Testimonials from the students (In-Person)
Amanda Adele Grant A - OT
University of Toronto - March 27 to May 9, 2023
My time at ASSA was exceptional to say the least. The amount of learning that takes place and opportunities offered at the ASSA campus is incredible and enables students to make the most of their time and grow personally and professionally. ASSA provides the opportunity to work with a variety of populations, see many diverse presentations of conditions and work alongside an incredible team of healthcare professionals and fellow students while also having access to amazing resources such as the caliper. There is incredible support from staff and management, and I can truly say I felt valued, embraced, welcomed, and respected every minute of every day. The language and cultural differences promote growth and enhancement of many skills that will serve students well in future placements, careers, and as citizens of the world. The campus is an amazing space to live, learn, and work and provides the opportunity to engage with clients in such a different way than back home. It is amazing to get to interact with your clients outside therapy times, which fosters a unique type of rapport, comradery, and sense of community among client and staff. I can report with complete honesty that my time at ASSA was both an intellectually stimulating as well as enjoyable and life changing experience, and anyone who walks through the ASSA gate is blessed to be there.
Bridget Catherine Deschenes - OT
University of Toronto - March 27 to May 9, 2023
My placement as an Occupational Therapy Student at Amar Seva Sangam (ASSA) was a life changing experience that I will cherish always. I was embraced by an amazing community where I was provided the opportunity to grow as a clinician and as a person. I learned so much from the health care professionals and staff at ASSA. I was given many opportunities to practice occupational therapy with adults recovering from a stroke or spinal cord injury and children with autism or cerebral palsy in individual and group settings. It was very special to be creative with rehab with the clients at ASSA. All of the staff were so supportive and kind, ASSA feels like a family which is a privilege to be a part of.
Maxymme Bégin (McGill Universtiy - PT)
September 3rd – October 26th 2022
Noémie Tito (McGill Universtiy - PT)
September 3rd – October 26th 2022
As I was boarding the plane to get to India for my placement at ASSA, I was sure about one thing: I had no idea what to expect. Having today successfully completed my last clinical placement there, I can say without the shadow of a doubt that it was one of the best experiences I have had so far. The community at ASSA is so welcoming that I felt at home even if there were so many cultural elements we had to adapt to. Clinically, I saw many conditions I have never had the opportunity to see before and had a great deal of freedom with my caseload and interventions. It was so rewarding to see the improvements my patients had from the beginning of my stay to the end. Beyond our typical clinical duties, we also had the opportunity to go on a fieldtrip to explore how village-based rehabilitation worked and had a session about how the health care system worked in India which was very informative. Thank you everyone at ASSA for all the special memories!
Remi Lu - PT - Aug 2019
Toronto University - Aug 2019
Anne Stokes - PT - Aug' 2019
McMaster University - Aug' 2019
My placement at ASSA has been a uniquely enriching experience. I am honoured to have had the opportunity to travel to India and collaborate with the therapists at ASSA who are dedicated to providing care to those in need of rehabilitation, and to teaching, learning, and collaborating with foreign volunteers. The opportunity for local therapists and international students to learn from each other is truly a unique experience that has inspired me to engage in the global physiotherapy community. Although this international placement presents unique challenges such as working with clients from different cultural backgrounds, dealing with language barriers, and participating in knowledge sharing, these challenges have facilitated my professional growth. I feel more prepared to provide care to diverse populations and am inspired to strive to understand how my clients’ views of rehabilitation and health are affected by their unique experiences. I was able to work with children and adults with a variety of conditions which has helped me develop independence and problem-solving skills as I prepare to return to Canada and begin my practice. My experiences at ASSA have inspired both professional and personal growth, and I am truly grateful for my time here.
Maddie MC Kinney - PT - Aug' 2019
McMaster University - Aug' 2019
Katie Walsh - OT - Aug 2019
Manitoba University - Aug' 2019
Rambel Palsis - OT - Aug' 2019
Manitoba University - Aug' 2019
Colorado University - OT - July 2019
Heather Hill - July 2019
University of British Columbia - PT - 2019
Adam Chin February to March 2019
University of British Columbia - PT - 2019
Elizabeth Yee February to March 2019
McGill Univ. PT - 2019
Martin Nguyen January to March 2019
McGill Univ. OT - 2019
Lesley Perlman January to March 2019
McGill Univ. OT - 2019
Sivahahmy Vijayaratnam January to March 2019
McGill Univ. OT - 2019
Nathan Menezes January to March 2019
McGill Univ. OT - 2019
Sacha Vincent-Toskin January to March 2019
Dalhousie Univ. PT - 2019
Sang Choi January to February 2019
Sherbrooke Univ. OT- 2018
Laurie-Anne Pelletier October to December 2018
I had a great time in Amar Seva Sangam, because of the very welcoming and friendly staff members as well as the learning opportunities I had while doing an internship for my master’s in occupational therapy. The learning experiences were very interesting and diverse. It pushed me to think further and use creativity to find how to help with some of the patient problems because the equipment available is very different from what we are generally used to have in Canada. Practicing Occupational therapy in a country where culture and religion are very different from where I come made me work on my cultural skills, which will surely be transferable to my practice in Canada. It was also great on a personal level to learn more and to be immersed in the South Indian’s culture and religions. I found that ASSA is an organization who is very dedicated, who offers great services to the population and who always wants to improve what they can offer. It was an honor and a real joy for me to participate to Amar Seva Sangam’s mission by doing international collaboration with them and I hope they will continue to grow so they keep on helping people in need.
University of Manitoba OT- 2018
Naomi Hatherly July to August 2018
Completing my final fieldwork placement for my occupational therapy degree at Amar Seva Sangam was a wonderful, unique, and enriching learning experience. The community at ASSA is so special, and I feel truly lucky to have had the chance to be a part of it. ASSA truly upholds the ideals of acceptance, accessibility, and seva (service),and is a model that would be beneficial all over the world. Through placement I learned not only clinical skills relevant to my field of study, but about the opportunities and challenges of working cross-culturally, and the importance of accessible and integrated communities.
University of Manitoba OT- 2018
Madison Wilson July to August 2018
University of Manitoba OT- 2018
Richa Soni July to August – 2018
Queens OT- 2018
Adi Rittenberg, Swanti Deut & Taylor Dyon
June to July 2018
Ottawa University OT- 2018
Rachel Worgan May to July 2018
I had a wonderful time on placement at ASSA. I learned a great deal about spinal cord injury and stroke rehab as well as how to work in a limited resource environment. The later allowed me to be creative with my interventions because materials I needed for treatment were not always available. I believe this will carry over to my work in Canada as well as I would like to work out in the community where materials are not always available. I really enjoyed my experience at ASSA and hope to return in the coming years.
Dalhousie OT- 2018
Krysta Longridge March to April 2018
Dalhousie OT- 2018
Hayley Lutes March to April 2018
My placement at Amar Seva Sangam was a valuable learning experience. ASSA does a very good job of building community for their clients and providing a holistic service that attempts to address not only the rehabilitation needs of the clients but also their mental health well being, recreation and re-engagement in vocational areas. I was given the freedom and independence to provide therapy to clients while still feeling fully supported by my offsite preceptor and the on site staff. Getting to practice coming up with creative solutions and equipment for a lower resource area was also a very useful exercise that I will take away from this. I look forward to continuing my relationship with ASSA and can’t wait to come back as a volunteer.
Dalhousie OT- 2018
Claire Wilson March to April 2018
My experience at ASSA has been a truly memorable one. There is a strong sense of community and caring that makes you immediately feel welcomed and cared for. Working at the Sangamam School for Special Children challenged me to be creative and to focus on interventions that are sustainable and cultural appropriate. I enjoyed getting to see a variety of children with different needs and working with teachers to come up with solutions in the classroom. This placement has helped shaped how I plan to practice as an occupational therapist. I am grateful for everything ASSA has taught me and really feel like I became part of the ASSA family.
UBC OT- 2018
Sarah Northrup February to March 2018
UBC OT- 2018
Fiona Roome February to March 2018
UBC OT- 2018
Melissa Ferguson February to March 2018
UBC PT- 2018
Robyn Boudreau March to April 2018
UBC PT- 2018
Jayten Patel March to April 2018
Amar Seva Sangam is not only a rehab institution but it is a special community built upon extraordinary therapists and very inspirational patients. The learning opportunities here are endless, not only in the field of physiotherapy but the culture and the character of people here is very uplifting. I came here with an expectation of limitations both to education levels and accessibility of healthcare, however despite these presentations ASSA is a very sustainable campus with an amazing culture they have built here. It’s hard to explain in words, the experiences I have had here holds a very special place in my heart that I will cherish forever.
UBC PT- 2018
Gwyn Narayan March to April 2018
My learning experience was positive, I enjoyed working with a wide variety of populations and being so involved in patients’ rehab. It was a great opportunity to learn and be immersed in the culture. I would definitely recommend the placement to students who are wanting to continue working in SCI or peds, as you get a lot of hands on time with patients.
UBC PT- 2018
Ada Zdanowski February to March 2018
UBC PT- 2018
Taylor Gibney February to March 2018
My experience at ASSA has been such a great learning experience; from the exposure to different conditions, to self directed and independent learning, and interaction with a different culture and healthcare providers. I am exceptionally grateful for all of the opportunities to work with children as it’s helped me discover my passion in paediatric healthcare. The staff here at ASSA have made this experience unforgettable with their kindness and expertise in the field of physiotherapy.
MC Gill PT- 2018
Vi Ma January to February 2018
ASSA has given me so much in terms of learning experience. From the amazing welcome to my first trip to India, to the friendly people, to the sense of community. The staff, the residents and children living or working on campus have taken us as part of their family for 8 weeks. They have enriched my world view. Not only have I learned so much from rural Indian culture, but I have also gained so much in terms of my clinical skills. I became more confident and independent with what I have learnt in school. I am thankful to all those who made this a great experience. And who knows, maybe someday I will come back as a supervisor!
MC Gill PT- 2018
Alicia Allen January to February 2018
This was an overall excellent learning experience! I especially loved the opportunity to experience working with many different types of clients and the independence I had with my treatment sessions. All the staff were very helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable, which made for a very pleasant learning environment.
MC Gill OT- 2018
Ela Rutkowski January to February 2018
Completing my clinical placement at Amar Seva Sangam was a great experience where I got to learn beyond simply developing my clinical skills. I was immersed in a community where people live and support each other and was warmly welcomed into it. I had an opportunity to work with a variety of patients which challenged me to become proficient at understanding and treating a wide range of issues. Being a student at ASSA not only helped me to become a better clinician but also opened up my eyes to new possibilities.
MC Gill OT- 2018
Julianne Brown January to February 2018
MC Gill OT- 2018
Chamila Anthonypillai January to February 2018
When I talk to my friends or family, I refer to Amar Seva Sangam as a heaven. From the very beginning, the concept of community was highlighted, and I felt immediately welcome. From there on, the support I received as a student from the residents, staff, and patients was incredible. I felt inspired by the environment at Amar Seva Sangam, where the motto of “live to serve- was brought to life and those who lived and worked for the community continued to show me that they were “able-. I found it very motivating to learn in this environment. It was different to any of my previous placements because of the rich sense of culture and community. I found that games nights and participation in cultural events were just as important to client wellbeing as traditional treatments. Taking part in this placement encouraged to me to push my limits, think creatively, and collaborate with many others to solve problems. I am incredible lucky to have this learning experience and hope to continue learning with Amar Seva Sangam in the future.
Colorado State Univ PT- 2017
Jessie Alexander June to September 2017
I found my experience at ASSA to be challenging, sharpening, and enriching. I feel I gained clinical skill working with both SCI and CVA clients, gained confidence in working as an independent clinician, and learned so much about offering health care across cultural and linguistic divides. I deeply enjoyed living and working in India, learning about Indian culture, and finding space for cultural compromise and personal humility as an American in Tamil Nadu. I would highly recommend this placement to any students open to a challenging and enriching placement opportunity.
Queens OT- 2017
Janet Breimer June to August 2017
My placement at ASSA provided culturally rich and exciting experiences which allowed me to grow as an occupational therapist. I have deep respect for the mission and services of ASSA, as well as the staff and clients who make up the ASSA community. From the moment I and the other student OTs arrived, we were welcomed to onto the ASSA team and treated as valued participants. I was able to learn more about the culture of Tamil Nadu, India, as well as to grow in practice knowledge and resourcefulness. The health professionals at ASSA constantly seek to learn and improve their client care, and I hope to follow in their footsteps. I am looking forward to further developing in my skills and experience, so I may be able to use these skills to “give back- to ASSA in the future!
Queens OT- 2017
Chlo Houlton June to August 2017
Queens OT- 2017
Jasmine Montagnese June to August 2017
Nandri/thank you so much for having me at ASSA! I have had an amazing time at Amar Seva Sangam completing my community development and clinical placements. I felt fully immersed into the ASSA community and I felt well supported. I thoroughly enjoyed engaging with the Village Based Rehabilitation team to complete our CP manuals for parents and CRWs and getting acquainted with rural India. We bonded with the CRWs and had the chance to observe their valuable work. When we presented our manual to the CRWs they were very gracious and I hope that the manuals make a positive impact on their work! I can’t wait to see what happens with the manual in the future. As for clinical placement, I really enjoyed working with my 3 clients and bonding with them, collaborating with ASSA staff, following through with assessments and interventions with clients, and learning about the OT role in the ASSA context. I have learned so much in this placement that I would not have otherwise learned. Thank you so so so much for this opportunity and for welcoming me into the ASSA family. I hope to return in the future as a clinician!
Queens OT- 2017
Emily Brennan June to August 2017
Queens PT- 2017
Matthew Bourgoin-Horne April to June 2017
My placement at Amar Seva Sangam turned out to be better than I could have imagined prior to coming here. I have never worked anywhere where the people are so hospitable, supportive and kind. The opprotunity to work with different populations (paediatrics, spinal cord injury, stroke) provided me with a wealth of experience. Aside from learning clinical skills, having the chance to work in an environment completely different than what I am used to back home has helped me grow as a person and has broadened my horizons.
University of Dalhousie OT- 2017
Alina Tassone March to April 2017
University of Dalhousie OT- 2017
Kelsey Busson March to April 2017
I had an exceptional learning experience at Amar Seva Sangam, both personally and professionally. ASSA is truly an incredible place. Because of the wide variety of services offered at ASSA, we were able to choose which practice areas to focus on based on our personal learning objectives, as well as the needs and goals of the greater ASSA community. All staff at ASSA were very kind, hospitable, and made us feel like a valuable part of the team. They were always willing to answer our many questions about the clinical work, life at ASSA and South Indian culture in general. ASSA maintains an inspiring commitment to developing creative and sustainable solutions to everyday challenges. A major highlight of my experience was collaborating with my student partner (Alina), Mahi (OT), and two individuals living at ASSA to develop a peer support group to address mental health concerns among individuals in the spinal cord injury unit, because everyone involved was so passionate and enthusiastic about the project and making it come to life. The challenges associated with language barriers, cultural differences, and working in a low-resource setting taught me valuable lessons in communication, creativity, flexibility and cultural humility that I will carry with me into my future practice. I feel wholeheartedly thankful to have been given the opportunity to learn at ASSA, and I would highly recommend completing a clinical placement or volunteering there to any future students or practicing therapists. Thank you to everyone at ASSA and Handi-Care International for making this placement possible I will always reflect on my experience with special memories and a grateful heart.
University of British Columbia PT 2017
Caroline Toop March to April 2017
University of British Columbia PT 2017
Aliya Pirani March to April 2017
I couldn’t be happier I had the opportunity to come to Amar Seva Sangam. There were many opportunities to interact with patients with a wide variety of conditions. It was also a great opportunity to challenge myself and build my independence and confidence. It is definitely different from any placement experience you would get back home, but reflecting on those differences as well as seeing the similarities proved to be a great learning exercise. Everything I have experienced here will help me in my future practice and I would recommend this to anyone considering an international placement!
University of British Columbia OT 2017
Melanie Tait February to March 2017
I, Melanie Tait, travelled to Tamil Nadu, India to complete my 4th/5 Occupational Therapy (OT)clinical placements with the University of British Columbia. I arrived at AmarSevaSangam (ASSA) February 6th, 2017 for a 7-week placement. I initially had reservations about completing an international placement unless I found an organization that I felt the work I completed would be sustainable. ASSA has met and exceeded my expectations for an international placement for this reason. As an OT student, I am interested in promoting community engagement for individuals of all ages and abilities. ASSA is a self-sustaining community that builds individuals up with the skills they need to either return to their own community or become an integral part of ASSA. The staff, clients, and family that work or live at ASSA are kind, and welcoming to all visitors. My time at ASSA was spent working in outpatient stroke and inpatient spinal cord injury rehabilitation. The sense of community I experienced was highlighted for me on multiple occasions.
University of British Columbia OT 2017
Caitlin Hanna February to March 2017
Being immersed into a work culture can be difficult enough over the duration of a clinical placement, let alone a new country. ASSA assists in making profound differences in so many different client groups, and being allowed to work within this incredible foundation is an experience never to forget. This placement impacts your every being, from interacting with clients and staff, to sharing meals and engaging in cultural practices, to being inducted into the Indian way of life. ASSA staff, and South Indian people in general, are some of the most hospitable people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. This made working with them and for them an incredibly valuable and rich opportunity that far exceeds any opportunity we could have received in Canada.
University of British Columbia OT 2017
Mikkayla Johnson February to March 2017
My time working at ASSA was the best experience of my graduate studies. I felt so welcomed into this community and was inspired daily. Highlights of my experience here included games night with the boy’s hostel and the spinal cord unit, working with children and families in the villages and meeting the wonderful staff. I will remember this experience for the rest of my life.
University of British Columbia PT 2017
Chelsea Degrazio February to March 2017
Before coming at ASSA we knew that the organization was doing great work and providing many option to those requiring Physical Rehab services. What we didn’t know was how inspirational and inclusive we would find the facility to be. It is amazing how many long term vocational opportunities are provided and how much training and education is available to those who are only here for a short time before returning back to life with their families and loved ones. We have truly enjoyed seeing all the ASSA has to offer on top of its basic rehabilitation services. The facility clearly strives provide continued learning to employed professionals, support staff, students, and residents alike. We are so happy we had an opportunity to complete party of our education here as well.
University of British Columbia PT 2017
Jacqueline Peabody February to March 2017
Before coming at ASSA we knew that the organization was doing great work and providing many option to those requiring Physical Rehab services. What we didn’t know was how inspirational and inclusive we would find the facility to be. It is amazing how many long term vocational opportunities are provided and how much training and education is available to those who are only here for a short time before returning back to life with their families and loved ones. We have truly enjoyed seeing all the ASSA has to offer on top of its basic rehabilitation services. The facility clearly strives provide continued learning to employed professionals, support staff, students, and residents alike. We are so happy we had an opportunity to complete party of our education here as well.
MC Gill PT 2017
Sarah Schmitter January to March 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed my placement at ASSA and had an absolutely wonderful and unforgettable experience. I would highly recommend a placement here! You will gain valuable clinical experience while surrounded by some of the most welcoming, generous, and friendly people from patients and their families to members of the health care team to strangers in the villages nearby. In a small rural village, in the foothills of South India’s mountain range, you will be presented with endless opportunities not only to impact patients on an individual level, but also to make sustainable contributions to the organization as a whole. I have learned so much and been challenged in so many ways that would not be possible while doing a placement in Canada and feel so grateful to have been a part of the work that ASSA does.
MC Gill OT 2017
Eudia Jean January to March 2017
The people at ASSA are very lovely. They make you feel at home on the first day. Everyone is instantly your friend; everyone is happy to see you. I also felt safe throughout my stay and LOVED the food. The people at ASSA were also making sure that we were enjoying our time off, that we got to discover the beauties of India also. They really worked hard on having us balance work and leisure. All the clients that I had the chance to work with were also very kind and were all very happy to have treatment from me.
This placement allowed me to learn to be assertive, to find different ways to communicate with people, to be creative and work with the resources available, to collaborate with other HCPs but also other workers on the field, to become a better active listener, it helped me think about the sustainability and appropriateness of my recommendations, to think about the client in a more holistic way when providing treatment, to advocate for clients and share knowledge with others.
I got to grow professionally and personally; I got to learn a lot on myself, on a different culture, on different ways to approach and think about interventions. I really LOVED my time spent at ASSA and I would highly recommend it.
MC Gill OT 2017
Brittany Myhre January to March 2017
My time at ASSA not only helped me grow as a future clinician, but also as a person. I have so much admiration for the staff, and enjoyed getting to know the clients and their families. The work done at ASSA is so diverse, and it was amazing to see how many people were impacted through the organization and it’s staff.
