It was a day of learning, connection, and purpose as Dawson's third-year Physiotherapy Technology students turned classroom knowledge into meaningful community engagement. On Oct. 23, 28 students, accompanied by faculty members Krista Bulow, Kim Bulger, and Sharon Clegg, visited an adult education centre in Saint-Laurent to meet and assess 25 Special Olympics athletes.
As part of their Therapeutic Relations course, students applied their clinical skills using the FunFitness screening tool to evaluate strength, flexibility, balance, and cardiovascular health. Alongside the screenings, they developed personalized exercise programs and identified cases requiring additional medical follow-up.
For many of these adult athletes, access to rehabilitative and medical services depends heavily on volunteer initiatives. Experiences like this remind our students of the vital role allied health professionals play beyond clinical settings bridging empathy, expertise, and inclusion.
Faculty members praised the students' professionalism and compassion throughout the day. "We were deeply moved by the athletes' enthusiasm and the resilience they demonstrate every day," said professor Krista Bulow. "This kind of experience helps our future physiotherapy technologists understand what community-based care truly means."
Plans are already underway to explore partnerships with other Dawson programs, such as Nursing and Social Service, as well as McGill University's Physiotherapy program, to expand the reach of such community initiatives.
A heartfelt thank-you goes to faculty members Krista and Kim for their guidance, and to Tristan Delmas and Zackary Weber from Special Olympics Quebec for coordinating this memorable event.
During the visit, Dawson participants proudly wore bright orange Special Olympics T-shirts a visible sign of shared purpose and partnership.
To learn more about the work of Special Olympics Quebec, visit https://olympiquesspeciauxquebec.ca/en/.
