SUCCESS STORIES
Conductive Education (CE) success stories– family stories – 2009
Specialised Conductive Education programs run onsite at Carson Street Primary in East Victoria Park, the only provider of CE services in an educational setting in WA. The success and effectiveness of CE is told here by parents of children attending Conductive Education programs in WA. Each child started at a different age. Each family has their own story to share.
HILLARYS: Mike and Lee-Ann Heron, and daughter, Asialee, 3 years old
When Asialee, who has cerebral palsy, started CE at 18 months she was unable to hold her head up, swallow or sit. "The results astounded us. Within 6 weeks… read more…
MELVILLE: Lydia and Russell, and son Evan Gallant-Harvey, 4 years old
Evan is affected by cerebral palsy – brain damage – as a result of sickness [meningococcal septicemia] at the age of 7 months, and has attended the CE program since he was 2, starting in early intervention. read more…
KENSINGTON: Natasha and Steve Russell, and son Nathan, 4 years old
Nathan, who has considerable physical and intellectual impairment, has attended the CE program since he was 2, starting in early intervention, and this year has been fortunate enough to be part of the kindergarten group. read more…
KENSINGTON: Rachel and Aaron McMurray, and son, Solomon, 5 years old
Solomon McMurray has an undiagnosed condition which presents in a manner similar to CP. When Sol commenced the early intervention CE program at the age of 3, CE made a quick and noticeable impact according to family and friends. read more…
FERNDALE: Tom McIntyre and daughter, Isabelle, 5 years old
When Isabelle, who has cerebral palsy, started CE at 18 months she was unable to hold her head up, swallow or sit. The results… read more…
CANNING VALE: Liesl and David Burns, and daughter, Tahlia, 5 years old
“Since our daughter Tahlia started CE at Carson Street School she has improved greatly. In two and a half years, Conductive Education has taken her from being a floppy child who couldn’t grab objects and couldn’t even hold her own head up, to a child that can grab, roll, sit… read more...
WANNEROO: Laurenne and Stuart Jenner, and daughter Aliyah, 5 years old
When Aliyah, who has cerebral palsy, started CE at 18 months she was unable to hold her head up, feed orally or move independently. "The results surprised us. Within the first three months she began to gain head control, make eye contact and grasp toys. read more…
CHURCHLANDS: Dean Hodgson and son, Lachlan, 6 years old
Unlike many children receiving CE, Lachlan was born premature and had no underlying condition. He does not have CP or Angel Syndrome. He is developmentally delayed but improving. CE taught him to walk, eat, write…also got him talking and dramatically improved… read more…
"CE run at Carson Street is the only program of its kind in WA, so when classes are cancelled we have nowhere else to go," said Lee-Anne.
When Asialee, who has cerebral palsy, started CE at 18 months she was unable to hold her head up, swallow or sit.
"The results astounded us. Within 6 weeks she was holding her head up and she has since learned to indicate yes and no by nodding and shaking her head. She can now reach for objects and grasp them to play, and presses switch operated devices such as toys, communication devices and computers," said her mum, Lee-Ann.
"Her continuous progress provides her with the skills to have a life of access and inclusion."
Evan is affected by cerebral palsy – brain damage – as a result of sickness [meningococcal septicemia] at the age of 7 months, and has attended the CE program since he was 2, starting in early intervention. In 2009 Evan was been fortunate enough to be part of the kindergarten group, but many other children had their classes cancelled because DET and the School did not recruit specialised teachers over the 2008/2009 school holidays to run CE.
[An additional teacher did not arrive until Term 4, 2009.]
Parent’s Russell and Lydia both said that their son had improved in his mobility and vision control immensely since starting CE at the age of 2. They also mentioned that the general public needs to understand that with a child who has no mobility control or language, any improvement is a milestone and without the dedication and commitment from the Conductive Education teacher-conductors and education assistants Carson Street Primary Evan would not be where he is now.
“The future cost as a result of doing nothing now must be far greater than giving our kids every opportunity to develop themselves into individuals. It does not appear as though the education department understands the need of urgency for funding and recruitment of staff. It is not now that funding and recruitments are required it was last year,” said Evan’s dad, Russell.
“The contribution that the CE program has made to Evan’s progress is immeasurable. Without the program, Evan’s ability to swallow for eating, vocalise for communication, observe, move deliberately and even pat the cat would be highly limited.
“The inaction of the education department has created a situation that removes the rights of these kids to have a fair and equal education as every other child within the schooling system,” said Russell.
Nathan, who has considerable physical and intellectual impairment, has attended the CE program since he was 2, starting in early intervention, and this year has been fortunate enough to be part of the kindergarten group.
“As a family we have all learnt so much and we consider that this is the best method to assist Nathan’s development and are therefore very concerned that he might lose access to this wonderful program.
“The CE approach physically challenges Nathan, which has resulted in much improved head control, strength and balance to sit independently for short periods of time holding a grasp bar. His visual attentiveness, interaction in his environment and awareness has been greatly improved through involvement in conductive education,” said his mum, Natasha.
Throughout the family’s involvement with CE there has been constant pressure on the program’s resources and its ability to continue to run, with one of the major threats being the shortage of teaching staff which has reduced the hours offered to Nathan throughout the last couple of years.
“As parents we feel privileged to have been involved and very proud of Nathan’s achievements and feel alarmed that other children in need are missing out now, and that in the future Nathan could miss out,” Natasha said.
Solomon McMurray has an undiagnosed condition which presents in a manner similar to Cerebral Palsy. He is unable to sit unaided, cannot speak and has limited motor skills.
The situation prior to commencing Conductive Education (CE) – in the early intervention program in Perth in 2005 appeared hopeless for his parents, Aaron and Rachel.
When Sol commenced the early intervention CE program at the age of 3, CE made a quick and noticeable impact according to family and friends.
“It was the most fantastic development we had seen and our friends and family remarked on the massive improvements in both Sol’s engagement and his ability to communicate with those around him,” said Sol’s dad, Aaron.
“We are total advocates of the CE program and without deliberately trying to plea or sound dramatic – could not imagine a program that would be appropriate or could help our son the way CE has and we continues to do.”
Sol commenced full time Year 1 in 2009 for the CE program where he is able to participate in a full range of activates, such as gardening, swimming, excursions that are supported by the CE philosophy in terms of routine and semi-aided physical assistance which provides these kids with the challenge to balance themselves with enough assistance to participate and complete tasks – but not enough assistance to make them fully reliant on “aids” that will stop them from helping themselves develop.
The programme is aimed at helping kids to develop the skills necessary to experience greater levels of independence and success in everyday life.
Specialist teachers - who can only obtain ‘conductor’ qualifications overseas - assist children to develop fundamental skills such as sitting, walking, communicating and self care.
Using day to day activities, children are motivated to engage, both mentally and physically, with their immediate environment. Motor and cognitive skills, such as rolling to grab a toy, walking to the toilet, or grasping a spoon to eat, develop within this framework.
CE produces fantastic results where more traditional learning systems have been unsuccessful.
Families have been accessing CE since the pilot project commenced in 2005 but have always faced hurdles in funding and staffing.
When Isabelle, who has cerebral palsy, started CE at 18 months she was unable to hold her head up, swallow or sit.
"The results astounded us. Within months she was holding her head up and she has since learned to sit up by herself, feed herself and communicate more effectively. She is now much stronger and mobile and can reach for objects and grasp them to play, and press switch operated devices such as toys, communication devices and computers," said her father.
"Her continuous progress provides her with the skills to have a life of access and inclusion."
While Isabelle is lucky to be in an excellent mainstream school, she would benefit from the continuation of an outreach program.
“Since our daughter Tahlia started Conductive Education at Carson Street School she has improved greatly. In two and a half years, Conductive Education has taken her from being a floppy child who couldn’t grab objects and couldn’t even hold her own head up, to a child that can grab, roll, sit and even walk (with assistance). She has also learnt to communicate her needs and wants,” said her mum, Liesl.
“She enjoys Conductive Education and has developed a strong bond with her teachers, education assistants and the other children in her class.
“Tahlia’s teachers have made a huge difference to her life and it is due to these highly skilled conductive education teachers that Tahlia will have a more productive and less dependent life.
“Our deepest thanks go to the dedicated staff for providing Conductive Education to our daughter. It is unfortunate that this will be the last year that Tahlia will receive Conductive Education, due to a shortage of funding and staff.”
When Aliyah, who has cerebral palsy, started CE at 18 months she was unable to hold her head up, feed orally or move independently
"The results surprised us. Within the first three months she began to gain head control, make eye contact and grasp toys. The most exciting though was that she began to feed orally, and within six months we were able to throw away the naso-gastric feeding tube as Aliyah was able to eat and drink.
“Three years on Aliyah is able to roll, sit and walk with assistance and communicate sentences through the use of a special communication book," said her mum, Laurenne.
"Her continuous progress has given us hope of a more normal life for Aliyah and has allowed her to communicate basic needs, which will in turn lead on to a life of better access and inclusion within the community ."
Violet, who has considerable physical impairment, has attended the CE program since he was 2, starting in early intervention, and this year has been fortunate enough to be part of the pre-primary group, but many other children have had their classes cancelled because DET and the School did not recruit specialised teachers over the holidays to run CE. Parents are now told that an additional teacher will not be available until Term 3.
Her mum said that before Violet started her first CE program she was constantly crying, didn't trust new people at all and was very apprehensive.
“Violet couldn't hold her head up, she couldn't grasp any toys and she couldn't communicate. Thanks to Conductive Education programs, Violet has turned into a confident pre-schooler who can communicate, is interested in learning and actually likes meeting new people,” said her mum, Janet.
“My girl is an intelligent human being who just can't get her body to move like everyone else. Violet needs CE in a school environment so she can learn the school curriculum, but also learn and practice self feeding, walking and other life skills.
“Our children are dependent on a parent to experience their environment, whereas other children run around getting into everywhere and everything, exploring and learning independently. Most children with physical disabilities do not get an opportunity to interact with other children their age and that is why CE based in a school is such a vibrant and necessary experience and benefits the whole family,” Janet said.
Unlike many children receiving Conductive Education, Lachlan was born premature and had no underlying condition. He does not have Cerebral Palsy or Angel Syndrome. He is developmentally delayed but is improving all the time. CE taught him to walk, eat and write. They also got him talking; they dramatically improved his fine and gross motor skills.
Lachlan attended Carson Street a couple of days a week and is now mainstreamed. While at Carson Street he received the award for communication.
I am a teacher with the Education Department and have been very impressed with the CE teachers. They are actually level 3 teachers, a position I hope to aspire too. A position they received on Merit after only a short time. I have been teaching 20 years this year.
Our family was also in the media a couple of years back. Our daughter Ella had a liver transplant and ran the story. Lachie received some coverage because he had his own problems. They showed Lachie walking with a frame and being fed through a PEG (a portal to his stomach via syringe).
Lachie’s storey may be different but may also give the story a different slant I that CE is for children who are in need of help, rather than kids who are doomed to be highly disabled for ever and die at a young age.
Conductive Education helped turn our son’s life around.