Community Involvement

Physical Therapy graduate students are involved in many community events that benefit the La Crosse Community. The Physical Therapy faculty and staff are proud of the students efforts!!

 We invite you to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Career Fair

April 9, 2009

Registration will open in January, 2009

Examples of community involvement include:

Students have developed websites to help inform the public about accessibility options within the La Crosse community and region

In 2008: 2 websites were added

·         North La Crosse Public Library (Brad & Tony): http://www.uwlax.edu/pt/projects/libaccess

·         Accessible transportation options (Kendall & Jon): http://www.uwlax.edu/pt/projects/lax_access

In 2006-2007, 7 websites were developed (realize, some links may no longer be current)

·         Aquatic Therapy & Community Pools with public access (Morgan & Jenna) is currently located at http://www.uwlax.edu/pt/pool/

·         Home Accessibility & Universal Design project (Danielle & Jodi) is currently located at http://www.uwlax.edu/pt/projects

·         Boat dock and Fishing Pier accessibility (Matt & Andy) is currently located at http://www.uwlax.edu/pt/projects

·         Hunting resources project is currently located at http://www.uwlax.edu/pt/hunting/

·         Fitness Facility tips & access: http://www.uwlax.edu/pt/fitness/

·         Disability Awareness plus accessibility focus on local library http://www.uwlax.edu/pt/awareness/

·         General Accessibility in downtown La Crosse: http://www.uwlax.edu/pt/accessibility/

Additional Examples of Community Service

• FunFitness events for Special Olympics – twice each year, PT students have volunteered to help during these fitness events
• Spring 2009 – PT students provided massage for an on-campus Wellness Program as part of a service based class assignment
• Summer 2007: 45 student & faculty volunteers helped at the National Veteran’s Wheelchair Games in Milwaukee, WI
• Annually at the Physical Therapy Friends and Family Weekend, raffle donations have included funding for American Cancer Society for Breast Cancer Awareness (honoring Dr. Patricia Wilder and Mrs. Carol Davies), the Miami-Marquette Challenge (to support research in Physical Therapy for evidence based practice), and Autism Awareness.
• Annual Fundraiser occurs using Massage Days by the pre-PT club fundraiser to support resource and educational needs
• UW-La Crosse hosted the State Physical Therapy Student Conclave in conjunction with the WWTC Physical Therapy Assistants program. Student from 8 schools in the state of Wisconsin attended. Group presentations and workshops were presented by local clinicians and faculty.
• PT students and pre-PT club members also volunteer for: community members needing some long term assistance with stretches and exercise following completion of their physical therapy, community members involved in campus aquatics and exercise program, Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army, fundraiser walks, Good Neighbor Day, Halloween Food Drive, Christmas adoption of families in need, HorseSense, etc.
• Service Learning Project in Puebla, Mexico and Nicaragua - students learned about Physical Therapy services and educational programs in another country for the elderly and children with special needs.