This morning I visited a completely donation funded social project by the name of CRIT. Occidente refers to its location; there is a CRIT in each State of Mexico. As just mentioned it is all donation based with the majority of the donations coming from an annual telethon put on by, the appropriately named, Teleton. The telethon gathers various Mexican celebrities like singers, actors, actresses, and racecar drivers to help raise the money necessary to support CRIT. What does CRIT actually do? They are a collection of doctors, physical therapists, psychologists, and volunteers whose main objective is to rehabilitate the disabled youth of Mexico. And from what I saw today they do a damn fine job, damn fine. And the excellent work done at CRIT is well known, as there is a three to four year waiting list for families to receive their services. Modern equipment housed in an extremely modern facility with fun decor in balloon, plane, and Noah's Arc motifs making it less hospital-esque, sitting atop a hill on the outskirts of Guadalajara. The facility services hundreds of youths and their parents each and every day. I was truly blown away. Physical therapists working with kids with cerebral palsy in machines that position the body in the walking form so as to develop a more natural and more functional range of motion, all the while watching 'Kung Fu Panda' on a screen in front of them. I have never seen anything like it. An important factor to note in all the therapy sessions I was able to view was that the parents were directly alongside them. Whether it is poolside during a hydrotherapy session or in room with instruments to stimulate the tactile, auditory, and visual senses for the blind and deaf, parents were always there to offer support as well as take lessons learned home to be practiced. Parents also had therapy sessions of their own, to assess what they can do for their children. A second notable factor is support. At CRIT there is no such thing as 'can not.' It is an extremely positive environment for these youngsters and everyone from the doctors to the volunteers want these kids to succeed. Speaking of those working at CRIT, I must say, they all had smiles on their faces and it was more than obvious that everyone there really loved and truly believed in what they were doing. It was an extremely emotional and enlightening morning. I hope to make it back before my time here, in Guadalajara, can be called a wrap.

(Read Dustin Pitts's blog online at http://blogalajara.blogspot.com/)