The Cincinnati Museum of Natural History's Children's Discovery Center recently introduced a chiropractic "hands-on" demonstration display. Richard M. Sawicki, D.C., and his public relations director Dee Moore, both of Montgomery, Ohio were responsible for developing the display.
The chiropractic exhibit consists of a color display of the body's nervous system, a three-foot spine model, a four-foot super spine model, a television and VCR, the American Chiropractic Association (ACA)'s "My Friend Ben" video, the ACA's "Johnny Dreamer" coloring books, and a collection of spinal x-rays demonstrating normal and abnormal conditions. The display is in the Children's Discovery Center's "All About You" section, which teaches children about their bodies and their environment.
In September of 1991, Dee Moore visited the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History, and after doing some research, she and Dr. Sawicki realized that there were virtually no public museums with chiropractic information or displays. The museum directors met with the pair and were impressed by Dr. Sawicki's clinic. This meeting was followed by more than a dozen additional meetings and over 400 hours of work, coordination, proofing, and rechecking all equipment, written material, and performing training sessions for students who staff the demonstrations on the weekends.
Dr. Sawicki funded the project himself and then got additional financial support from the Southwestern Ohio Chiropractic Association, who approved funding for the equipment and supply purchases.
The display allows children of all ages to learn about chiropractic by touching and examining the three-foot spine; by taking apart the super spine to see the individual vertebrae, discs, and nerve roots; understanding the way the human nervous system works; and by watching the ACA's "My Friend Ben" video while waiting to join in other museum activities. The children even get to take home part of the exhibit -- the ACA's "Johnny Dreamer" coloring book.
Dr. Sawicki is a 1983 graduate of Cleveland Chiropractic College-K.C., and is state board certified in Ohio, Florida, and New York.
