DMH employee named Therapist of the Year award

DMH Physical Therapist Lindy Bequette celebrated her birthday this July like a star when she accepted the 2004 National Therapist of the Year award. The award was presented by the National AMBUCS association at a banquet in Breckenridge, Colo. AMBUCS is a national service organization dedicated to creating independence and opportunities for people with disabilities.

“It was an overwhelming experience and very emotional to be with so many people who appreciate what I try to do for children,” says Bequette, who was presented with a plaque at the banquet and gave a short acceptance speech. “AMBUCS really works hard to help children---the organization is just great,” she says. AMBUCS paid for Bequette’s airfare and hotel accommodations for five days. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime award,” says Bequette, whose parents also joined her for the momentous event.

Bequette, who has been a physical therapist at DMH for nearly five years, won the Decatur Therapist of the Year award in April after being nominated by Doris Barnett, a member of the Decatur AMBUCS.

Barnett’s nomination highlighted Bequette’s dedication to helping children reach their full potential, her community involvement and her use of the AMBUCS AmTrykes for special needs children. The AmTrykes Project, created and funded by AMBUCS, buys and distributes specially designed tricycles for children with disabilities. The tricycle was designed in 1990 by a Texas chapter of AMBUCS and now includes a toddler, small frame, large frame, and an all-terrain version.

DMH is the AmTrykes demonstration site for Central Illinois, and DMH therapists have one of each size to use with patients. “They are just great for the kids and the Decatur AMBUCS have been wonderful for purchasing an AmTryke for every child that I think needs one,” says Bequette, who has requested about 10 in the last two years. While in Colorado, Bequette helped AMBUCS representatives give away AmTrykes to 30 children from all over Colorado, who traveled up to three hours to accept their gift.

Bequette also created Releve, (a French dance term meaning “to rise”) two years ago when she worked with an eight-year-old girl with cerebral palsy who desperately wanted to be a ballerina. “I told her I’d help her dance like a ballerina, so I created a program for her and other children who wanted to dance,” Bequette says. Last year, 12 children participated and this year there are 17 who meet each Sunday at Studio B in Mount Zion to dance. Bequette also has been volunteering for the past three summers with STARR—School for Therapeutic And Recreational Riding—which helps children with special needs by horseback riding.

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