The Impact of a Belize Mission Trip on CSD Graduate Students - IALP 2025 Innovation and Inspiration in Communication Sciences and Disorders

The purpose of this mixed-methods study is to examine CSD graduate students’ perceptions of personal, clinical, cultural, and spiritual growth in a short-term mission trip to Belize. The outcomes of this study can provide information for faculty leading mission or study abroad trips. The information learned in this study can also be used for individuals participating in the planning stages of these programs to better prepare students. It is hypothesized that the structure of the program could facilitate growth in the areas of personal, clinical, cultural and spiritual growth.

This presentation will discuss design of the mission program as well as the outcomes of the study. It will provide an in-depth discussion on program elements and underlying themes that made a significant impact on personal, clinical, cultural, and spiritual growth of program participants.

Students who participated short-term mission trip in 2024 and 2025 were surveyed following the trip, using a 20-item, web-based survey based on the works of Plumb and Willis (2018). Students were asked to complete a final reflection essay on the last day of the program. Daily oral group debriefings were recorded and analyzed for underlying themes. Results of a mixed-methods study examining CSD graduate students’ perceptions of personal, clinical, cultural, and spiritual growth in a short-term mission trip to Belize will be discussed.

Clemens, J. E. (2014). Studying abroad: An opportunity for growth in spirituality. Bowling Green State University.

Crowley, C., & Baigorri, M. (2011). Effective approaches to international work: Substance and sustainability for speech-language pathology student groups. Perspectives on Global Issues in Communication Sciences and Related Disorders, 1(1), 27-35.

de Diego-Lázaro, B., Winn, K., & Restrepo, M. A. (2020). Cultural competence and self-efficacy after study abroad experiences. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 29(4), 1896–1909. https://doi.org/10.1044/2020_ajslp-19-00101