ATI Caps off CSM with Special Foundation Presentation

During this year's Combined Sections Meeting hosted by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), ATI along with the APTA, Caitlin’s Smiles and Move Together joined forces to host the ‘Physical Therapy Gives Back’ Community Service and Social Event.

To kick off the weekend, ATI brought together more than 300 PT students and professionals to build 1,500 arts and crafts kits to donate to hospitals in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware. The kits will be sent to children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses in local hospitals through the Caitlin’s Smiles non-profit organization.

The ATI Foundation opened up the ‘Physical Therapy Gives Back’ volunteer event with a special presentation for one very deserving beneficiary, 12-year-old Washington, D.C., resident Donovan Quinn. Donovan was born prematurely at 26 weeks and spent more than five months in the hospital, primarily in intensive care. He suffered a brain bleed at birth that left him with cerebral palsy, vision impairment, hydrocephalus and developmental delays.

The foundation awarded Donovan and his family $3,000 to help off-set the expenses of a two-week intensive summer course of physical therapy at Early Intervention Associates (EIA) in Rockville, Md. Over the span of two weeks, the course will include three-hour days focused on specific goals with a team of physical and occupational therapists working together to achieve the child’s goals.

The intensive therapy that EIA provides during the summer course is a springboard for the progress Donovan will make in the months that follow. The children enrolled often achieve their two-week goals in the first couple of days by sheer enthusiasm and hard work. The entire ATI community is excited to see Donovan achieve his goals of getting off a walker and independently walking on his own.