University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences' Physical and Occupational Therapy Students Volunteer at Sunshine Soccer Clinic

Students team up with the Clinic, founded by Austin professional soccer player Sonny Guadarrama, and local physical therapist, Melissa Meyer, to help teach soccer skills to children with special needs

News provided by

University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences

Oct 11, 2017, 18:01 ET

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) announced that physical and occupational therapy students will volunteer at the next Sunshine Soccer Clinic, coinciding with the Global Physical Therapy Day of Service. This collaboration between the university and the Sunshine Soccer Clinic is led by USAHS Doctor of Physical Therapy faculty member, Megan Flores, PT, MPT, PCS.

Physical and occuptional therapy students from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences' Austin Campus have teamed up with Sunshine Soccer Clinic to help teach soccer skills to children with special needs. The Sunshine Soccer Clinic pairs children with special needs with these students in order to provide an opportunity for youth to interact with peers in a team sport, to be active using their unique abilities, and to move and safely explore their environment.

The Sunshine Soccer Clinic pairs children with special needs with physical and occupational therapy students in order to provide an opportunity for youth to interact with peers in a team sport, to be active using their unique abilities, and to move and explore their environment in a safe way. The events also provide parents with an opportunity to connect with other families facing similar challenges.

"The Sunshine Soccer Clinic is a unique program that enables physical and occupational therapy students to gain hands-on experience in their field," said Dr. Hannah Haro, an alumna of USAHS, "but the main goal is for the kids to get outside, move, and have fun together."

Sunshine Soccer was founded by professional soccer player Sonny Guadarrama and physical therapist, Melissa Meyer. Guadarrama, an Austin native, recently retired from playing professional soccer in Mexico for 11 years. The clinics are held on the second Saturday of every month, from 7:45 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at Manchaca Baptist Church, in Manchaca, TX.

The next event is Saturday, October 14, at 7:45 – 9:00 a.m. Additional information can be found at the Sunshine Soccer Clinic Facebook page.

For more information about USAHS, visit usa.edu.

About University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS)

The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) is a graduate institution that emphasizes health science education through innovative quality classroom and distance education. Founded in 1979, USAHS has locations in San Marcos, California; St. Augustine, Florida; Austin, California and Miami, Florida. USAHS offers degree programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing, education and health science, as well as continuing education programs.

In 2015, USAHS completed a rigorous assessment by B Lab®, an independent non-profit organization that serves as a global movement of people using business as a force for good, and became a Certified B Corporation®. USAHS is a member of the Laureate International Universities network, a global network of more than 70 campus-based and online universities with more than one million students in 25 countries, and one of the most significant global higher education providers for health sciences, and Laureate Education, Inc. is a Certified B Corp® – the largest corporation ever to become a B Corp™. For more information on USAHS, visit usa.edu. For more information about Laureate Education, Inc., visit www.laureate.net.

SOURCE University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences