FORT SMITH — The Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) is celebrating a significant boost to its Physical Therapy (PT) and Occupational Therapy (OT) programs with the recent award of two generous grants from prestigious organizations, the Parkinson’s Foundation and the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation. These funds will support the continued growth and expansion of vital programs aimed at enhancing the quality of life for individuals impacted by Parkinson’s disease and spinal cord injuries. “Funds from these organizations allow us to build programs that reach more people and have a greater impact on health and well-being,” said Dr. Reed Handlery, Assistant Professor in the ACHE School of PT.
The Parkinson’s Foundation Community Grant awards $10,000 for one year (June 2024-June 2025) to support the project titled: Empowering the Parkinson’s Community through SHIFT.AR: Support, High-intensity Functional Training, and Recreation. The initiative builds on the success of a community-based exercise program that began as an ACHE research study in March of 2022. Over the past two years, the program has held over 100 exercise classes and served more than 60 participants. The grant will ensure that exercise classes remain free for all participants and will introduce new recreational activities, including art classes led by the School of Occupational Therapy. “The School of Occupational Therapy is honored to be a part of this grant,” said Dr. Jennifer Moore, Dean of the ACHE School of OT. “Recognizing that Parkinson’s disease affects so many aspects of the person and their ability to engage in day-to-day life, providing opportunities to create and experience art can be therapeutic,” says Dr. Moore. Additionally, the funding will support Fort Smith’s only Parkinson’s Support Group, which meets ten times annually to provide educational resources on topics such as nutrition, medication, mental health, speech, and more.
In a further boost to ACHE’s PT and OT programs, the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation Creating Opportunity & Independence Community Grant (CO&I) has awarded $200,000 for a two-year period, from October 2024 to October 2026. This grant will assist the Supported High Intensity Fitness Training and Recreation (SHIFT.AR) project. According to Dr. Handlery, “SHIFT.AR is incredibly unique and is the only program of its size and scope in the U.S.” This project allows continuation and mass expansion of a currently offered exercise program for people impacted by spinal cord injury (SCI), which has already made a significant impact since its inception in March of 2022.
The program has proven to be an invaluable resource for the community and our students. “These grants provide our students with highly salient experiential learning opportunities to apply their academic knowledge to real-world settings, specifically through planning and executing exercise programs tailored to individuals with Parkinson’s disease and spinal cord injury,” said Dr. Dana Kahl, Assistant Dean and Chair of the ACHE School of Physical Therapy. “The students gain insight into creating and modifying safe and effective exercises and witness first-hand the vital role of social support within community settings.” Dr. Handlery also added, “This fosters an inclusion mindset, as all participants in the program move differently and have different needs/goals. SHIFT.AR could not exist without student help and they should be proud of what they are doing for their community.”
The new funding will enable the program to offer free group exercise sessions in both Fort Smith and Central Arkansas, provide online routines accessible to up to 150 individuals, and offer a range of recreational activities, including arts, kayaking, cooking, and more. “While we love exercise and believe it is life-changing, it’s not the only thing people need. A sense of connection, belonging, and purpose are ultimately what people need, and we love playing even just a small role in that,” Dr. Handlery said.
The programs are led by ACHE’s PT and OT faculty, with assistance from students in both disciplines. These grants represent a major step forward in ACHE’s commitment to improving the lives of individuals affected by Parkinson’s disease and spinal cord injuries, expanding access to crucial support and recreational opportunities throughout the River Valley and Arkansas.
