Get ready for an unforgettable adventure in beautiful Belize! We’re thrilled to offer you a unique chance to dive into hands-on learning while experiencing a vibrant new culture. This customized program is designed to support your academic and clinical goals while creating lifelong memories. From start to finish, we’ll support you every step of the way. At the heart of this program is collaboration with local government organizations, NGOs, private clinics, and community partners to deliver sustainable, culturally relevant therapy to school-age children. You’ll learn from professional SLPs and OTs as our ASHA-certified therapists guide you through a dynamic, cross-disciplinary, and cross-cultural experience. During your time in Belize, you’ll take part in formal and informal assessments, group therapy (Tykes Camp), individual sessions, school screenings, dynamic assessments, and caregiver training—all while connecting with peers and making a lasting impact in the community.

Observing and volunteering are crucial for gaining hands-on experience and building your case for graduate school. Our programs offer the perfect opportunity to diversify your experience, earning observation, clinical, and volunteer hours in various settings. With an ASHA-licensed SLP supervising, these hours can also count toward clinical competencies for grad school applicants.

Our programs bring together master’s and bachelor’s students, with master’s students earning supervised clinical hours and bachelor’s students gaining guided observation hours. All SLP and OT supervisors meet rigorous standards.

No other program combines group travel, study abroad, and hands-on professional development exclusively for CSD, SLP, audiology, PT, OT, music therapy, and related fields. If you’re aspiring to work in these careers, this is your chance for real-world learning like never before! You will leave this trip having:

• Gained insight into Belize’s cultures, languages, and healthcare and education systems.
• Understood how Belizean culture shapes therapy, assessment, and caregiver training.
• Explored the differences in Belize’s educational and medical systems.
• Examined ethics, global issues, and the impact of personal values on therapy.
• Built career connections with experienced SLPs and OTs.

Therapy Abroad programs emphasize hands-on skill development in evaluation and treatment. On this trip you will have the chance to:

• Master culturally appropriate, sustainable evaluation and treatment methods.
• Assess and treat diverse individuals, considering Belize’s languages and cultures.
• Enhance therapeutic skills with expert, real-time feedback.
• Adapt and implement effective intervention strategies for clients and families.
• Communicate clearly, respecting cultural and linguistic differences.

Known as the "Jewel" of the Caribbean, Belize is a vibrant Central American country rich in history and culture. Formerly British Honduras, it gained independence in 1983 and continues to expand services for its special needs population. Therapy Abroad partners with Belize’s Ministries of Education and Health to support these efforts.

With English as the official language and a diverse mix of languages—including Kriol, Spanish, and Mayan—Belize offers the perfect setting to develop cultural competence and clinical skills. Students will gain hands-on experience while exploring the country’s rich history, unique communities, and stunning natural environment.

Students and faculty will stay in accommodations with communal areas, meeting spaces, and plenty of outdoor areas to relax and explore. Transport will be provided by private bus or van with a dedicated driver. You'll have access to WiFi, fresh drinking water, western-style toilets and showers, and towels and sheets. Accommodations are shared with individual beds and bathrooms, and most rooms have AC, though a few nights may have fans. Meals, prepared by local cooks, will feature a mix of Belizean and Western cuisine. Dietary needs can be accommodated with prior notice. The warmth and hospitality of the Belizean people will make you feel right at home!

Patricia Angela Dixon Sebastian, born in Belize City, is a dedicated educator with 37 years of experience in the Ministry of Education, where she worked as a teacher and Special Education Officer. She has also taught at the University of Belize and tutored in her community. Ms. Patty holds a Bachelor's in Primary Education from Belize Teachers Training College and a Master's in Special Education from the University of North Florida. Passionate about Special Education, she advocates for students with diverse abilities and collaborates with universities and organizations to provide resources. She is married to Errol Ellis Sebastian and has four children. A woman of faith, she lives by Proverbs 19:17.

Alejandro Ashe, CCC-SLP, is a bilingual SLP from the U.S. Virgin Islands, originally from a diverse Costa Rican-American family. He graduated from SUNY Buffalo State College in 2018 and completed his CF in skilled nursing before joining the public schools of St. Croix in 2019. Alejandro has worked with a wide range of clients, from bilingual preschool evaluations to dysphagia and aphasia therapy with elderly patients. In 2022, he moved to St. Thomas as the first hospital SLP post-hurricanes. Before grad school, Alejandro held various roles, including youth rehab counselor, cabinet maker, and study abroad administrator. Passionate about cultural awareness and sensitivity, he presented on these topics at the IALP conference in 2018. Outside of work, Alejandro enjoys paddle-boarding, kiteboarding, and fostering puppies!

With the exception of international airfare, our trips are fully inclusive—there are no hidden costs or optional add-ons. Tuition covers all activities, materials, meals, housing, and transportation during the program, so students can focus on learning and experiencing their trip without worrying about extra expenses. 

Total Program Cost: $3,250 USD (excluding international airfare)

• Non-Refundable Deposit (due at booking): $1,000
• Remaining Balance Due (60 days before departure): $2,250

If you choose to cancel, we will hold onto your initial deposit for you to use on a future Therapy Abroad trip. This deposit is not transferable to another person.

• 89-60 days before departure: 75% refund
• 59-30 days before departure: 50% refund
• Less than 30 days before departure: No refund
• Initial deposit is non-refundable

Safety is our top priority, and we take a hands-on approach to ensure every aspect of your experience is secure. Every location, accommodation, and activity is personally vetted by Therapy Abroad directors. Belize is a safe destination with strong infrastructure, and we work closely with the Ministries of Education and Health to organize every detail of your trip.

From departure to return, we provide a seamless, worry-free experience. You’ll always be part of a group led by experienced facilitators—never outsourced staff. Our team ensures access to medical care, clean food and water, and reliable communication at all times.

Sustainability is at the heart of our mission. Our programs are designed with Belize’s needs in mind, incorporating hands-on teacher training, modeling, and professional presentations to ensure lasting impact. What sets Therapy Abroad apart is our year-round commitment to building services—not just meeting immediate needs. We collaborate with educators, nonprofits, and community groups to create sustainable, culturally relevant solutions in speech-language pathology, education, and community health.

Today you’ll fly from the US into Belize City International Airport - Our staff meet your group at the airport for a private transfer to your accommodation in San Ignacio in western Belize (approximately 2 hours).

Depending on your flight arrival time, lunch will be on the road during your drive or upon arrival at your local accommodation. After settling, you’ll meet our team for an orientation of the area and our program. This will include safety information, a review of your itinerary, introductions, and hotel information such as WiFi. 

Enjoy a welcome dinner consisting of traditional Belizean food.

Begin your morning with a walking tour of town, visit the market, and hear from a guest speaker on Education, Cultural and Healthcare in Belize.

Today you'll have time to review information on clients and materials we have for screenings, dynamic assessments, treatment, and Tykes Camp. Once we know the make up of the students and their levels, we will determine the clinical experiences. All of this information will be shared with you prior to departure via a Google Resource Folder. Client files will be located in there along with speech therapy resources, packing list, final itinerary, and more!

Tykes Camp Preparations

Tykes Camp is a learning camp for children with special needs designed around skill based stations - speaking, listening, learning, sensory, STEM, and fine and gross motor skills. The philosophy of Tykes is simple: Provide evidence-based practice in a group setting for children with a variety of disorders and disabilities. Speech, language, and occupational therapy goals will be targeted in the broader context of play, academic skills, and activities of daily living. 

This philosophy is important for three reasons: 

- Group interventions are effective, fun, and create a social network; 

- Treatment intensity (i.e., frequency and dose) predicts the best outcomes; and 

- Academic readiness and strong behavior regulation leads to high-quality outcomes. 

This morning you’ll you have your first day of Tykes Camp! You’ll work through the stations you designed with your assigned camper. Your supervisors will be there to support you throughout the morning.

This afternoon you’ll complete screenings, assessments or treatment with your faculty. You may also have a chance to complete parent trainings and provide them with resources for their child.

Second day of Tykes Camp! Make adjustments from yesterday. You’ll be getting to know your camper better and feel more confident.

This afternoon students are off the the Maya Women’s Group. Organized to primarily offer a sustainable way to keep their culture alive, this tour will take students to the village of San Antonio in the Cayo district. The Yucatec Maya Village is nestled in the Maya mountains bordering the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. Students will learn to prepare traditional food & make pottery.

This morning you’ll continue with Tykes Camp. Meet with parents and share information for them to take home and continue working with their child. You should be very proud of the work you’ve done!

This afternoon you’ll complete screenings, assessments or treatment with your faculty. You may also have a chance to complete parent trainings and provide them with resources for their child.

Wrap up Tykes Camp this morning! It’s hard to believe the week has flown by and you’ll say goodbye to your campers. Make sure to leave resources for parents to continue working on goals.

This afternoon you'll head up to visit Cahal Pech Archeological Site. You’ll have a private, guided tour to learn all about the history and culture of the Maya people. The site was a palatial, hilltop home for an elite Maya family, and though the most major construction dates to the Classic period, evidence of continuous habitation has been dated to as far back as 1200 BCE during the Early Middle Formative period (Early Middle Preclassic), making Cahal Pech one of the oldest recognizably Maya sites in Western Belize.

Today you’ll head to Jaguar Paw for an adventure. You’ll first fly through the jungle while zip lining! It’s a beautiful, thrilling experience. You’ll have harnesses and helmets to wear and be guided throughout the trip by professionals. 

After lunch, you’ll cool off in the river while going cave tubing. You’ll have life jackets, helmets, and head lamps. It can get a little dark inside! Don’t worry though, our guides take good care of everyone.

Take the Belize Water Taxi to Caye Caulker or San Pedro today. Settle into your new accommodations. We will provide a brief orientation to the island and review safety information.

Spend the afternoon relaxing in the sun, swimming, shopping, or exploring the island. There is a beautiful sunset spot our staff will show you. 

Head out on a boat excursion today for guided snorkeling to see nurse sharks, rays, and many beautiful fish and coral! The Belize Barrier Reef is the second largest barrier reef in the world, and the largest in the western hemisphere. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Belizeans work hard to manage this resource sustainably. Our snorkel provider will provide snorkel equipment and life jackets we require all students to wear during the snorkel trip.

Spend your final afternoon relaxing in the sun, swimming, shopping, or exploring the island. Tonight we will have a farewell dinner at one of our favorite spots on the island.

Take the water taxi back to Belize City to catch your flight home! Exchange information with new friends to stay connected! Please reflect back on all of the amazing things you did on your trip.

Share your experience with family, friends, peers and professors! Please be sure to tag us in your social media posts and leave us a review on GoOverseas.com.