Students talk about our Program...

Listen to these short video clips, to hear our students describe:

Leah Haverhals
Community Volunteer Reflection

As I headed down the hall toward the gym at Denver's Craig Hospital, I heard a clamor similar to a five car fender bender, followed by cheers of celebration. I entered the gym just in time to watch an individual topple out of his wheelchair that had been tipped over from the force of a crash. I had been invited by my community volunteer, Jason Regier, to attend his wheelchair rugby tournament.

I met my community volunteer, Jason, the first month of PT school, and will continue to follow him throughout my three years at UCD. The Community Volunteer Program is an addition to the curriculum that began with the doctoral degree. While Jason is an individual who suffered a spinal cord injury, my classmates are paired with other volunteers who have had a stroke, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s Disease, or various other physical disabilities that challenge their accessibility in the community. The program provides us with guidance, but also allows a significant amount of flexibility depending on each individual student and volunteer.

Jason has shared with me his knowledge of his spinal cord injury, his experience as a patient, and his outlook on life. In addition, our class has had the opportunity to interact with each others’ volunteers and share our experiences and lessons learned.

Not only is wheelchair rugby an intense physical sport, but for Jason, who was an athletic college student with his whole life ahead of him at the time of his car accident, wheelchair rugby is his motivation, inspiration, and hope. Besides acting as President of the Denver Harlequin’s Wheelchair Rugby Team, he is also a 2008 Gold Medalist with Team USA Wheelchair Rugby Paralymics, he regularly gives motivational presentations to students of all ages, and he recently graduated with his MBA and produced the movie “The Goal” about his own experiences. And whether he is aware of it or not, he is changing the physical therapy Profession one PT student at a time, simply by being willing to share what life has brought his way. For more information about the Community Volunteer Program, contact Linda Hannen at (303) 724-9017.