Community Service

Since 1986 the UMPT students have hosted the Annual Hurricane Challenge at the University of Miami. The event provides a day of fun for the students with disabilities from Miami-Dade County Public Schools and has increased campus and public awareness by celebrating the abilities of these special children. The Hurricane Challenge teaches UMPT student how to plan and organize community events while learning first hand that kids are kids although some children my do things a little differently.

In 1989, the physical therapy students of Marquette University in Wisconsin issued a challenge to all other physical therapy students across the nation to raise funds for physical therapy research. The Marquette Challenge during the inaugural year was won by UMPT!  For the next 13 years, until 2001, the University of Miami either won the Challenge or was Co-Sponsor of the Challenge. Since 1989, the UMPT students have raised over $85,000 for clinical research and the Foundation of Physical Therapy.

Integrated Sports and Leisure has been one of UMPTs most popular elective course since first partnering with Shake-A-Leg Miami’s (SALM) in 1996.  Using sailing as an educational medium, UM students learn communication skills, how to provide appropriate assistance and admiration from elite skippers with disabilities at SALM, the world’s premier watersports facility. After graduation many students have gone on to develop, promote or work with community programs for children, athletes, military veterans and people with disabilities.