The Therapeutic Clown Program
at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
The program
The Therapeutic Clown Program at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital was initiated by Therapeutic Clowns Canada in 2005 and is generously funded by an anonymous donor. Jamie Burnett was the first therapeutic clown there as 'Ricky' and initiated many renowned projects including 'How to Wash Your Hands' video, and the research project which measured the impact of the clowns on disabled children: the first quantitative study of its kind in the world. In 2007, Helen Donnelly was hired for the purpose of co-creating a duo clown model for the program to replace the single clown model. She partnered him in this study which was published in 2010. Today, the program is joined by Manuel Rodriguez as 'Nurse Polo' and together with Helen Donnelly ('Dr Flap') they clown on the units and in clinics Tuesdays and Thursdays. In 2008, Kathleen Le Roux joined as Dizzy Do-Right, on an occasional, "fill-in" basis, covering absences.The program's aims are to raise the standards of therapeutic clowning and to involve themselves in research efforts in order to bring about a clearer idea of the impact the clowns are having on the clients, their families, the staff and the very environment in which they serve.
Burnett, Donnelly and Le Roux have been members of CATC/ACCT since its inception in 2004.
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehab is Canada's largest rehabilitation facility for children (infants-18yrs old) serving primarily children with multiple disabilities and special needs. The therapeutic clown practitioners serve all 3 inpatient units in the facility: Brain Injury Rehabilitation Therapy, Specialized Orthopedic Developmental Rehabilitation, and Complex Continuing Care. An average of 65 children populate the inpatient units, and hundreds use the facility as outpatients, who also benefit from visits when Dr.Flap and Nurse Polo pass through the clinics and hallways.The clowning
Clowning with multi-disabled children at Holland Bloorview with their
very
unique challenges and circumstances
requires particular emphasis at times on non-verbal clowning
techniques. The clowns predominantly use
touch, music, rhythm, movement, physical comedy and slapstick to
stimulate, engage and play with
clients. Additionally, using the duo model in this context affords a
variety of choices for the
children and helps address and manage the many complex needs they have
during their play.
Complementary Care
The clown practitioners are on staff and are part of the interdisciplinary team under the direction of the Life Skills and Wellness Institute. They work closely with Child Life workers, social workers, nurses, doctors, physiotherapists and Therapeutic Recreation Specialists. They attend rounds, record statistics about the number of visits (1,600/year on average) and initiate educational opportunities within the facility and beyond about the work through workshops and at conferences, nationally and internationally.Contact
For further information feel free to contact:
- Helen Donnelly (hdonnelly@hollandbloorview.ca)
- Manuel Rodriguez (mrodriguez@hollandbloorview.ca)