A Guide to Conductive Education

 Conductive education is a system of rehabilitation for children and adults with neurological disorders that does not allow them to perform functions necessary for daily life. This may be because of cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease or may be a result of head injuries from accidents or even as a result of stokes suffered by the person. It is a system of learning that was conceived and developed by Professor Andras Peto, a Hungarian from Budapest. It was initially developed for children with cerebral palsy, but has since been developed to include other diseases, physical conditions and for all ages.

Conductive education is a learning process and not to be considered as form of therapy or treatment. The system forms a bond between the educator and the learner and deals with problems of movement and those of learning. It is an education system that has to be practiced all throughout the day and for the life time of the learner. It teaches the learner, whether child or adult, how to achieve what they want and remaining motivated to do so.

The primary aim of conductive education is to set up an active life style for persons who suffer from such neurological problems. It can help a disabled child to learn to walk and attend school. It can help an affected adult to get on with his life and go to work.

Image Source: Wikimedia : Teaching : http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Special_ed_teacher.jpg

The process of conductive education requires five basic elements that can ensure success.

• You require a trained conductor or professional who will organize and deliver the program.
• A detailed day by day program that can include all the daily activities right from waking up and up to the point where it ends with going to sleep. Playing, interacting with peers and academics can be part of daily activities. For adults working, pursuing hobbies and other interests can be included.
• All these activities need to be broken down into tasks which are a part of the daily program. These tasks become a tool for teaching and could be different for each individual.
• Children could be taught to express an intention followed by the movement required. This association of words and action is necessary to enable the person or child to have the necessary control over speech and action.
• Groups are then formed with all the persons in the group being matched for age and abilities. Interaction between the members of the group is encouraged to help each other and also to wait for attention. They observe other members of the group solving certain problems and are also allowed to be responsible for their own words and actions.

With conductive education, neurologically handicapped special need students can be taught how to sit up without help, develop hand eye coordination and maintain their balance and improve bowel and bladder control. This will help them to get the self confidence to deal with crowded environments, learn self expression so that they can communicate with others and reduce their need to depend on other people.

Conductive education - http://www.conductive-ed.org.uk/What.htm