Describe the nature of your project.
During the grant period of Sept 1,2001 to August 31, 2002, project coordinator Sue Singer and co-therapists Anne Keller and Cindy Le Roy provided access to massage therapy for members of On Our Own and Associates, Inc. On Our Own is a friendship group composed of 60 adults with learning disabilities living in a variety of supportive housing arrangements, most within a four-block area in St. Paul, MN. Specifically, we provided three hours per week of individual full body massage therapy, reflexology or chair massage. We also provided monthly group classes in self and partner massage. To reinforce their learning of massage, members also participated in two community outreach activities, teaching others simple massage techniques.

What prompted you to want to do this work?
We are passionate about making massage available to people who otherwise don’t have access to it, specifically people with disabilities.

Project coordinator Sue Singer has been a respite foster care provider for some members of On Our Own over past 10 years. Out of her relationship to this group, she became convinced of the need for massage for members of this community. She began volunteering her time to teach monthly massage classes during the year prior to this grant program. Cindy Le Roy wanted to share her reflexology skills with that community. Anne Keller came along for the ride!

Were your hopes for the project fulfilled?
On a scale of 1 (slightly fulfilled) to 5 (very much fulfilled), here are some of our hopes for the project:
1. Members of On Our Own provide massage on their own for each other, for relaxation or pain relief. 2
2. Families recognize the benefits of massage for their family member 3
3. Social worker and Semi-Independent Living Skills counselors recognize the benefits of massage and encourage their clients to use it. ?
4. Members show up for classes and massages 4
5. Members tell their doctors that massage helps 3
6. Growth in self and body awareness 5
7. Growth in assertiveness in asking for what they want in terms of touch 5
8. Develop a model for working with other groups with similar needs 2

In what ways have you been affected personally and/or professionally because of the work?
1. Admiration for community living
2. Enjoyment of the people
3. Increased comfort level in working with people who are different than me.
4. Growth in flexibility and creativity as therapists
5. Realizing that being informal is not unprofessional
6. Experiencing a sense of belonging to the On Our Own community through their charism of hospitality
7. Appreciation for their ability to learn
8. Experiencing the joy of living in the moment because of members’ lack of time awareness
9. Experiencing the value of massage within the context of the participants’ daily lives
10. Creating a trusting learning environment
11. Recognizing the benefit of using massage tools to introduce touch.

Was there any particular experience you would like to tell massage therapists about?
Do what you love and see what will open up out of it! You might get a grant!

The generosity of equipment suppliers: ASTRA-LITE donated 2 massage tables. Bodytime Wellness donated a case of 12 sets of Nukkles (massage tools).

Witnessing one young man’s transformation from being depressed and withdrawn to developing trust and opening himself to possibilities, specifically to nurturing touch.

During a reflexology session the therapist noted an especially tender thyroid reflex point. At the urging of the therapist, the participant went the following day to her physician and after testing, was diagnosed with early stage thyroid cancer. Due to the early detection, the physician believes that the cancer can be successfully treated with non-invasive means.

Any interesting responses from the community you worked in?
The advisor of On Our Own became so convinced of the benefits of massage for the members that she worked to have funding for regular massage included in their service plan for three people who are eligible for the Developmental Disabilities waiver program. If approved, these individuals will be able to receive weekly, bi-weekly or monthly massages throughout the coming year.

If you have unlimited money, what research or community outreach projects would you undertake? Sue would love to develop a similar project working with adults with serious and persistent mental illness, teaching them to use massage to manage symptoms. Cindy would like to develop a program to teach students self-care and relaxation through reflexology. Anne would like to develop a program to incorporate massage in rehabilitation settings for people with physical disabilities. Sue and Anne would also like to expand the “Massage and Disabilities” course they presently teach at a local massage school and offer it for continuing education to massage therapists already in the profession.