The Tingle Family
The Front Steps Project
Meet the Tingle family. Dr. Jacob Tingle teaches a number of courses at Trinity University, including Leadership for Support Professionals, Creative Genius, Hip-Hop Innovation and Sport, Sport in England, and Introduction to Support Philanthropy.
Jen Tingle is a Pediatric Physical Therapist specializing in early intervention. She primarily works with parents/guardians of children ages birth to three.
They’re both grappling with the challenges of providing quality instruction, that is typically provided in person, via virtual mediums.
The disparity between the haves and the have-nots has been a common thread the Tingles have witnessed in the populations they work with.
In this interview, Dr. Tingle explains how college campuses provide a level playing field for students so that they can have access to everything they need to get a quality education. Unfortunately, once students had to return home during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Tingle noticed that not all of his students have WiFi, a quiet place to study, or even the luxury of focusing on their studies.
Jen explains similar challenges with some patients who live in lower socio-economic conditions. Therapy offices can provide a level playing field by eliminating distractions and creating a dedicated space for achieving goals. Once she began providing care virtually she noticed that some patients were so preoccupied with survival that suddenly therapy became more of a luxury, further highlighting the economic divide this pandemic has exposed.
Like many university professors, Dr. Tingle had to rearrange his curriculum plans in order to accommodate students who he had just seen before spring break that were now scattered across the world. How does a professor engage students in different time zones and living in realities vastly different from the one the campus provided? How can Jen continue to engage with her patients virtually and help the families reach crucial milestones in their child’s development?
Watch the conversation to learn how the Tingle’s are adapting to this new normal.
The purpose of The Front Steps Project is to document the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on individuals in my community. No one is exempt from being affected in some way by the fall out from this virus. This is history. These are our stories.
The Front Steps Project was started by Massachusetts-based photographer, Cara Soulia.
For more photos follow my Instagram page @BriaWoodsPhotography.
