Center for Independence
The Center's program is based on a school of thought called
Conductive Education, which is a unified system of education for
people with motor disorders. Many of the children are diagnosed
with cerebral palsy. Conductive Education recognizes the fact that
a damaged brain requires a commitment of significant time and
repetition in order to learn new pathways, just as we recognize
that children need several hours a day geared toward academic
studies.
The Center provides intensive group motor training programs
based on the principles of Conductive Education. Our
transdisciplinary team of physical and occupational therapists and
conductive education teachers (individuals who have a master's
entry level education in conductive education) teach children with
physical disabilities functional activities like how to eat, dress,
sit, walk, and toilet themselves in order to maximize their
independence. The cost-efficient, time effective group format of
Conductive Education provides peer interaction, competition and
support, which build a strong foundation of encouragement,
motivation, and confidence. Each child is provided with
individualized treatment plans carried out in a group setting.
Working in cooperation with various local school districts, the
Center's program offers a one month on, one month off rotation
schedule for school age children. The children are able to attend
the Center five days a week for 3 hour sessions during that one
month period. Scheduling of primary or core academic classes is
usually performed in morning hours, prior to attendance at the
Center in the afternoons. The Center believes that children with
physical disabilities deserve to be educated in both academic and
life skills - one without the other does not develop the whole
child. Children with physical disabilities are complex and deserve
a complex education.
Services Provided
- Toddler, preschool and school age programs
- Sibling support groups
- Parent Education nights
- Home Visit Training programs
- Conductive Education