Monday 9 January 2012

Parents now choosing other options?

Over the years of compiling my lists of news items on the Internet I have searched under Conductive Education and cerebral palsy, as quite often items which didn't mention CE, would appear about CE centres.

 I have now begun to  notice that, like Conductive Education, most of the items are connected with fundraising, rather than information or developments about the condition itself, and most of this fundraising is aimed at raising money to pay for operations (mostly in the US) which will 'enable the child concerned to walk', and sometimes intensive physiotherapy is required afterwards.  Other options that parents are choosing is stem cell treatment or one of the body suits which are available. I have no idea how successful these treatments are, in the short or long term.

 Are parents not checking out all their options? Occasionally these parents live very close to a Conductive Education centre and may have already tried it, or perhaps this means that the option of  Conductive Education is not so well known as it used to be.  Maybe centres are not able to publicise their services or encourage parents to visit and see what they have to offer.  Perhaps cost is a factor as the average amount needed for an operation is £45,000 - a substantial payment, but it should only be needed once. Conductive Education is not like that, but can involve a lifetime of learning - and therefore financial input.

Can that be one of the reasons?

2 comments:

Anne said...

Hi Gill.

I think that is part of it.
But also I think there are more alternative options out there. Different treatments and therapies (Anat Banial Method (ABM) is one of them, therapa suit another), which show promising results.

ABM seemed to even get back up by the medical community, so which one would you choose if you knew little about either approaches? The one that has no proof and little support or the one medical doctors approve of. I understand little about ABM myself as I was not able to speak to the professional.

The founder seems to be bringing out a new book soon called: beyond limits. http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/kids-beyond-limits/id456076703?mt=11

Some accounts sound they talk about CE, about learning and gaining confidence. Some don't sound like CE, making new pathways etc. Or does it?

Gillian Maguire said...

Thanks for this, Anne. I must confess it is all very confusing and must be very difficult to choose for your child. I will have a look at the book and method you mention- I think I have heard about it before and that a conductor in California was offering it,and after checking I have found a conductor, Kinga Czengi who co-founded the Avalon Academy, Burlingame, California.http://theavalonacademy.org/
She may be worth contacting.