B&G Hope Grant - Bringing DMI Therapy to SWLA!
Applications open August 22nd and close October 1st. The recipient will be announced on November 14, 2024.
The B&G Hope Grant is specifically designed to support a Physical Therapist or Occupational Therapist in the Southwest Louisiana (SWLA) area to become certified in Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI) Therapy. This therapy is crucial for children with special needs, but currently, the nearest certified DMI therapists are located in Houston and Baton Rouge. This distance creates a significant challenge for families in our community who rely on this specialized treatment.
With the B&G Hope Grant, Families for Inclusion aims to bring DMI Therapy closer to home, significantly reducing travel burdens and providing essential support directly within SWLA. By empowering local therapists with this certification, we can help ensure that special needs families in our area have easier access to this life-changing therapy.
Grant Requirement: The therapist who receives this grant must sign a contract to work in SWLA for at least five years after obtaining their DMI certification. Failure to meet this requirement may result in the therapist being required to repay the grant.
2024 Recipients!
2024 Recipients!
Families for Inclusion Expands Access to Specialized Therapy in Southwest Louisiana with B&G Hope Grant
This August, Families for Inclusion launched the B&G Hope Grant, a groundbreaking initiative to fill a major gap in pediatric therapy right here in Southwest Louisiana. This grant funds certification for local Physical and Occupational Therapists in Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI) Therapy, a specialized approach that helps children with unique developmental and mobility needs. Up until now, families needing DMI Therapy have had to travel to Houston or Baton Rouge because we simply didn’t have certified providers in the area.
Originally set to fund one certification, the B&G Hope Grant has now expanded, thanks to Children’s Miracle Network and a generous private donor, to support four therapists. With this new capacity, Southwest Louisiana will soon be a go-to hub for DMI Therapy, supporting local families and drawing others from around the state who seek this essential care.
Parents are already seeing the life-changing effects of DMI Therapy. Jenny Thomas, mother of Amelia, shared that since starting DMI, Amelia has gained strength and is now bearing weight on her arms—something she couldn’t do before.
The B&G Hope Grant has supported these outstanding local therapists:
Abby Bell with Maxx Physical Therapy
Megan Gallien at West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital’s Outpatient Physical Therapy
Brittany Jones from Therapy Works
Laura Hanchey with St. Nicholas Center
These therapists are committed to practicing in our area for at least five years after certification, ensuring sustained, local access to DMI Therapy for families in need. The B&G Hope Grant exemplifies Families for Inclusion’s commitment to bridging vital therapy access gaps and fostering a more inclusive and supportive community.