Ghana Oral Motor Therapy at the Mephibosheth Training Center
Ghana oral motor therapy reached a new milestone during Jenna Kobara's third volunteer trip to Ankamu, Ghana. Kobara, an occupational therapist, joined a multi-disciplinary team led by mentor Bonnie Nakasuji. Nakasuji is an OT who received an international service award from the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).
Since 2003, Nakasuji has directed teams of occupational, physical, and speech-language pathologists, OT students, teachers, and health professionals. They serve the Mephibosheth Training Center (MTC). Founded in 2005 by Pastor Joseph Jehu-Appiah and his wife Andrea, a physical therapist, MTC is a boarding school. It serves over 70 students ages 7–25 with diagnoses including cerebral palsy, post-polio syndrome, Down syndrome, and autism spectrum disorder.
TalkTools Donations That Made a Difference
TalkTools provided key materials for the trip. Donations included bite tubes, Honey Bears, flex straws, straw kits, and horn kits. Before traveling, therapists completed a free TalkTools course on Oral Placement Therapy.
Improved Drinking Independence
Using Honey Bears and flex straws helped children drink water safely. Students no longer needed peer assistance to access fluids. This small change had a meaningful impact on daily independence.
Speech and Oral Motor Gains
Horn and straw kits improved oral awareness and lip closure. Community assessments found oral motor weakness in many students, affecting both feeding and speech. Families received hands-on education. Therapists taught bite-tube use, slow feeding methods, and oral sensory input via Nuk brushes.
Progress was rapid. Within one week, students showed improved response to verbal prompts and visual cues. They demonstrated increased lip closure and rounding during speech production tasks.
Lasting Impact of the Program
The two-week trip gave students and caregivers a strong foundation. Skills were built for continued progress on future visits. Ghana oral motor therapy, supported by TalkTools tools and training, proved that targeted interventions can create real change - even in resource-limited settings.