenance couple. We missed our plane ( we won´t talk about why Delta Airlines is in chapter 11 ) and came to Quito a day late. We expected that we would be on our own to meet up with the group which had already left for Ambato. Our first introduction to the CITTI community was a van waiting for us at the airport- then off to a hotel in Quito where a TAXI was waiting for us to take us to meet up with the group. We arrived at dinner and Bridgett ran down the street to meet us with open arms and then when we got into the restaurant we were welcomed by our CITTI community- It has just gotten better since then. So that is our nuclear community.

We then came to Huambalo to see the group with whom we are to collaborate. The sense of community in this rural town is astonishing. First we are greeted with handshakes and hugs every morning ( what a nice cultural gesture) then all through the day you see a rural community pulling together to get the every day things of life done. The group is in a temporary space because its location is being used as a volcano shelter. Everyone including parents, teachers, therapists, brothers and sisters, and even the head of the FSD Foundation pull together to get things done. Lunch, for example, is cooked and served by any one who is around. Like today the chicken could not be cooked at the school so one of the parents cooked it at her house and others brought it to the school for lunch. "Not in my job description" doesn't seem to be culturally relevant at this location. Another example is the ramp which is being built CITTI group members and family work side by side. We hope to carry this sense of community home and infuse it into our lives at home and work.

Lynn and Dennis

Interesting Blog Statistics

2006-07-30T18:44:00.000-05:00

I don´t know if it is proper for blogs to report their statistics, but I thought it might be of interest. As of six forty five (can not get the numbers to work on the keyboard) Sunday, July 30, we have received 563 visits to the CITTI Project blog. 498 are from the U.S., 31 from Ecuador, but that´s just our group, six from Canada, 3 from the United Kingdom, 2 Mexico and Kuwait and Brazil, and one from Finland, Indonesia, Israel, Portugal, Russian Federation, India, Philipines, Germany, Poland, Singapore, Netherlands, France, Nicaragua, Romania, New Zealand, Argentinia, and Australia.

Our thanks to everyone who has visited!!!

The Children of Huambalo

2006-07-30T18:26:00.000-05:00

In an earlier post, Heather spoke of the drive, determination, and mutual caring among the people of Huambalo and Mimi said, "This is a place to search one's mind set of family, education, disability, independence, and life in general." Indeed these statements are true for me, too... and nowhere is the drive, determination, and mutual caring more evident than in the example of Miguel, his sister, Paula, and the other chilren of Huamblo.

Miguel, aged 11, has cerebral palsy, but it does not seem to slow him down much. He is the most independent kid with his level of disability that I have EVER seen... absolutely amazing! Part of that is due to the relationship between him and his siblings, especially his younger sister, Paula, aged 9. Miguel speaks only a few words and cannot walk independently, so when he wants to move from one place to another, he either walks along leaning back on the wall or raises his left arm. When he raises his left arm, Paula comes to stand close beside him. He puts his arm around her shoulder and off they go. If Paula is not nearby or is busy, any other kid who happens to be close by does the same. Miguel is NEVER left out and is never just an observer. He is an active participant in every activity! It is one of the most incredible examples of caring collaboration I have ever witnessed.

An example of Miguel´s participative and active spirit occurred yesterday after lunch when several of the students were playing on the slide right outside of the eating area. Miguel indicated to his godfather, who had joined us for lunch, that he wanted to slide, too. As his godfather walked him over to the slide, Stacy - a talented and thoughtful young OT who is one of my great hopes for the future of the AT field - and I slipped into place on either side of the slide, knowing from our experience that if Miguel were able to slide at all, it would take many hands and much careful attention. As his godfather approached the ladder, Miguel reached out and grasped it. Much to Stacy´s and my surprise, his godfather smiled and said to us, "Don´t help him because he wants to do it himself," and walked away, returning to his work.

With Diego, a wonderfully gentle giant who is also a student at the school, standing attentively behind him (and Stacy and I trying to look unconcerned but VERY attentive and at the ready!)Miguel, arms and legs flying in all directions, climbed unsteadily up the ladder, paused on his belly at the landing to rearrange his arms and legs into a seated "slide" position, and slid right down. At the bottom, he scooted off the slide, and, steadying himself with the side of the slide, worked his way back to the ladder to begin the whole thing again! Stacy and I gasped, cheered, and stood in awe of his determination, adaptability, perseverance, overlayed by a child´s enthusiasm for living. If there were a single word for all that, it would be "Miguel!"

I am amazed and humbled by how Miguel, Paula, and the other children use their gifts and somewhat disheartened by what appear to be limited opportunities for them to broaden and share those gifts as they grow older.

Moving Day!!

2006-07-30T18:17:00.000-05:00

From Heather Burns

I think we did it all the moving we could today. We moved rocks, we moved dirt, we moved wood, we moved supplies, we moved chairs. And in spite of all our moving, the children still were able to move us. I am amazed with the sheer camaraderie of the students, their families, and the school workers. They look at you with hope and appreciation, and I in tun look at them with admiration and, honestly, a bit of jealousy. I am humbled by their love for one another. By American standards, most of the people would be considered living in squaller. That is not the case at all. Yes they have little, but that seems of little notice to them. They are proud people, of who they are and of what they have been able to accomplish. I am not ashamed to say that I was brought up in a well off family with resources and opportunities at my fingertips. I am ashamed to say that I did not use those with such vigor as the people use and appreciate what they have here. I am in love with the togetherness they display. If one wants to experience collaboration, then come to Huambalo.

For purposes of time and efficiency, our group has split into teams that each focus on various projects. I am on a team of early childhood and elementary teachers consisting of Sonia, Beth, and myself. We were able to meet with the teacher, Jasmin, at the school who worked with the younger students. In describing her job, she revealed that she works with students from age 2 to 8, plus an additional 15 year old student who is at the same level as some of her younger students. She has all types of disabilities ranging from CP to LD to Autism to who knows. She told us of her trouble in coordinating group activities with such an age and ability range. She wished for more one on one time to spend with each student. Yet the whole time she described some of the more challenging aspects to her job, a smile never left her face. You could almost feel the love for each student as she described all the many activities and plans she had for each student. She looked at these students as a proud parent would look at their first born graduating. Jasmin and her love for the work she does, moved into my heart.

After meeting with Jasmin, my team met to discuss both how impressed we were with her drive and how best we could assist her. We settled on some ideas around more individual tasks for the students. With such great minds put together, we planned well and were able to decide on what supplies we needed. After stopping in Pelileo, we got our supplies and our plans. We are chomping at the bit to get started, so even though we are tired after and very predictive day in Huambalo, we are ready to begin and plan one (or two if we have time) tonight during our dinner. A time when we should be resting up for more great work tomorrow. I guess excitement just gives us a second wind.

Huambalo Musings

2006-07-29T22:50:00.000-05:00

Provided by Mimi
7/29/06

News from the "Communication Group". There are three of us working with Nancy, the speech therapist at Huambalo. Andrea, Linda, and myself (Mimi) observed Nancy working with a group of students this morning. One 4-year old in the group is non-verbal. I sat by him as he was playing with some small yellow cones that nestle inside of each other. I drew a yellow cone, had him give me the cones, and modeled how he could point to the picture to get a cone. He understood right away! After observing the group, we made a simple communication board to enable him to participate with it. We made the board using a durable plastic board we had bought in a small stationary store in the town of Pelileo on the way to Huambalo. We drew pictures on the plastic board with Sharpies. Nancy is a great speech therapist, and really liked our board. We're going back tomorrow to collaborate with her on what other boards she would like, and model how to use them with her non-verbal students. Using sustainable materials has been challenging - no BoardMaker - and I am hardly an artist. This is a place to search one's mind set of family, education, disability, independence, and life in general.

Another Adventure in Huambalo

2006-07-29T22:45:00.000-05:00

Provided by Gayl Bowser

I´ve not been much of a blogger on this trip cause I´ve been enjoying all the fun adventures, LOVELY people and amazing things we have been doing. And since we have done a lot of things together, I didn´t think I had a lot to say. But today, I had my own personal adventure. Thought you´d like to hear what happened.

Today. I went looking for free wood scraps for building some toys and equipment at the school. I got to drive around with a mom of two of the kids. She speaks no English and my Spanish is improving rapidly but I´m basically a non speaker. We got along just fine with the help of many of the children who were helping in their family shops. They make incredible furniture in Huambalo and I got to see a lot of it unfinished. There were kids everywhere sanding chairs and tables. Big work rooms filled with sawdust and shavings and one very clean room in every shop where they stain and spray the finished products. There are tables with inlay and every family seems to have it´s own chair design. Big and bulky as Much Spanish style furniture seems to be but with a particular Ecuador twist to it. soft curves that remind me of some of the Inca paintings.....

Anyway, it was VERY fun. We also went to the sawmill to try to get posts and rails for the ramps. They will cut them for us specially and deliver tomorrow morning. I got back to see almost every CITTI project member digging and lifting rocks at the end of the day. What a scene. We are all coming back more fit and with a few ounces of volcano dust in our system. I´m sure it´s rich in minerals.

It was a great day!

Huambalo and Confessions

2006-07-29T21:58:00.000-05:00

Saturday morning it was breakfast and off on the bus to Huambalo. We are getting sort of used to the bus ride. It is very fast and scary, but we are getting used to that. If you just don´t look down, WAY down. I have pictures for later.

You may know Joy Zabala and so you´ll understand. She just loves social games (I don´t). Anyway, she had us all email her husband a secret about ourselves that the group wouldn´t know. She had the secrets typed on a list and we were to try to figure out what secrets matched which people on the tour.

I´ll get back to that thought in a minute. When we got to Huambalo the three of us working on the ramp went right to the Center to continue hoedading, shoveling, hauling dirt, and one new thing. We started hauling volcanic rock from about two blocks away via wheelbarrows. We´ve seen that in Ecuador when a street gets torn up for say laying new pipe, all the digging and filling is done by hand, no mechanical devices. That is what we are doing.

It turned out that in addition to Osima and Dennis and I, several of the women in the group started showing up and helping out. Maggie was terrific with her wheelbarrow work. Beth took to hoedading like a natural. Stacy wheelbarrowed rocks to the ramp and ran up the ramp to dump the rocks. Folks, I did that twice just to prove I could do it, but Stacy ran up the ramp with a few hundred pounds of rocks. Animal! Lori did something of everything at the site. Heather was also proficient at working a hoedad. Dennis of course carried a lot of rock and so did some volunteer from the community. He was clearly the toughest at rocks. It was a busy hard working 3 and a half hours with no big breaks. After lunch we all came back and started arranging the rocks. Bridgett, Dennis, and Lynne were in charge of this. By the end of the day we had dug down about eight inches for the 2 and a half meters wide and maybe 30 foot length of the ramp. Tomorrow, Sunday, we may actually start mixing cement and pouring it over the rocks.

I´m back to my original thought about Joy´s game. My secret was that I had been a bassoonist in high school, but that when I finished my junior year I discovered that a very talented person was joining the orchestra and band, and clearly would move ahead of me by a chair or two, so I gave up my music career. However, the other part of the reason was that the person was a fantastically talented young woman.

I hastened to say that this was in 1954, 52 years ago when things were different and certain movements had not even moved yet. So I told the music director that I had a very busy academic schedule for my senior year and I wouldn´t be able to play in band or orchestra. Actually I dropped music and took a year of auto mechanics.

I cheated with the game. After witnessing the work of the women on the ramp project I told Joy that I wanted her to have someone randomly draw my secret. Joy cooperated and Stacy drew my secret and since no one but Joy had guessed my secret I confessed that it was me. After spilling the beans I went way out of my way to indicate that I had always know women were smarter, but based on today, I think a lot of them are STRONGER than me. So I apologized to all the women in the world, but particularly those in our group.

Now that you know one of my secrets, please do not ever tell anybody what it is.

More fun in Huambalo

2006-07-28T18:19:00.000-05:00

After unveiling my new Galapogus tshirt, we were off to Huambalo. I figured it would be a lot cheaper to buy a Galapogus tshirt than to actually go there. I got one nice one, but the other says ¨ I love boobies naturally referring to the blue footed boobies (birds) on Galapogus.

It seemed like a faster trip than usual in the bus barreling along with a dramatic drop off on every curve. but we made it. When we got off the bus in Huambalo at the school, kids ran over to the bus to greet us. It was a very sweet welcome!

Our first item of business was to discuss each child that we had met with and then the speech therapist with the school met with us and we learned what she was doing for speach with the children.

The meeting went on, but Gladys (I will explain below) showed up and Osima, Dennis, and I walked down the street to the Center where we were to construct a ramp to allow wheelchair access to the center. I was given another camera and was assigned to take pictures of the ramp building process. The good news is that there were no pictures of me taking a break. Actually we only took a couple of short breaks in 4 hours. The bad news is that there weren´t any pictures of me doing any work. Dennis has been instructed to see if I could get such a shot tomorrow.

Osima is a carpenter and the one in charge of this project. She did some planning and then pitched right in with our work.

Gladys Cardenas is the Program Director of the FSD Foundation that sponsors the CITTI Project and many other projects. Gladys grabbed a shovel and worked all day with us. This is a very sophisticated woman in charge of so many things and there she was shoveling dirt with us.

We had shovels and hoedads (like a hoe only much larger and very sharp) and started by having Osima laying down a line that would show us how much dirt had to be removed. The ramp is about 8 feet wide and in some places we will have to dig down 8 inches. I was primarily the shovel and wheelbarrow guy. Osima was the boss, but she hoedaded with the best of us. Dennis was the hoedad expert.

Eventually when we finish digging we will move lots of volcanic rocks to the center and lay them on the ramp area. This will be covered with cement to keep the rocks together and then another layer of cement will go over this.

The ramp is beside the stairs with about six inches of dirt between the two. We will put posts in the dirt and build a hand rail that will work on the ramp side and a higher rail for those on the steps side. The ramp is actually wide enough for trucks to use.

The director of the school showed up about one thirty and gave us a ride back to the school for lunch. When we arrived we discovered that there was now a dusting of snow on the top of the Volcano. It still belches fumes due I suppose to the heat down below, but now it has a light covering of snow as well.

Lunch was spinich soup followed by a fried egg, potato pancakes, sausage, beets, carrots, avacodes and rasberry juice. All this was prepared by women of the community. The Ecuadorian people we have met are so giving, and appreciate what we are trying to do to help.

After lunch there was a meeting in which they decided who wanted to work on which projects with the students. Turned out Stacy Springer (occupational therapist) wanted to participate in everything! I just wanted to work on the ramp, a nice manual labor job.

I think that´s most of it. Now after I get off the computer we are all going out to dinner and then I´m sure I´ll be able to get a great sleep. Actually, I´ve been sleeping just fine here in ambato.

Took another ton of pictures and unless I lose my camera, you will get to see as many of them as you´d like.

Regards
Chauncy

Huambalo Opens Their Hearts

2006-07-27T18:32:00.000-05:00

What an amazing day. Today was the first day in Huambalo. As we arrived, it became obvious it was not an ordinary day. There to greet us were all of families with their children who attend the special center there in the small corner of the world. They opened their arms with grande brazos for us all. I was struck that everyone remembered us from last year when we first met.

The festivities began with a warm wecome, including speeches of appreciation for the CITTI Project 2006. Officials joined the teachers in sharing their vision and dreams for the children of Huambalo. Their gift to us was a dance by the children, which turned into an hour long fiesta, bringing us all to our feet. It literally brought tears to my eyes to be a ¨part of the community.¨

It was a long day of meeting families and learning about what their hopes and dreams were for their children with disabilities. We are all very happy and mucho tired. What a gift to be part of something so very special.

Gracias por la vida,
Bridgett

On The Way to Huambalo

2006-07-27T18:29:00.000-05:00

After a hot shower and a nice breakfast we headed out in the bus to Huambalo. On the way we got super photo ops of Volcan Tungurahua along the way. It seemed to have a cloud coming out of the crater most of the time, but occasionally it burped with a cloud of darker smoke. We are actually quite away from the volcano and feel quite safe, but what a great view!

My apologies for the lack of photos. I have taken over 300 shots so far and I promise to get several of them up on the blog and up on a website later. `My problem is that I do not have access to Photoshop so I can not reduce the size of the photos. BUT I will later - cross my heart!!

Others will report more about our day in Huambalo. It is a little village 45 minutes from Ambato. We were welcomed by people from the Foundation that supports the school we visited in Huambalo, people that work at the school, the director of the foundation that supports the CITTI Project, Bridgett Perry who is founder of the CITTI Project, and the local political person for the area. Quite a welcome!

And then out came the youngsters from the school to dance for us. It was wonderful! Many of the youngsters wore costumes and had added makeup, etc. for the speciaoccasionon. After the dancing, the students picked people from the audience to dance with. Yes, I danced as long as I could keep up with themLaterer there was much more dancing and I really enjoyed myself. Joy brought a young girl over to where I was sitting and said that the girl wanted someone who would dance and spin her. I agreed and what fun. I spun her so much I got dizzy. Eventually she started leading. I told her that was inappropriate, but she did not understand English. Anyway, it finally got so involved that I would spin her off her feet. I did not get pictures of that, but I know they exist and I will try to get a few.

We spent the day in small groups meeting with parents and their children who they feel have a disability. The total group got to meet with 13 sets of parents and children. This was primarily an opportunity to ask questions of the parents and many times of the children as well. After lunch we saw more children and then went to a center where we will attempt to build a cement ramp for the students.

Lunch was prepared by women of the village and started with a bowl of chicken soup with huge pieces of chicken. This was followed by a big plate with an ear of corn, a large potato, several small potatos, lima beans, and fava beans. We were stuffed!

Tomorrow we take off early again and meet with more parents and children. At some point we may visit the homes of the youngsters, work with their teachers, and eventually try to suggest things that might help to make a difference in their life. We will not be able to cure anything and we will not have dramantic success, but we do hope to get the youngsters started in a better direction.

For people like professor Tom Roberts let me explain why I do not use contractions. I have not found the apostrophe on this machine.
Cheers!

Moving to Baños

2006-07-26T19:08:00.000-05:00

Today we left Ambato and traveled to the small city of Baños where we will be staying during the time we are working with the people of Huambalo.

We had a wonderful stop along the way in the the town of Salasaca where we visited an atisan cooperative that not only had a wide variety beautiful handmade articles for us to peruse, but also served us a delicious and abundant lunch of grilled chicken, choclo (a type of corn), salad, and soup, all prepared by the artists. The young man sitting next to me at lunch was the weaver of the rug that will soon rest at the top of our stairs in Lake Jackson!

The rest of the trip was very scenic, especially as we neared Baños. There are beautiful big green mountains all around and, above them all, the active volcano, Tangurahua, topped by clouds and a plume of smoke. We checked into our Baños hotel late this afternoon and met to discuss what our first day in Huambalo will be like tomorrow. We are all very excited to be here and look forward to our days up close and personal with the families in Huambalo. More soon.

What a Wonderful Information Exchange!

2006-07-26T18:52:00.000-05:00

Posted by Lori Haldeman - Ace Reporter

Tuesday we visited a rehab center in Quero called Fundacion Una Luz en tu Vida, or a Light in your Life Foundation. Paola Ortiz talked to the group about the services offered: SLP, PT, Computer Training, and a Special Education room. They currently do not have specific OT services. They would like to see OT services provided in the future. They see approximately 25 children a week serving children with many disabilities such as Cerebral Palsy, Dyslexia, Microcephaly, Down Syndrome, Spina Bifida, Articulation Disorders and they have one student with West Syndrome. Out of the 25-30 students that come for therapy services, 6-7 attend public school. Most of the children come from the Quero area with a few from Ambato. The age ranges are 8 months to 18 years.

This visit was different in that the staff asked many many questions of all the CITTI Project group members about specific strategies for children they see. Many of our folks were able to do some hands on with the therapists and share a variety of strategies. The staff very much wanted treatment information for the kiddos they see. It was a great experience of conversation and sharing of information. I believe that Bridgett has arranged for some staff to come with us to Huambalo for additional information exchange!! How wonderful!

The second Rehabilitation Center we visited was the Centro de Rehabilitacion San Miguel in Salceslo. This was the CITTI Project's second visit. They have 150 children and about 30 adults that visit the clinic. Additionally, they have a special education school that has approximately 26 kids split into two groups. The group was able to observe a PT session were both were work related injuries. One of the patients had tendonitits in her bicep and the other back injuries from carrying heavy goods daily. They both received electrical stimulation and heat therapies. Other services offered are OT, SLP, and in the future are working toward hippotherapy and hydrotherapy. The categories of disability served are mostly Mental Retardation, some Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and Microcephaly. The funds for the rehab center are provided by the Catholic Church and the teacher pay is so minimal it might be considered volunteering. We were able to see student work samples and they desire to have an exchange of information regarding assistive technology in the future!! More exciting possibilities and opportunities to look forward to.

Before heading back to Casa Kopling, our wonderful hotel in Ambato, we stopped for ice cream. There were many flavors to choose from. Berrie creams, fruit creams, avocado, chocolate, vanilla, peach, and many many more. I believe Chaucy even had seconds!!

The group went to dinner at a pizza joint. There were a variety of pizzas ordered there as well. It is very interesting to be in Ecuador and eat not only at a French restaurant but a Pizza place!! I can't wait for the Ecuadorian food!!

Orientation to Organizations for People with Disabilities

2006-07-26T09:38:00.001-05:00

From Lori Haldeman - Ace Reporter

On Monday 7/24/06 we went to the offices of the Foundation Cuesta Holguin in Ambato to hear of several organizations that are serving individuals with disability. Pablo, the very enthusiastic director of the Foundation.

Fundacin Cuesta Holguin: Founded by the Cuesta family in 1992. The mission of the foundation is to create opportunity while the foundation's vision is focused on human development and creating a self-sustainable way of living. Five projects were shared with the group.
1. A general health care clinic for people who cannot afford public services. They pride themselves on the respect and solidarity they provide their clients.
2. Creation of a shelter for street children that have been abused and are living in poverty. A priority goal is the reconnecting of these children with their families.
3. A computing and copy center: A vocational center run by people with disabilities.
4. Fundacioun Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe. A medical center located in a marginal urban neighborhood. They serve 150 persons daily & perform 25 surgeries per month. It is important to them to provide quality service and personal attention and to not see as many people as possible.
5. Illagua Chico: located in an indigenous community that is dedicated to agriculture. Their long term goal is to work with the community to create self- sustainability in a responsible manner.

Next we learned from Danilo Miranda about the Human Integration Network, Red de Integracion Humana, who work with and for people with disabilities. This organization works with companies to insert/include people wth disabilities among their work force. Their long term goal are to create awareness, overcome barriers, improve quality of live, and strengthen the institutions that assist the larger network.

The next organization we learned about is the Proyecto Incersion Socio-Laboral de Personas con Discapacidad en la Provincia de Tungurahua (social labor insertion). Important key points for this organization are that people with disabilities can work and participate. The idea being that people with disabilities need to work too! Their goal is to improve capacity and generate income to become a part of society. They hope to place 60 persons in the year 2006. Another goal is to increase awareness and to give people with disabilities skills and abilities.

From the Foundation we traveled on to the Instituto de Educacion Especial. It is a special education school that serves the Ambato area. They have 120 students, 12 teachers, 6 therapists (SLP, OT, PT, Hippotherapy, Psych services). They have existed for 30 years, first as volunteer, then through a foundation and currently as a public institution. The main disability areas they serve are Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation & Down Syndrome. They have 4 categories for education: 0-6 years, primary, productive center and a therapy center.

The last stop for the day was the Center for Independent Living. They serve the adult population. They are currently working on construction of a therapy room, have a sheltered workshop environment for people with disabilities and also run a copy center and internet cafe in the downtown area.

One of the products of the workshop is dog bones. Two people were demonstrating how they rolled up strips of rawhide and cut them for length. The length and overall size had to meet exact standards. The workers were very proficient at this and enjoyed sharing their expertise.

Heather asked if she could make a dogbone and the gentleman was quick to agree and supervise her work. Lots of pressure on Heather as we all watched. It turned out that Heather is an expert dog bone producer! The gentleman was so impressed that he made a special dog bone for her to take home.

The Otovolo Market

2006-07-25T18:14:00.001-05:00

On Friday Gayl Bowser, Osima, and I went to a travel agency to see what was possible for a tour. I had gone through this earlier and knew we could not make it to Otovolo because that is when the rest of the group was to show up. Gayl pointed out that the group would not show up until 10 PM. Stupid me, thank God for women! So we paid $39 each for tickets for the next day to Otovolo Market. We also left an email message for Stacy Springer and Linda Wilson to sign up for the trip as well if they got our message.

Early breakfast, caught the Grayline bus and off for Otovolo with all five of us. The trip itself was very exciting. We climbed up the sides of many many mountains and looked over the edge at the river valley WAY WAY below. Our bus chugged up the mountains and we were continually passed by cars and trucks in no passing zones. Often the passers did not make it by the bus in time, but the on comming traffic tended to move over and let the crazy people pass.
We stopped at Cayambe and ate bizcoches (cheese of the leaf), a warm buttery baked bread along with guseole cheese. We also watched as women made ornaments from a flour and water clay. The original objects they made were edible and used on All Saints Day, the first day after Halloween. Families would then take the bread in the shape of a baby for girls and in the shape of a llama for boys to the cemetary to honor the dead. Today they varnish the clay items and primarily make christmas decorations.

There are markets all over Ecuador and every day there is an marrket going on somewhere, but the Saturday Otavalo market is the cream of the crop in all of Ecuador. Indigenous people from all over come to this market. I had seen one other market, but this one was huge!! I was fascinated by the colors, some stark, some so very beautiful. I was impressed with the woven items, scarfs, shawls, rugs, etc. Also the knitted items and just the amount of products available.
I talked to two of the others that went along and they saw quite different things. They checked out the spices, the food stalls, where they were cooking plantains, potatoes, beef, lamb, and pork. I do not think these stalls would pass our health codes, but they were quite popular. The women also were very interested in the traditional dress of the indigenous people.

The market is a place where the people all expect you to haggle with them. I ended up with an alpacha sweater for 12 dollars, an Ecuador woven purse, a wall hanging, and much more. It is the custom to ask before taking pictures in Ecuador. It is also common to offer to pay for taking the photos. I found a one man band and gave him a dollar. I took several other photos at that price, only to find out that one dollar is quite a bit of money in Ecuador. Most had offered 10 cents or a quarter.

After Otovolo we went to Cotacatchi a town known for leather products. There were many shops with beautiful clothing, purses, suitcases, briefcases, billfolds, etc. These people were a little tougher to bargin with, but all of them did bargin.

I am having some problems getting photos up to the blog. It is not the software, but I am operating from internet cafes and do not have access to software like Photoshop to reduce the size of my photos to a size that will work on the blog. I will keep working on it because I have over 300 pictures so far and a few of them are quite nice.

Cotopaxi and Hacienda San Agustin De Callo Tour

2006-07-21T14:42:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I met a Grayline bus at AM for the tour that took us South through suburbs of Quito where many who work in Quito have houses on the mountainside. It's aparently too expensive to build in Quito. We stopped at an agricultural market, a small town where pigs were on tables on main street after having recently being cooked. We stopped at another maket where there was agriculture and crafts for sale. The woven and knitted things were outstanding. We're anticipating that we'll see even more of such items when we travel to the Otavalo market Saturday.
From there we traveled through the avenue of volcanos. We learned that volcanos are either male or female and that most are married. Some are tough marriages because the volcanos might reside 20 or so miles apart. We left the highway and traveled on dirt roads way way back to the Cotopaxi Volcano National Park. Many volcanos along the way had a cloud cover over them. This was the case when we entered the park, but we went on toward the volcano anyway. We got one or two breaks in the clouds and were able to take pictures of Cotopaxi. The peak is covered with snow. It is claimed that Cotopaxi Volcano is the highest active volcano in the world.
Regarding height, Cotopaxi is right on the Equator and if you measure from the center of the earth and then add on the height of Cotopaxi, it is the highest. The peak is about 18,000 ft and our pictures were taken from about 12,000 feet.
Regarding Active, Cotopaxi continues to give off a little steam and continues to cause earthquakes, but it hasn't erupted in the last 150 years.
Next we traveled further on the dirt roads and ended up at Hacienda San Agustin De Callo. A very old hacienda that is now a hotel. We were offered a special drink from a cactus with a shot of alcahol in it. Then the guide said, we have a surprize for you and into the center of the hacienda came 150 or so Lamas. They were very tame and loved the carrots we fed them. This went on until the guide said, Let's give the lamas a hand to show how much we enjoyed them. Our clapping turned out to be a cue and off through a side door ran the Lamas.
Quite a day!!!

Getting Ready to Head South!

2006-07-21T00:28:00.000-05:00

Well, since Chauncy's THIRD day in Ecuador passed today without an installment in the blog, he must have found better things to do today than sit in an cybercafe! We will all look forward to hearing about his adventures. I know that tonight, Gayl and Osima also arrived in Quito and that several of our CITTI people will be getting together for breakfast tomorrow morning! Very exciting!

For those of us still here, getting ready to depart is quite an interesting task! After weeks and weeks of being sure that passports were in order, all innoculations and vaccines were taken on schedule, all emergency medications and dark chocolate for altitude sickness were acquired, various articles of clothing to carry along were identified, and, maybe most important, decisions about whether or not to carry a haridryer were made (Yes, one will be carried! :), there are STILL many things to done as the time for departure nears... and most of them revolve around the fact that hyperconnected me will be leaving the telephone and the computer for two weeks.

It seems that leaving the computer is making my life a little complex at the moment. When all I want to do is pack my rolling duffle and fill up my day bag and head out, I find myself working madly to finish up projects that really cannot wait for two more weeks to come to conclusion, sending handouts for sessions that take place immediately after we return, planning meetings, and all that other stuff that comes with a rewarding, but very busy cyberconnected life. HOWEVER, all that said, two weeks without being connected minute by minute... scary, but WONDERFUL to contemplate! I will love the occasional stop in the cybercafe to check email (Will anyone miss me enough to write?? I hope so?) and write a bit about our adventures for the blog... but spending two weeks without a phone in my pocket and a computer on my hip is something that I find both a little daunting (What if someone needs me? Oh, that is what all of those contact numbers are for?) and a MARVELOUS opportunity to live in the reality of where we are doing what we are here for!

I cannot wait to be on the way and to meet the whole group for breakfast in Quito on Sunday!

Second Day in Quito

2006-07-19T16:29:00.000-05:00

Wonderful breakfast at Siera Nevada hotel this morning. Croisant, fresh fruit, cafe con leche, and a smoothie. Talked a taxi driver into a tour of the Old City. Nice, but one needs several hours to really enjoy all there is in the Old City.
The picture is from Independence Plaza in Old Town. The monument celebrates Ecuador´s independence. Behind that is the President´s Palace. In front of all that is a tourist. Sorry, but I´m always going to look like a tourist. I´ll advise all my CITTI Tour friends to walk ahead of me or behind me.
Dinner tonight at the Magic Bean.

Things are heating up!

2006-07-18T12:35:00.000-05:00

Well, I would say we are off to a wild start! Tungurahua, an active volcano, a mile from our hotel, has blown her top just as we depart on our journey to Ecuador. We could take this as a sign, I suppose. An indication of wild adventures to come? A symbol of the fire that drives our team and our mission! Our new icon reminding us the power of the universe and our synchrodestiny with the work in front of us!

The CITTI Project has been growing into a strong and powerful network, and now, we are challenged to live up to our reputation. If the lineup of people on this trip were any indication, I would say we have it covered. It’s the Dream Team of Assistive Technology! Between us, we have over 100 years of experience in a very young field. The passion of this group is unmatched, except for perhaps Vulcan, god of fire. Obviously, he is aware of our imminent arrival.

For me personally, this trip is a dream realized. I am humbled to be invited into communities who have entrusted us to explore with them the possibilities. Regardless of the knowledge and years of experience the team brings, we are students of another culture. It is our task to listen, absorb, watch, and learn. From that perspective, our suggestions and solutions will be graciously guided.

To Pele, Vulcan, and Hephaistos, watch out, here we come!

Bridgett Perry, CITTI Project Director and Founder

Introducing Joy Zabala

2006-07-15T19:42:00.000-05:00

Joy Zabala has followed the work of the CITTI Project for several years with great interest and is delighted to get to participate in the Ecuador experience! Joy has been in education for her entire life - first a student, then as a general and special educator, and currently as a consultant and trainer in assistive technology and leadership.

Joy is the developer of the SETT Framework, a founding member of the QIAT Consortium, and the facilitator of The QIAT List (http://www.qiat.org/). She is involved in the Council for Exceptional Children as the current president of the Technology and Media Division (TAM) and the co-chair (with Chauncy Rucker) of the Technology Desk of the International Division (DICES). She endulges her love of international collaborative work and travel with projects in New Zealand, Canada, and India, and by serving on the organizational board of the European Schools Project Association.

Joy shares her Texas home with Adrian, her husband of 40 years, and Calpurnia Puglet, a rambunctious black pug. She and Adrian are the parents of two wonderful daughters, Gaye and Adriana, and the very proud and devoted grandparents of Amanda, Jacob, and Sophie.

Email from Sonia Thacher in Quito 7/13/06

2006-07-15T18:35:00.000-05:00

Sonia here- I got in last night. I am staying one more night at sierra nevada, then going to otalvalo for a couple days, then back to quito for one night before a week in the Amazon! I will be returning to quito friday night, and I notice that some CITTI folks are already booked at sierra nevada then--I hope to see you then! (for those who don't yet know me, I will be the confused looking american with shoulder length brownish hair and glasses--hopefully less confused after a week adjusting.)

First impressions of Quito: wow, it's huge. quite beautiful from the sky if you fly in at night. Very overwhelming when you get off the plane. altitude sickness hasn't gotten me too much: i've sadly discovered that dark chocolate is the only kind of chocolate I don't like, and i've been feeling like an idiot choking down my schaffenberger (super gourmet, 80% cocoa solids, lovers of dark chocolate would probably kill for it) but it seems to work!

I took a wonderful walking tour of old town quito today--just me and my personal policewoman escort-guide, who spoke very good english and had many interesting insights. I'm now at papaya net, an internet cafe (absolutely, folks, don't bother with laptops), enjoying the most enormous slice of marble cake for $1.50 while I type this. can't find the comma on the keyboard, and a german lady had to clue me in on the ampersand, but I'm getting the hang of it.

Food recommendations so far: the magic bean is in the mariscal area, folc and mera, and it's very reasonable, healthy food--good for adjusting tummies. I had dinner at mama clorinda, victoria and calama, which has good "comida tipica", or Ecuadorian food. everything is quite cheap.

okay, I imagine I have said enough--I just want to give folks who haven't been here yet a bit of a taste. it is a great adventure we 're going on--I can't wait to meet you all!

buenas noches,
sonia

Introducing Chauncy Rucker

2006-07-11T22:18:00.000-05:00

Chauncy taught special education at the University of Connecticut for 30 years, retiring in 1997. He became seriously involved in assistive technology in 1982 through the Dadealus, a funded research project in which a group of youngsters with cerebral palsy at a summer camp were sent home with Apple computers. The gains the students made in writing via the internet were so dramatic that Chauncy was hooked from then on.

In 1983 he began publishing the ConnSENSE Bulletin as a print resource on AT. It became an online AT resource in 2001. He began the UConn graduate emphasis in assistive technology in 1993.

In retirement Chauncy remains active as publisher of the ConnSENSE Bulletin website and ConnSENSE Letter and co-chair of the Technology Desk of DISES, the international division of CEC. He also enjoys travel, building boats, and sailing. He will be serving as an embedded journalist on the CITTI adventure in Ecuador.

Water Water Everywhere?

2006-07-06T18:32:00.000-05:00

In Willimantic Connecticut, about a mile from our home, there is a spring that flows with clean, fresh, cold water 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The water is tested twice a month and is very safe and very tasty. People come with jugs to fill from some distance away. I saw a person fill 18 gallon jugs one day, but I’ve heard that some fill even more.

Some draw this water because they like the taste better than the water from their well, or “city water” that has an odor from the chemicals that have been added. A few live in an area where the water is toxic because of chemical waste from an abandoned factory.

We meet the nicest people at the spring. Often people with many jugs to fill will let people with a few jugs to go ahead of them. It’s a real community.

There is no on or off switch for the spring so if keeps on flowing at all times even if no one shows up to take advantage of it. The water that doesn’t end up in jugs flows out to a river and is gone.

As I continue to draw the spring water (we prefer the taste) I think of the water supply in developing nations and see the stark contrast. We will be going to Ecuador and plan to take some gifts along. Oh, to be able to take along a spring that constantly flows---safe, cold, tasty, free water would be such a fantastic gift.

Introducing Maggie Morales

2006-07-05T21:45:00.000-05:00

Maggie Morales was a CITTI Team Leader in Mexico and for the trip to Ecuador last year. She has been a special educator for more than 20 years. Her experiences have been in both inclusive and private educational settings. Maggie worked at the Center for Accessible Technology providing support to families, individuals and professionals around the use of computers and assistive technology within the educational and home environments.

She is currently an itinerant teacher for students with Orthopedic Impairments, from ages 3 to 22. In her current job with the Mendocino County Office of Education, Maggie collaborates with other educators and specialists as part of an Assistive Technology Team to provide assistive technology services to students and their families in rural areas.

More about Chaya Spector

2006-07-05T21:18:00.000-05:00

Chaya has been the CITTI Project Documentarian in Mexico, in a tour to Ecuador in 2005 and will provide this talent for the 2006 CITTI tour to Ecuador. She has been a photographer/documentarian for over 30 years. In addition to capturing the evolution of assistive technology locally and internationally, Chaya helps to make the voice of people with disabilities heard through digital story telling. Beyond her photographic travels in the U.S., Ecuador and Mexico, she has traveled to Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago and Peru. Examples of her work are available on her website at:

http://redeyephotos.com

Introducing Chaya Spector

2006-07-05T00:26:00.000-05:00

Here I am , happy as can be , travelling and photographing in Costa Rica in 2002!

What I love most is to be out with my camera. What I love next is to be telling and sharing a story with my images. What I will be doing on this trip is documenting us as we go, as we learn, as we teach. I come to this field of assistive technology through my photography. I am presently working on a digital story about the CITTI Project, collaborating with a friend. We have just found a translator who is a native speaker and will be translating for us so that we will have both a english and spanish version.

Introducing Bridgett Perry

2006-07-03T21:44:00.000-05:00

Bridgett Perry is the founder and director of the Community Inclusion Through Technology International (CITTI) Project. She has led study tours to Mexico, Ecuador, and the Bahamas. Bridgett is an Assistive Technology Specialist for the Mt. Diablo Unified School District in Northern California. Her first exposure to assistive technology was 1987 when she worked in one of the first assistive technology resource centers in the U.S. For many years Bridget has been a lecturer in the Special Education Department of San Francisco State University. Her work there has focused introducing teachers to assistive technology. Bridgett is an associate of the Alliance for Technology Access (ATA). Her interest in international disability issues was enhanced by a fellowshipfrom the International Disabilities Exchanges and Studies in 1989, funded by the World Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation International.

A very wet day in Connecticut

2006-06-24T19:25:00.000-05:00

It's a lazy Saturday afternoon in Connecticut with lots and lots of rain. I haven't studied my Spanish today, but I hope to before long. Now that the U.S. is out of the World Cup of soccer I've become a big fan of Ecuador soccer. They seem to have a great team and easily moved on to the group of 16, even though they lost their last game to Germany (I think). I think they will be more motivated when they play England tomorrow. They will have to play their best game!

I had thought I might take University of Connecticut (UConn) items along to Ecuador as gifts for the children we will work with and the teachers and others we will be meeting with in Ecuador villages. As it turns out I think I'll concentrate more on trying to bring back Ecuador Football (soccer only here) t-shirts, caps, etc.

In looking through the World Cup schedule I see that it will all be over July 9th. That's good, because I plan to be in Quito, Ecuador shortly after that. I'm going down a few days early to adjust to the altitude (nearly 10,000 Ft). I'll get to practice my Spanish and see if I can make it in Ecuador with my beginning level. Fortunately many of the participants, and particularly the leaders, are much better with Spanish than I am.

Must get back to my Spanish CD's.

First entry

2006-06-23T21:31:00.000-05:00

This is the first page of a blog designed to share the experiences of the CITTI Project 2006 Tour to Ecuador. I've written a short article on the tour that I published to the ConnSENSE Bulletin website. To get an idea of what we will be doing in Ecuador, you could start by viewing that article:
http://www.connsensebulletin.com/ecuador06.html

The tour will begin July 22 when most of the group will fly to Miami and then on to Quito, Ecuador. After one night in Quito we will be off to villages to see how we can apply whatever skills we have to help individuals with disabilities. The group includes many very talented people with years of experience working with individuals with disabilities.

We hope you will enjoy this blog, and remember, the leader of this group will probably have another tour in 2007 and she will be looking for people interested in such an activity.