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Lessons Learned Helping Teens with Disabilities Brought Many 鈥楽hining Moments鈥�

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.鈥敽＝峭� Hunt School of Nursing offered a new clinical experience this semester鈥攁 weekend serving teenagers with disabilities at Camp Caanan in Rock Hill, S.C. The camp was sponsored by , a Christian organization that focuses on providing normal everyday experiences for people living with disabilities.

Interviews were conducted to select the students for participation in this three-day event that involved each student providing 24-hour care to one or two teens with disabilities. Led by Instructor of Nursing Norma Mott, the group encountered many learning opportunities. 鈥淔irst of all, there was nothing easy about this weekend,鈥� she shared. 鈥淲e had long hours, bad weather, and non-wheelchair accessible terrain. The students dealt with issues such as scratching, hair pulling, non-verbal communication, and emotional outbursts.鈥�

Despite these circumstances, Mott and the GWU senior nursing students agreed that the rewards were worth every inconvenience. 鈥淲e got the best hugs, heard some of the most heartfelt prayers, and learned more about airplanes than we ever thought we could,鈥� Mott affirmed. 鈥淚 learned how to make a 鈥榗upcake鈥� out of gluten-free cookies and icing, and saw faith in action in ways that I personally have never had to deal with. We got to read bedtime stories and hear scripture read from a camper’s 鈥榯iny Bible.鈥� I could give so many more examples as each student had many shining moments.鈥� 

Mott added that the camp setting required students to utilize a different set of skills. 鈥淭his event provided the students the opportunity to build relationships with these children and pushed them outside of their comfort zone.鈥� she assessed. 鈥淭he Hunt School of Nursing shares a philosophy that a Bulldog Nurse CARES; we are Compassionate, Advocates, Respectful, Empathetic, and Servant leaders. The students demonstrated these qualities in every encounter and in ways not always possible in the traditional clinical setting.鈥�

Spencer Hoffman, of Boiling Springs, had previously worked as a camp counselor for two different camps for children with disabilities. She said the camp setting is a less stressful way to encounter and learn how to provide care for children who might be non-verbal, display emotional outbursts, or express suicidal thoughts.

鈥淚 never thought I would get to do something like my work at those places again,鈥� she related. 鈥淚 was paired one-on-one with a camper who had various disabilities for the weekend. My fellow students were given one or two campers depending on the type of disability and level of attention needed for that child.鈥�

Mott noted that the camp schedule looked leisurely鈥攇ames and crafts, worship and Bible stories, and campfires with S鈥檓ores鈥攂ut the teens required constant attention and supervision, which added intensity. 鈥淭he students handled the entire weekend professionally and with compassion,鈥� she commented. 鈥淭hey treated each situation as important as it was to the camper. Their teamwork was outstanding. Students were quick to step up anytime there was a need.鈥�  

Samantha 鈥淪am鈥� Zepeda, of Charlotte, N.C., was paired with a camper who had cerebral palsy. 鈥淚 felt extremely unprepared going into this, but as the hours passed and I navigated small challenges with my camper, I realized how much I鈥檝e grown since I鈥檝e started nursing school,鈥� Zepeda reflected. 鈥淢y classes have helped me think like a nurse, which is something that has happened so gradually that I sometimes surprise myself with how I handle things now.鈥�

Zepeda continued, 鈥淚 learned so much from this experience. I was truly holding back tears the entire time I was there. Before this experience鈥�I saw the disability rather than the person and this experience shifted my perspective. We have to see the person, not just the disability鈥攖hat changes your entire approach towards the differently-abled community.鈥�

Ruth Alabi, also of Charlotte, N.C., echoed her teammate鈥檚 comments. 鈥淭his clinical was an eye-opener for me to treat and care for disabled patients in our community without bias, the same way we will treat and care for patients without disabilities,鈥� she observed. 鈥淚 learned more about active listening, caring with patience, and building trusting relationships. Also, it gave me the confidence to handle difficult situations. It teaches me that disability is not inability.鈥� 

Joni and Friends Participants

• Pankti Patel
• Summer Ofori
• Spencer Hoffman
• Maria Rojas
• Sam Zepeda
• Karess Williams
• Casie Simpson
• Paisley Gilmore
• Ruth Alabi
• Katherine Turner

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