Story 27 - Orthopedic & PALS Project
“Work by the members of the Lincoln Citizenship Project in Lincoln’s Orthopedic Hospital has been carried on for some time. But only this year has a definite program for orthopedic research been developed.”
According to Dr. Donald Clifton, the purpose of Orthopedic Project was to develop relationships with children at the hospital and through these relationships, enable these patients to build other friendships and to help them see some contribution they can make in the future. (Source: Projections, May 1961.) Patients at the hospital were counselees, most were children and young adults who were from the state of Nebraska. In addition to the weekly one-on-one visits with their Project Pals, there were several special activities for the boys and girls in the hospital.
In the Projections January 1967 issue it was noted "under the assumption the patients would enjoy doing something for others for a change" and they began to depend on their regular visits of their 'Project Pal.'
Although the hospital admitted and treated 1,587 patients in the 1970-1971 biennium, the 1971 Legislature decided to accept the recommendation of a 1968 study which said the hospital should be closed. The Lincoln Orthopedic Hospital closed October 1, 1971. Under the direction of Gary Sherman, efforts were made to make Park Elementary School the new home of the project, which became known as PALS.
In 2021, PALS project transitioned from a standalone project into its current form, where mentors and mentees involved with PALS are members of the project associated with the PALS mentee’s school. Today, PALS mentees are incorporated into the NHRI project structure based on their age and school, not their ability level. This change aimed to retain the original mission of PALS while allowing PALS mentees to engage with their NHRI peers in their schools and communities. While PALS is no longer its own NHRI project, PALS project lives on within NHRI’s seven existing projects.
The biggest event of the year occurred on Saint Patrick's Day. For the first time, Orthopedic Project held an all hospital carnival for the staff as well as the children. Clowns, music and prizes were among the activities. Together, counselors and their counselees tried to win prizes at booths which included a fish pond, a sponge throw, a jail, a duck pond and a cake walk. The most popular booth was the fortune teller. Several weeks later the staff and patients were still reminiscing about the carnival and the counselors unanimously agreed to make the carnival an annual affair. Most exciting experience for all was having lunch with the Cornhusker football team. Source - Annual Report 1969-70
Ryan Beckman and Doug Straub have a 30+ year relationship, first formed in PALS Project. Doug’s father, Lehn, was a counselor in PALS in the early 1970’s.
Many positive long lasting relationships between counselors and counselees have developed over the years. One counselor pretty much summed up the views of the counselors when she said,
“Love, friendship, and caring . . . that’s what counselors have not only increased their understanding of physically handicapped individuals but through their investments of time and friendship have had a significant influence in developing the awareness of the counselees capabilities and talents while cultivating their perception of the wants and needs of others.”
