Conductive Education is an appropriate method of teaching motor function to children and adults who have motor disorders resulting from damage or disease to the central nervous system.
Conductive Education is particularly valuable for children with Cerebral Palsy, Dyspraxia or Spina Bifida. By assisting the child to develop independence with activities of daily living or as identified in Conductive Education, an ortho functioning personality, children may face less stigma or exclusion by others. Children are taught to see themselves as active and self-reliant participants in the world. The result of Conductive Education is that the quality of life is improved as well as the psychological well-being of the child and their family.
For adults with Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Paraplegia and after-stroke conditions, Acquired Brain Injury, Conductive Education aims to regain motor control through creating new neural pathway; a bit like ‘gym for the brain’. People who live with any of these conditions experience difficulties with coordinating and controlling their movements. Associated problems often include communication difficulties and sensory impairment.
Families interested in Conductive Education are asked to schedule an individual assessment by filling out a pre-assessment form, a detailed intake form for a function driven assessment. The assessment is completed by a Conductor. To find the pre-assessment form, visit the Children’s Programs page and the Adult’s Programs page.
All children participating in the program require a physician’s release to participate in an intensive motor function therapy program. The program also requests that the children’s physician provide a release stating that the child’s hips are cleared for intensive therapy. This can be included on the prescription for the evaluation along with the ICD–9 code.
Many families care for someone with Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis or another neuro-motor disability and wish to find treatments to best serve their loved ones. Conductive Education is one option for many individuals with these impairments.
Unfortunately, Conductive Education is not appropriate for every child and adults with motor or cognitive delay. Conductive Education may not be appropriate for children with uncontrolled seizures or who exhibit significant sensory processing impairments. For Conductive Education to succeed, individuals must have good visual and auditory skills, he/she must be able to benefit from a group setting, he/she must be able to tolerate the intensity of the program, and the individual’s level of cognition must be at a point where she/he is able to interact with others and follow directions accurately.
