CASP making a difference in Peru and in the world for 35 years

On August 20th, the Centro Ann Sullivan del Peru (CASP) celebrated 35 years of fruitful institutional life, fully dedicated to providing high-quality education to people with different abilities (autism, mental retardation, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and other cognitive limitations) and their families, so that they can become independent, productive, and happy people in our society.

The results obtained throughout our institution’s history fill us with great satisfaction, because we have contributed directly to the development of Peru and because we have been considered as a model research, demonstration and educational center for other national and international organizations with which we share the desire to highlight the talent of people with different abilities.

35 years ago CASP committed itself to giving a chance to people with different abilities and working for them, so they can be included in all aspects of life like anyone else by raising their quality of life and promoting development and policy change in order to transform our country. Currently it serves over 450 students and families, 100 of which are working in real jobs, and another 70 are included in regular schools.

It is also important to note that the government of Panama adopted the Peruvian model to create the Centro Ann Sullivan de Panama (CASPAN); and that over 25,000 parents and professionals from 24 departments of Peru and 15 countries from Latin America and Europe benefit from the online long-distance education system that CASP has used to make a difference in the lives of people with different abilities and their families since 2008.

CASP and OMAPED carried out free Visual Diagnostic Clinics in Chancay, Aucallama and Huaral

Free visual diagnostic clinics were held on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 8 and 9, in cities such as Chancay, Aucallama and Huaral, thanks to the initiative of the Ann Sullivan Center of Peru (CASP) in strategic alliance with the OMAPED (The Municipal Office for People with Disabilities) of these cities, and the Municipality of Huaral.

These clinics had the invaluable support of Dr. Linda Marie Lawrence, an internationally recognized ophthalmologist from the University of Kansas and consultant of CASP who has specialized in the evaluation of verbal and non-verbal people with different abilities.

Dr. Lawrence and the multidisciplinary team of CASP made an ophthalmologic evaluation consisting of: visual acuity, pupil dilation to examine the ocular fundus, diagnosis and recommendations for follow up care of over 60 babies, children, young people and adults with different abilities of Chancay, Aucallama, and Huaral.

Dr. Lawrence has been awarded prizes and international honors for her humanitarian work around the world. She uses simple language, techniques and specialized methods to identify if the vision of people with different abilities is impaired. In this way, she prevents them from having learning problems, maximizes their chances of development, helps them in their academic progress and therefore makes their inclusion successful.

It is worth mentioning that for 35 years, CASP has been committed to fighting for the rights of people with different abilities and for their inclusion in all aspects of life like everyone else. This initiative is part of the activities planned for this year for our 35th anniversary.

           

CASP and the I Octavio Mongrut Muñoz Hospital - EsSalud (HIOMM) sign strategic alliance for comprehensive activities of health promotion

On Wednesday, June 25, the Ann Sullivan Center of Peru (CASP) and the I Octavio Mongrut Hospital (HIOMM) of the Sabogal Healthcare Network – EsSalud celebrated the signing of an Agreement of Inter-institutional Cooperation for the implementation of preventative and promotional healthcare activities for CASP employees.

Dr. Adler Gil Quesada, Director of the I Octavio Mongrut Hospital, and Dr. Liliana Mayo, Founder and Executive Director of CASP, were in charge of the agreement. The agreement establishes a cooperative alliance between both institutions with the purpose of improving health and making lifestyle changes, through participation of the EsSalud-insured employees of CASP.

It is also expected that healthcare professionals trained in prevention and health promotion will perform a comprehensive evaluation of CASP employees. Additionally, a group of employees will be formed to be in charge of promoting and maintaining healthcare permanently at CASP, called Healthy Life Promoters.

The agreement was made possible by the new Reform Program of Renewed Life that Social Security – EsSalud carry nationally. The program allows for identifying risk factors of insured workers who are overweight or obese or have dyslipidemias, high blood pressure and elevated blood glucose levels, within a health category called Metabolic Syndrome.

“Through this strategic alliance,” Dr. Adler Gil Quesada said, “a commitment to attention and comprehensive intervention has been established for all employees of CASP in an efficient and effective way. We hope that this program will have an impact on the detection of health problems for each collaborator of this educational institution and that it will help avoid developing illnesses and/or control them adequately. For us, it is a challenge, a challenge to promote new healthy lifestyles in the educational community, and we are assuming it with responsibility, commitment and much enthusiasm.”

Said Dr. Liliana Mayo: “Today is a historic day for us. The signing of the strategic alliance between CASP and the Octavio Mongrut Hospital fills us with joy.”

I Octavio Mongrut Muñoz Hospital (HIOMM)

The I Octavio Mongrut Muñoz Hospital (HIOMM) of the Sabogal Healthcare Network is an institution of Social Security located on Avenida Parque de las Leyendas 255, Maranga, San Miguel, was inaugurated through Executive Presidential Resolution No. 473-PE-ESSALUD-2007 on July 21, 2000, the mission of which is to pursue the wellbeing of the insured and their access to healthcare, economic and comprehensive and quality social benefits. HIOMM currently has a population of 193,131 insured beneficiaries from the districts of San Miguel, Bellavista, Carmen de la Legua and La Punta, and it provides preventative and promotional health services within the location of its jurisdiction through the programs of Primary Attention and Reform of Renewed Life, in addition to healthcare and recuperative services through its emergency, hospitalization, external consulting and rehabilitation services.

CASP receives visit from U.S. congressman Christopher Smith

As part of his diplomatic trip, U.S. congressman Christopher Smith visited the Ann Sullivan Center of Peru May 14, sharing touching moments with the students, their parents and the staff of our institution, who showed the value and potential of CASP’s educational model.

The congressman toured CASP’s facilities with Dr. Rosa Oyama, General Director of Programs for Students, Family and Professionals at the center. Congressman Smith acquired an appreciation of the work done with students and the different programs, especially the work training of La Solución laundromat and the Project iPad classes of the younger students. Furthermore, the congressman took the opportunity to hear life testimonies from students in the Supported Employment Program and their parents.

The Ann Sullivan Center of Peru is grateful for the congressman and his staff’s visit and for the interest they have shown in the work the center has been doing for 35 years with the education of people with different abilities in Peru and throughout the world.

With much success, the Prelude Cultural Association performed the spectacular musical “Sweet Charity” to benefit CASP

For a fourth year in a row, the Prelude Cultural Association offered an annual musical to benefit the students of CASP and their families. The event took place Saturday, May 10, at the renovated facilities of the Municipal Theatre of Lima.

Well-known people attended the event along with families and friends from CASP. All enjoyed more than two hours of this fantastic musical filled with light, color and extraordinary jazz numbers and set in the 1960s. The musical starred the great Denisse Dibós under the direction of Mateo Chiarella with a cast line-up featuring notable actors Pablo Saldarriaga, Paul Martín, Sergio Lois, Anahí de Cárdenas, Emilio Drago and Ernesto Pimentel, among others.

We are immeasurably grateful for this production of “Sweet Charity,” the production team, the Prelude Cultural Association and all the attendees for coming to the benefit event with us. The benefit further contributes to our students’ learning with the objective of fully integrating them in the society as independent, productive and happy people.

A thousand thanks…!