A surprising year

It is twelve months to the day since I left the Foundation for Conductive Education and the National Library of Conductive Education.

http://www.conductiveeducationinformation.org/2009/02/now-is-time-to-say-goodbye-to-era.html

I felt sad and angry. Angry that the Library would no longer be a living library as there would be no-one with the time and expertise to search, find, beg for ,and add material to it. Keep it growing. As far as I know those assigned to looking after it have other responsibilities and therefore little time, if not none at all, to devote to it. Shame. The systems I put in place mean that basic services of issuing and returning items can be offered to the service users, students and staff at the Foundation. It is the only Library in Conductive Education that is open access (I know that the opening hours have been reduced to term time only by appointment) and applications for new membership not being accepted. Access is possible but not in the way it was. Shame.

Soldiering on

I felt sad as I thought that after eighteen years plus in Conductive Education I was leaving it and taking my knowledge with me. I did not think I would be able to keep up this blog, that it would be impossible without the Library around me, but I have managed it and hope to continue. A number of people have written to me with enquiries which I have responded to and the number of hits, now 10,487 as I write this, has been quite satisfying with an average of 200 a week.

Just do it

More time can now be spent on preserving the knowledge and information on Conductive Education through publishing and I am part of the Conductive Education Press publishing house. www.cepress.org The first book, Just Do It, came out in December and sales have been steady. There are plans for several more books, so its future is looking bright and exciting.

Popular and personal support

I would like to thank again those who wrote to me a year ago saying such kind and complimentary things and also those who signed the petition.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/help-save-our-library/

The support of several people over the first six months helped enormously. This meant so much and encouraged me to stick with Conductive Education, determined to work for it in new (if unpaid!) ways.

An unexpected anniversary present

I started preparing this posting a week or so ago and since then I have had a surprising communication which means this extra paragraph. I received an email informing me that I had been nominated and accepted for the award of Honorary Conductor to be presented at the World Congress in Hong Kong later this year. Apparently a letter had been sent through the post in December 2009, and I had not received it, but a copy of this from Professor Schaffhauser, written on behalf of the Andras Peto Institute of Conductive Education and Conductors’ College Senate, has just arrived. Naturally this was completely unexpected and left me at sixes and sevens, as they say. Of course I was delighted to accept. I am now waiting for further information and may go to Hong Kong. I did go there as a child and have some happy, if slightly vague, memories of the trip.

It just goes to show how life can change in a very short time - and I wonder what will the next twelve month bring!
　
　

Photographs of Conductive Education go on show

Is this a first?

I have just read a news report of an exhibition of photographs taken by professionals at a Conductive Education centre in the UK.

http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/5036154.Opening_window_on_a_world_striving_for_independence/

The Megan Baker House Photographic Exhibition opened in Worcester Cathedral yesterday with photos of the participants and their families taken during sessions at the Centre. It will remain there until Sunday 21 March.

It is hoped that the exhibition may move to other venues.

I am not aware of any other such ventures, so please let me know if there are any, or have been any.

Conductive Education Awareness Day - how did it go?

Conductive Education Awareness Day in North America took place on Thursday 25th February. I posted a blog before this with links to the few mentions I had found in the Internet.

http://www.conductiveeducationinformation.org/2010/02/conductive-education-awareness-day.html

How did it go?

Well, I have found a few more links after searching today. No doubt a Thursday was chosen for the 'Day' as it would be good time of the week to get coverage in the media, but not as much materialised as was hoped, I imagine, but perhaps there will be more appearing over the next few days or so.

Most of the links below refer to Grand Rapids, and just one to the Pittsburgh center. As more than 40 centers were taking part this must be very disappointing.

There are videos and references to Grand Rapids Conductive Education learning center at

http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/eightwest/Conductive_Education_Awareness-
http://videos.apnicommunity.com/Video,Item,36028862151892290.html

http://www.wzzm13.com/video/default.aspx#/Conductive+Learning+Center+helping+kids+with+disabilities/68575678001

http://www.wgvu.org/wgvunews/audio/fplayer1.cfm?styid=5898

Various links to these TV items plus a radio interview can be found at

http://zh-tw.facebook.com/posted.php?id=280655096442

http://www.wjrwam.com/Article.asp?id=1711874&spid=

http://www.wzzm13.com/news/health/story.aspx?storyid=118886&catid=9

http://ko-kr.facebook.com/ACCDAT
Lists a number of links re the Awareness Day

http://www.blogged.com/topics/education-awareness-campaign/

Mention of CE awareness Day amongst other campaigns.

http://www.northwestsignal.net/
This had a picture ( no longer accessible) and some text you have to register to read.

http://whitneynelson.blogspot.com/2010/02/pictures-and-news.html
A parent, whose child appeared in one of the TV reports blogs the event.

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2010/23/c3862.html
Press release by March of Dimes, Canada

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/education/22671864/detail.html
Mention in Pittsburgh TV report of Steps to Independence center.

I hope these links will still be 'live' when you try them as I have found that some e.g. the North West Signal piece, have already been taken down.

If there are others not included in this list, please let me know and I will add them.

Conductive Education Awareness Day

Thursday 25 February has been designated Conductive Education Awareness Day in North America by ACENA (Association for Conductive Education in North America), see

http://acena.org/national-ce-awareness%20day.html

which states:

This day will provide CE Centers everywhere the opportunity to focus on their successes, publicize their programs, inform the general public, build legitimacy, gain political support, increase client base, and drive funders to the Conductive Education cause. A CE Awareness Day Campaign Kit that provides customizable press releases, proclamation letters for local and state government, Conductive Education stats and facts, sample advertisements with a common message, and a post-campaign evaluation has been sent to all ACENA members.

I have found several other references to it on the Internet.

http://www.deweykaye.com/mosaic/JobsWatch/listings/StepsToIndependence_ProgramCoord.html

http://www.michigan.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168-25488_54480-231631--,00.html

http://themoose.aquinas.edu/2010/02/17/come-celebrate-conductive-education-day-2010-thursday-february-25/

http://www.marchofdimes.ca/NR/rdonlyres/DA937E23-BAD9-43FD-91E8-AB0D61A8027E/0/CENewsletterFall2009Winter2010.pdf

There have been other awareness days and weeks in the past which have had a limited effect, so I would love to know how successful this venture proves to be and how many of the 40 centres mentioned in the March of Dimes newsletter used the campaign kit.

In the meantime I hope the day is productive, that awareness is raised successfully and Conductive Education is shown to be a wonderful educational system and not just another therapy.

New website for parents by a parent

I have just had an alert from Google for a website I believe is new this year and it looks very interesting and different from the usual.

http://www.exceptionalfamilytv.com/

Set up by a father of a cerebral palsied child it states its aims as:

Exceptional Family TV is the online home destination for families raising children with special needs, bringing together all the social and multimedia elements in one location.

COMING SOON MAY 2010- Internet based weekly TV show Focusing on the realities of raising children with special needs. Sign up for "Sneak Peeks" of the show.

eFamilyTV Store- Scheduled to launch March 2010. Our online store will feature products specific to the special needs community. Adaptive toys, adaptive clothing, equipment, travel, and so much more. What would you like to see in our store?Click here to make suggestions.

Family Networking taken to a new level- April 2010. Bringing families together locally and internationally by allowing you to search and connect based on child’s age, diagnoses and location. Make friends online or choose to meet up locally for play dates

A request for parents to discuss their experiences and knowledge of Conductive Education has been made at

http://www.exceptionalfamilytv.com/category/168/all

Worth watching - it is on Facebook with over 1200 friends.

Please write, write, write on Conductive Education

Yesterday I read a parent’s blog via a link from Andrew Sutton’s blog, saying how much she liked to read, and how keen she was to read about Conductive Education and how it could help her.

http://www.rojosjourney.com/2010/02/knowledge-quest.html

I responded saying to get in touch with me for suggestions. Later I realised that I might be offering false hope as Andrew had already mentioned Dina, the only really useful item of any substance. As you probably all know, the literature of Conductive Education is very limited, and anything worth reading at any level even more limited. I managed to collect as much as I could for the National Library of Conductive Education whilst the librarian there, but this was everything for the record rather than just all the ‘good stuff’.

What can I suggest? I did produce a list titled Parents Experiences of Conductive Education, but this was mainly unpublished accounts of the results and improvements made by their children after recieving Conductive Education, rather than practical explanations of what actually the conductors did. Anyone wishing to know more about this list should contact me. All items are (or were when I left) in the National Library of Conductive Education at NICE in Birmingham. Other than this, Dina and possible some parents' blogs ( I hope to compile a list of these soon), I can think of nothing. Suggestions would be very welcome as new material may be out there that I do not know about.

Previously on this blog I have called for conductors to write about what they do, explain their practice and offer guidance to parents, or anyone else interested in how it works, in this way. There seems to be a reluctance to do this in case others use the information to ‘practise’ it themselves by offering services with ‘the principles of Conductive Education,’ as expressed in one comment on my posting.

So I ask again, please do write, as one conductor does already, at http://www.susie-mallett.org/ Help us all to understand and be able to explain to others why it is such a wonderful system. Anyone can write down what they do, no prior knowledge or experience is necessary to report and explain.

Research and academic material is still needed but that is a completely different ball game!

So please write, write, write so we can all read and learn, learn, learn.

New feature

Please note that I have just added a 'Search this blog' feature which I hope will be useful. It is located in the column on the left above the directories.

Conductors with Consultancies and Practices

I have found a small number of websites of conductors who run consultancies and offer services to individuals or groups. Most of these are in the UK or US. 
Details of what is on offer may be obtained from their websites or by email.


Australia

Lisa Gombinsky is now operating Pys Ed Studio in Sydney, Australia and can be contacted at lisa.gombinsky@gmail.com

Eszter Agocs works in Adelaide, running Future Footprints Conductive Education at
80a Prospect Road, PROSPECT 5082, Adelaide,  SA. Phone number: +614 00 202 509
Contact her at  eszter@futurefootprintssa.com.au  Website: www.futurefootprintssa.com.au



Canada

Anne-Christian Wittig has set up in British Columbia and can be contacted via her blog and email at
http://movingaheadconductiveconsulting.blogspot.com/
http://www.movingaheadcc.com/index.html


Eire (Ireland)

Hajnalka Kele is offering her services in Ireland at  Norbreck, Belvedere Lawn, Douglas, Cork, Ireland. contact her by telephone: 00353 (0) 879560460 email: contacthandinhand@mail.com
website: http://www.handinhand-conductiveeducation.com/
 
Germany


Susie Mallett, based in Nuremberg, offers services for children and adults
http://www.susie-mallett.org/

Raphaela Ross, based in Paderborn
http://www.raphaela-ross.de/


Hungary

Agnes Borbely has been running her consultancy, Moira, since 1987.
http://www.moira-cec.hu/en/index.html


United Kingdom


László Szögeczki runs Independent Conductive Education Services in the North of England. Please contact him via email or mobile phone only at present.
http://www.i-ce-s.com/

Path for the Disabled Ltd is based in Exeter with Erszebet Gordon.
http://pathforthedisabled.co.uk/default.aspx


Judit Szathmary has Szathmary Training and Consultancy based in Hampshire, England.
Phone: 07967 1944 33 email: judit.szathmary@virgin.net


Lisa Kovacs is the contact for the service Learning Alternatives based in Wales

http://learningalternativescymru.co.uk/default.aspx

Noemi Nagy

http://www.ceforadults.com/index.html

Angelina Dawson, based in the West Midlands, offers to work with children and adults
http://www.ce-services.co.uk/home/

Gábor Temleitner has been operating for some years now and can be contacted at
http://www.qcet.net/

Amanda Elliott runs New Forest Conductive Pedagogy and works with adults and children. Contact her  at mandyelliott100@gmail.com



United States

Krisztina Abonyi Bernstein‘s consultancy, Conduktiva, in San Francisco has a website at
http://home.earthlink.net/~conductiva/

Eleonora Tamasne is in San Jose, California at Learning Together and can be contacted by phone on +1 408 858 2238 and has a website http://learningtogether-ce.com/

Judit Roth runs Cerebral Palsy Solutions, Coaching and Consulting Inc., a consultancy in Virginia, US.
http://www.conductiveedconsulting.com/

Ssuzsi Balogh's consultancy, Conductive Education for the Motor Disabled, offers services  in Bellevue, WA ( near Seattle) doing home visits only and can be contacted via her blog at http://conductiveeducator.blogspot.com/
or phone 425-351-3559.


There may be more I have not tracked down yet. Please let me know of any not listed above or any details which are wrong.
Hand in Hand
Norbreck, Belvedere Lawn, Douglas, Cork, Ireland. contact: Hajnalka Kele
phone: 00353 (0) 879560460 email: contacthandinhand@mail.com
website: http://www.handinhand-conductiveeducation.com/

Internet News no.8

This is a list of items found on the Internet recently that may be of interest.

Conductive Education

http://www.ludlowadvertiser.co.uk/news/4818878.Ludlow_school_to_support_Megan_Baker_House/
Fundraising support for Megan Baker House

http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/news/Generous-readers-Billy-sensory-room-possible-aid-experts/article-1652213-detail/article.html
Money raised for Sensory Room and possible trip to Peto Institute for youngster.

http://www.northantset.co.uk/news/Fund-for-James-reaches-5000.5891123.jp
Fund raising to send boy to Hungary

http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Rainbow-House-secures-pot-of.5967635.jp
Big fundraising success saves Rainbow House in Cheshire

http://www.insidetoronto.com/news/local/article/396846--march-of-dimes-offers-seniors-daily-living-help
New services for adults being provided by March of Dimes in Canada

http://www.hertsad.co.uk/content/herts/news/story.aspx?brand=HADOnline&category=News&tBrand=HertsCambsOnline&tCategory=newslatestHAD&itemid=WEED30%20Dec%202009%2011%3A04%3A52%3A750
Mention of monthly CE group for Parkinson’s in St Albans, Herts, UK.

http://www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/Hampshire/Portsmouth/PO6/News/Local-News/152985-Fundraising-Mum-Uses-Skills-to-Help-Others
Mum is helping raise money for CE centre her son attends in Fareham, Hants, UK
　

Cerebral palsy

http://www.drugwatch.com/news/2010/01/29/mother-blames-botox-daughter%e2%80%99s-death-manufacturer-faces-first-lawsuit/

http://www.aboutlawsuits.com/botox-for-cerebral-palsy-recommended-7879/
Concern and warnings about using botox for cerebral palsy

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8462520.stm
Teenage actor with cerebral palsy to play Ian Drury in film about his life.

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/286059
New York man with cerebral palsy uses ballet as therapy

Multiple sclerosis

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1242441/Could-multiple-sclerosis-caused-blocked-veins.html
Possible cause of multiple sclerosis

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/besttreatments/2010/jan/21/new-treatments-on-the-horizon-for-multiple-sclerosis
New drugs on horizon for MS

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=2475272
Is new MS research media driven or the real thing?　

Parkinson’s disease

http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=154854
Current trial tests whether Coenzyme Q10 can slow down Parkinson's disease

http://www.viartis.net/parkinsons.disease/news/100123.htm
Report of survey of American prevalence of Parkinson’s disease

http://www.themedguru.com/20100121/newsfeature/treadmill-workouts-benefit-parkinson-s-patients-86131878.html
New German study reports benefits of treadmill workouts.

http://newslocale.org/health/hnews/nintendo_wii_balance_board_helps_patients_with_neurological_conditions_2010011911054.html
Wii board may help with balance

Stroke

http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2010/01/21/Country_music_star_suffers_mild_stroke_while_snowmobiling/
Country music star suffers mild stroke

http://www.dnaindia.com/health/report_vitamin-e-may-prevent-brain-damage-in-stroke-victims_1334067
A new research by the Ohio State University researchers suggests that blocking the function of an enzyme in the brain with a specific kind of vitamin E can prevent nerve cells from dying after a stroke.
　

Conductive Education Centres in Germany

This list is one of a series being compiled of centres employing conductors around the world. The UK, North America, and countries beginning with the letters A-F have already been done and can be accessed on the left hand side of this blog.

This list contains details of centres in Germany (the only country with the letter G to have services with a conductor as far as I am aware) and countries beginning with the letter H onwards will come at a later date. If any of the information is wrong or now out of date, or I have not included any centre, I would be grateful if you would let me know. All place names are given in their German spelling.

Please accept my apologies for any missed accents.

Much of the information has been gleaned from a brochure produced by Fachausschuss Konduktive Förderung (Hrsg.) and details of this will be provided below.

Centres in Germany

FortSchritt Freiberg e.V.
Vorstand, Matthias-Grünwald-Str. 13, 79100 Freiberg
Contact: Regina Huber Tel: 0761/40 85 20 Fax: 0761 790 10 41
Email: fortschritt-Freiberg@web.de

FortSchritt Nürtingen e.V.
Kreuzkirchestrasse 6, 72622 Nürtingen
Contact: Dietrich Crüsemann. Tel: 07022/93 33 90
Email: dietrich.cruesemann@t-online.de

FortSchritt Ulm e.V.
Friedrichsau 2, 89073 Ulm
Contact: Christine Filus Tel: 0731/927 48 82 Fax: 0731/927 47 95
Email: fortschrift-ulm@t-online.de

Privates Forderzentrum Aschau
Bernauer Strasse 18, 83229 Aschau/Chiemgau
Contact: Elmar Kuhn Tel 08052/171 15 00

KWA Klinik Stift Rottal
Max-Köhler-Strasse 3, 94086 Bad Griesbach
Contact: Dr Christoph Garner Tel: 08532/874 61 Fax: 08532/879 13
Website: http://www.kwa-klinik.de/

FortSchritt Dürmenting e.V.
Steinachweg 3, 88525 Dü rmenting
Contact: Wolfgang Wörner Tel: 07371/44 76 14 Email: wwoerner@duermentingen.de

FortSchritt München e.V.
Steinröschenstrasse 14, 80995 München
Contact: Dr Helmut Hörtner Tel: 089/1 50 77 71
Email: hoertner@t-online.de

Bayerische Landesschule für Körperbehinderte Konduktive Tagesstätte Johann Nepomuk von Kurz Stiftung
Kurzstr 2, 81547 München
Contact: Hermann Behrens Tel: 089/642 58 148
Email: kurz-stiftung@t-online.de

Stiftung Pfennigparade Phoenix Konduktives Förderzentrum GmbH
Oberföringers. 150, 81925 München
Contact: Beate Höss-Zenker Tel: 089/839 36 393 Fax: 089/839 36 395
Email: beate.hoess-zenker@phoenix-kf.de

FortSchritt Starnberg gGmbH
Ferdinand-von-Miller-Str. 14, 82343 Niederpocking
Contact: Peter Van Quadt Tel: 08151/20 41 Fax: 0851/729 86
Email: mailto:verian@fortschritt-starnberg.de

Verein für Menschen mit Körperbehinderung e.V.
Zerzabelshofstr. 29, 90478 Nürnberg
Contact: Anita Moos-Hlavacek Tel: 0911/462 63 50 Fax: 0911 462 35 10
Email: moos@behinderte-nuernberg.de

Konduktive Förderung für Kinder und Erwachsene
Arndt Strasse 21, 90419 Nü rnberg
Contact: Susie Mallett Tel: 0911/941 23 17
Email: small66711@aol.com Website: http://www.susie-mallet.org

FortSchrittRosenheim e.V.
Arnulfstrasse 28, 83026 Rosenheim
Contact: Doris Weisbach Tel: 08031/908 19 50 Fax: 08031/908 19 60
Email: fortschritt-rosenhein@arcor.de or weisbach@surfEU.de

Lebenshilfe Kreisvereinigung Tirschenreuth
Waldsassener Strasse 9, 95666 Mitterteich
Contact: Berthold Kellner Tel: 09633/918 360 Fax: 09633/ 918 362
Email: berthold.kellner@lebenshilfe-tirschenreuth.de

Blindeninstitutstiftung Einrichtung für Konduktive Förderung
Ohmstr. 7, 97076 Würzburg
Contact: Birgit vom Busch Email: vombusch@gmx.de

FortSchritt Würzburg
Ohmstr.7, Haus 4, Gruppe a/b, 97076 Wü rzburg
Contact: Dr Christiane Scheler Tel: 0931/270 55 30 Fax: 0931 270 55 31
Email: fortschrittwuerzburg@t-online.de

Rehabilitationszentrum Berlin Ost e.V.
Allee der Kosmonauten 15, 10315 Berlin
Contact: Helmut Siebert Tel: 030/549 96 30 Fax: 030/ 541 81 22
Email: rbo@rbo-info.de Website: http://www.rbo-info.de/

HELIOS Klinik Hohenstücken
Brahmsstrasse 38, 14772 Brandenburg a.d. Havel
Contact: Dr Martin Köhler Tel: 03381/791 118 Fax: 03381/ 791 119
Email: martin.Koehler@helios-kliniken.de Website: www.helios-kliniken.de/hohenstücken

FortSchritt Berlin/Brandenurg e.V.
Cottbusser Strasse 33, 03096 Werben
Contact: Fred Scheler Tel: 035603/700 90 Fax: 035603/ 759 046
Email: r.f.scheler@t-online.de

FortSchritt Nordhessen e.V.
Schöneuberger Strasse 3, 34128 Kassel
Contact: Barbara Klemm-Röbig Tel: 0561/884 587 Email: klemm-roebig@t-online.de

Förderverein Kinderneurologie Königsstein e.V.
Alt-Sossenheim 3, 65936 Königsstein
Contact: Roswitha Fusik or Monika Benz Tel: 069/27 29 38 66
Email: info@petoe-konigstein.de Website: http://www.peto-königstein.de/

Fortschritt Frankfurt e.V.
Esztergomstrasse 33, 63477 Maintal
Contact: Christoph Drescher Tel: 06181/945 50 421
Email: info@cdrescher.de Website: http://www.fortschritt-frankfurt.1kx.de/

FortSchritt Walldorf e.V.
Josef-Reiert-Strasse 4, 69190 Walldorf OR Plattenseestrasse 3a, 69168 Wiesloch
Contact: Susanne Huber Tel: 06222/755 16 Fax: 06222/307 414
Email: info@fortschritt-walldorf.de

Fortschritt im Osnabrücker Land e.V.
Venner Str 9, 49565 Bramsche
Contact: Ulrike Renzenbrink Tel: 05468/922 025
Email: Wilhelm@renzenbrink.de

FortSchritt Hannover e.V.
Im Tale 1, 30922 Seelze
Contact: Frank Heilman Tel: 05137/127 211 Fax: 05137/ 825 09 70
Email: fheilmann@fortschritt-hannover.de

Zentrum für Frühbehandlung und Frühförderung
Maarweg 130, 50825 Köln
Contact: Dr Rainer J. Wilmes Tel: 0221/95 42 50 42 Fax: 0221/95 42 50 55
Email: aerzte@fruehbehandlung.de

FortSchritt Düsseldorf e.V.
Kolpingstrasse 35, 40764 Langenfeld
Contact: Andreas Hocheuser Tel: 02173/ 683 806 Fax: 02173/ 683 805
Email: fortschrittD@aol.com

Konduktive Förderung für Kinder and Erwachsene Kinder und Erwachsene
Thunemeiershof 7, 33102 Padeborn
Contact: Raphaela Ross Tel: 05251/ 184 00 00 Fax: 05251/ 709 43 84
Email: info@raphaela-ross.de Website: http://www.raphaela-ross.de/

Zentrum für Konduktive Therapie (Kooperation mit dem SPZ des Ev. Krankenhauses …Oberhausen) & Fortschritt im Revier e.V.
Falkensteinstrasse 20, 46047 Oberhausen.
Contact: Udo Fischer Tel: 0208/ 880 760 Fax: 0208/880 76 15
Email: info@zentrum-konduktive-therapie.de Website: http://www.zentrum-konduktive-therapie.de/
OR contact Fortschritt im Revier at
Stalhermstrasse 43, 45968 Gladbeck
Tel: 02043/631 85 Fax: 02043/677 89

St Nikolaus Stiftshospital GmbH Zentrum fûr Konduktive Therapie
Hindenburgwall 1, 56626 Andernach
Contact: Hans Peter Mayer via Frau Koch Tel: 02632/ 404 57 53
Email: a.koch@stiftshospital-andernach.de

Verein Ponte Kö e.V.
Seumestrasse 35, 06667 Weissenfeis
Contact: Annelies Herrmann Tel: 03443/33 31 70
Email: hallo@pontekoe.com

Schrittweise e.V.
Erich-Mäder-Strasse 4, 04603 Windischleuba
Contact: Christine Burger Tel: 03447/ 83 99 07 Fax: 03447/83 15 18
Email: burger@schrittweise.org

Reference

Fachausschuss Konduktive Förderung (Hrsg.) (2009) Konduktive Förderung. Düsseldorf: FKF.

More newsletters

I have been told of two more newsletters which have been added to the list.
This list has now been added to the other directories in the left hand column and will be updated each time I discover another newsletter.

Please keep them coming!

Conductive Education Newsletters

A number of centres and organisations now produce a newsletter for their users, staff and friends to keep them up to date with such things as progress of the children, fundraising events, staff changes and general development. These do not usually include information about other CE services and organisations unless there is some connection recently created or visits made, but concentrate on the local progress, activities and financial contributions.
Initially such publications were circulated on paper by hand or via the post, but are now mainly uploaded on to the organisation’s website, thus gaining a much wider audience.

I have managed to compile the following list and would be grateful for details of any I have missed, so I can update it.

North America

ACENA

http://www.acena.org/acena-newsletters.html
Conductive Learning Center, Aquinas [This newsletter is now available to members only]

http://conductivelearningcenter.org/class/
A Child Can Do All Things

http://www.accdat.org/ This newsletter needs signing up for and is sent by email

Gaitway
http://www.swgaitway.org/pdf/news_for_web_7_2010.pdf

March of Dimes

http://www.marchofdimes.ca/dimes/people_with_disabilities_caregivers/programs_and_services/conductive_education/CE_newsletter.htm

Movement Centre, Manitoba

http://movementcentre.ca/newsletter.aspx 

Australia and New Zealand

NACE (South Australia)

http://www.conductiveeducationsa.com/newsletter.htm

Conductive Education Centre (Western Australia)

http://conductiveedwa.com.au/newsletters/

Auckland Conductive Education Foundation

http://www.acef.org.nz/introfound.htm

New Zealand Foundation for Conductive Education

http://www.conductive-education.org.nz/

Addington School New Zealand

http://www.addington.school.nz/newsletter.htm

Glowkids -Iris Conductive Education
http://www.glowkids.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/GLOW_NEWS_September_2012.pdf

France
http://www.assonoemi.fr/?cat=17
Association Noemi

http://www.honorine-leve-toi.org/le-journal-d-honorine/article/le-journal-d-honorine-no-07?lang=fr
Honorine Leve Toi

UK
Megan Baker House

http://www.meganbakerhouse.org.uk/newsletters.php
Pace Centre, Aylesbury

http://www.thepacecentre.org/newsletter.html
Legacy Rainbow House

http://rainbowhouse.msgfocus.com/q/1p5zYHShwq1HV/wv
ITI

http://www.iti-uk.org/frameset.htm
Stick’n’Step

http://www.sticknstep.org/File/newsletter.asp
Whoops a Daisy
http://www.whoopsadaisy.org/images/documents/whoopsadaisynewsletterwinter10.pdf 

Rest of the world

Tsad Kadima, Israel

In Hebrew and English

http://www.tsadkadima.org.il/?CategoryID=187&ArticleID=101&sng=1
http://www.tsadkadima.org.il/?CategoryID=165&ArticleID=99&sng=1

The Ranger Foundation, Mauritius

http://www.therangerfoundation.org/index.php?id=60

Another type of group work

The weather here in the UK is dreadful at the moment with lots of snow and ice which always means the the whole country grinds to a halt, even when it has been forecast and there is time to prepare. Schools close and getting around can be difficult. Why we as a country can not cope, I do not know, but it is always so!

Indoors trying to keep warm, I thought I would do a blog about my reading group.

Every six weeks or so , six of us meet as a Reading Group to discuss the latest choice of book and catch up with each others news. The group was formed ten years ago when most of us were working at the Foundation for Conductive Education and because we get on so well, we have kept in touch in this way, while enjoying a good read at the same time. No-one is still involved with the organisation except for our latest recruit who is a volunteer.

We take turns to choose a book, (in alphabetical order by surname) and this person chooses the meeting venue - usually a restaurant in Birmingham with a special dining offer. After reading six choices we then open 1001 books you should read at random and that becomes the next book to read and discuss. We then return to each of us choosing in the order mentioned.

Over the years we have read and discussed a wide variety of books, some I have enjoyed, some have been disappointing and some downright awful - to me, anyway. I did not like Perfume or The Reader and found Bill Bryson’s A Short History of Everything very demanding. Some have been delightful, for example, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, and Alan Bennett’s The Common Reader.

Sandra has chosen Kafka’s soup, which is a history of literature in seventeen recipes. I have just finished this and it is a winner for me. The recipes look very do-able and he has written wonderful pastiches in the style of each author. I particularly like the Raymond Chandler, Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. Some of the authors' writing I am not that familiar with but have still enjoyed Franz Kafka, Harold Pinter and Marcel Proust.

This is a lovely witty read, and also a very good antidote to the cold weather. Cheap copies are available via Amazon.

References

Bryson, B. (2004) A short history of nearly everything. London: Black Swan.

Bennett, A. (2008) The uncommon reader. London: Faber and Faber.

Boxall, P., ed. (2008) 1001 books to read before you die. London; Cassell.

Crick, M. (2007) Kafka's soup; a history of literature in 17 recipes. London: Granta Books.

Schlink, B. (1998) The reader. London: Phoenix.

Suskind, P. (2007) Perfume. London: Penguin.

Watson, W. (2008) Miss Pettigrew lives for a day. London: Persephone Classics.

New Job Centre off to a good start

The new Job Centre set up for conductors seems to be off to a reasonable start considering the time of year.

There are a number of vacancies up at the moment so if you are looking for a job or want to advertise a post , please go to

http://www.facebook.com/pages/CONDUCTIVE-WORLD-JOBS/376055890606?ref=search&sid=1540593482.2828234181..1#/pages/CONDUCTIVE-WORLD-JOBS/376055890606?v=info&ref=search

Do let me know how you get on, whether you are a conductor looking for work, or a centre looking for a conductor, as it would be interesting to know how many responses each vacancy gets.

Peto Institute is no longer the only option

Over the past year, and particularly this last week, I have been seeing news items about parents raising money to take their children to the Peto Institute in Budapest. A very worthwhile aim but these parents do not seem to have any awareness of the availability of Conductive Education services with conductors, not just in their own country, but very near home and quite often free, or at least subsidised in some way.

One of the stories reported the efforst of a family in Corby, Northants which cannot be that far from the Leicestershire Steps Centre and I assume they are not aware of this.

http://www.northantset.co.uk/news/Fund-for-James-reaches-5000.5891123.jp

http://www.ludlowadvertiser.co.uk/news/4818878.Ludlow_school_to_support_Megan_Baker_House/

http://www.stepscentre.org.uk/apps/content/html/viewcontent.aspx?id=1

It seems that Conductive Education still has a long way to go not only in promoting its benefits, but also promoting the services available locally. A difficult task and something to aim for in 2010.

I will try and do my bit and keep my lists of centres up to date and also aim to produce lists of services in more countries.

Another year - its now 2010

It is now the first day of 2010 and I wish you all a happy, healthy year.

Last year was not the best for me and I can hardly believe that its nine months since I left the National Library of Conductive Education on 4 March 2009. Even though I wanted to saty in touch with the conductive world, I was not sure that it would be possible for me to carry on with this blog. But so far so good, and I am looking forward to 2010 being a positive, productive year in many respects.

Looking at the statistics I have been pleased to see that an average of 100 people have viewed the blog each week - thank you, and keep it up along with your enquiries and suggestions.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Season's greetings to you all.

I hope 2010 will be a happy, healthy year for everybody. I am still recovering from the nasty virus I caught a few weeks ago so this posting is a little late, but better late than never, as they say!

Internet News no.7

It has been quiet on the Internet over the past weeks but here are some links that I have found that may be of interest.

Conductive Education

http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/4735281.New_chief_executive_for_Megan_Baker_House/
New chief executive for Megan Baker House, CE Centre, UK

http://www.guardian.co.uk/publicservicesawards/runners-up
Joe Mawdsley, Rainbow Legacy Centre, UK, runner up for award.

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2009/200911/20091118/article_419793.htm
Conductive Education being applied at CereCare centre in Shanghai, in China

http://www.cerebralpalsybirthinjuryblog.com/2009/12/conductive_education_and_cereb.html
Video on Heel and Toe centre on cerebral palsy birth injury lawyer blog.

http://american-conductor.blogspot.com/2009/10/conductive-education-news-from-north.html
News of Conductive Education Awareness Day and ACENA conference now on ACENA website.

http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2009/12/16/conductive-education-centre-christmas-pantomime-97319-25397501/
Christmas play at NICE, in Birmingham

http://www.cerebralpalsylawdoctor.com/technology/hungarian-born-method-treats-children-with-cerebral-palsy.html
Report of CE at Jackson Center in US.

http://www.marchofdimes.org/NR/rdonlyres/DA937E23-BAD9-43FD-91E8-AB0D61A8027E/0/CENewsletterFall2009Winter2010.pdf
Latest March of Dimes Conductive Education Newsletter published.　

Cerebral palsy

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1236238/Why-did-Jude-Richmond-kill-disabled-daughter-Her-close-friend-reveals-drove-brilliant-woman-desperation.html
Friend speaks of desperation and despair.

http://news.ulster.ac.uk/releases/2009/4770.html
Research focuses on mums with disabilities.

http://planetthrive.com/2009/12/using-dance-to-rewire-a-cerebral-palsy-brain/
Using dance to help cerebral palsy

Multiple sclerosis

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1229840/Vitamin-D--missing-link-multiple-sclerosis-sufferers.html
Vitamin D may help reduce symptoms.

Parkinson’s disease

http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2009/12/19/a-hospital-patient-is-aiming-to-raise-100-000-to-find-a-cure-for-parkinson-s-disease-97319-25425185/
Young sufferer raising money for research into Parkinson’s.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/8396112.stm
Worm could offer Parkinson’s clue.

http://www.viartis.net/parkinsons.disease/news/091203.htm
Detailed description of Parkinson’s disease dated 1690, has been discovered.

Stroke

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1235896/Electric-shocks-retrain-throat-muscles-help-stroke-victims-eat-again.html

http://www.viartis.net/parkinsons.disease/news/091203.htm
Anti depressants can up risk of stroke.

Conductive Education on the television

Its that time of year for 'feel good' stories everywhere and I understand that the March of Dimes centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia has had a visit from Gobal news TV crew. A session with participants and conductor was videoed earlier this week and is expected to be broadcast over this weekend or early next week.

Apparently it will be on their website eventually at

http://www.globalmaritimes.com/.

Perhaps there are other centres receiving similar coverage at the moment.

Heard this morning...

This morning I heard an interesting discussion on BBC Radio 4's programme Start the Week. The story behind the Internet encyclopedia, Wikipedia, was reported and the effects, growth and results of its presence discussed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00p87qw#synopsis

Perhaps a similar encyclopedia relating to Conductive Education might prove enlightening and interesting to help those who know little about CE or understand its philosophy and practice. The entry for it in Wikipedia could do with elaboration and more detail perhaps. Difficult to establish I would think (technically and academically), and maybe it would not have enough solid knowledgable contributions.

Where has this week gone?

Since Sunday I have been the victim of a particulary nasty virus which has kept me in bed for five days and left me with a hacking cough and severe catarrh. Consequently, I have not even switched the computer on and checked my emails. When I did that this morning there was a large number of messages in my in-box and so I would like to say that if anyone has been waiting for a reply, please wait an little longer and I will get back to you all.

Just do it!

A new book on Conductive Education has just been published.

Twenty-one graduates of the Wolverhampton University/Foundation for Conductive Education degree course have contributed to this collection edited by Andrew Sutton and Gillian Maguire.

Mandy Elliott, Lisa Gombinsky, Rachael Skinner, Susanna Woo, Julia McDonald, Rebekah Wilkinson, Stephanie Driver, Eszter Richardson, Annamaria Berger, Kate Burke, Hannah Davies, Ingvild Froeysang, Anne-Christiane Wittig, Beth Brydon, Becky Featherstone, Marthe Gulbrandsen, Ben Foulger, Philippa Crane, Chloe Hicks, Lil Hege Skjerpen and Natalie Ibarguen-Sanchez have written about their experiences as new conductors.

The book costs £ 7.50 plus postage and packing and is published by Conductive Education Press: http://bit.ly/cep-justdoit

Reference

Sutton, A. and Maguire, G., eds. (2009) Just do it! Young conductors in their new world. Birmingham: Conductive Education Press.

Another new book on Conductive Education

Another book (details below), written in German has just been published and is available from Amazon at

http://www.amazon.com/Konduktiv-mehrfach-therapeutische-F%C3%B6rderung-nach/dp/3639206614

It is expensive - priced at $87.00 - and has 144 pages. More than that I cannot say as I have not seen it, but I will be very interested to receive any comments or information about this book which I can pass on.

Schwarzenbacher, S. (2009) Konduktiv mehrfach- therapeutische Förderung nach Petö und Keil: Theorie - Praxis - Effektivität. VDM-Verlag. ISBN-10: 3639206614 ISBN-13: 978-3639206616

Interconnections Electronic Bulletin

The latest issue of this free bulletin is now available at :

http://icwhatsnew.com/bulletin/index.htm

The Interconnections Electronic Bulletin is part of the Interconnections Information Services and goes free to over 10,000 people (and growing) in all parts of the UK and Ireland and then finds it way into many other networks and countries. It is aimed at all those involved in education, health and social services.

If you think it may be useful to anyone you know please pass this link on.

Jobs for conductors

Now recovered from a nasty tummy bug which made last week very uncomfortable, I can look at the outside world again. I notice today that Andrew has mentioned a conductor job going in Spain and I have had a request to mention the conductor-teacher post still unfilled in the US.

I quote:

...the need for a certified CE teacher here in the Washington , DC area. This school district is the one that has been working with Sixten’s Foundation (http://www.sixten.org/) and has successfully launched its pilot program last year.

This post has been advertised on the Employment center page of the new Conductive Education Communications Center website, but perhaps it needs more time to become a regular browsing page for conductors.

http://conductiveeducation.net/employment-center/

Also the Job Centre on the Foundation for Conductive Education's website has been having technical problems for some time now and might not be being viewed. Another thought is that maybe in these difficult financial times, conductors are staying put rather than moving around and looking for work.

Good luck to all those looking for a job and also to those wanting to recruit.

Photos taken in the Peto Institute

I was sent a link to some photos on the Internet which I thought I would mention on this blog.

Conductive Education centres all over the world have posted pictures on their websites illustrating their work with children, but these are very different. They are black and white, not colour, and carefully shot so they are more like works of art in their lighting and composition. Very interesting.

Click on the following link to see these forty-nine photos taken by Stuart Freedman of children in the Peto Institute, that have been posted as a slideshow. They are not dated and include a number of pictures of a British boy, Joe Pallot.

http://www.photoshelter.com/c/stuartfreedman/gallery-slideshow/G00007BLxf9u_EGI/?start

Stuart Freedman, is a photographer who has worked around the world from Afghanistan to Sierre Leone, and been published in der Spiegel, Paris Match and Newsweek. More information and other examples of his pictures can be found at

http://www.stuartfreedman.com/index.htm

New book about Conductive Education

Books on Conductive Education are not large in number so it is always of great interest when a new title comes out. This week I heard that a new book has been published in Germany this September on Conductive Education, written by a therapist.

Baumann, Angelika (2009) Die Beziehung zwischen Körperbehindertenpädagogik und Konduktiver Förderung in Bildung und Erziehung.

Oberhausen: ATHENA - Verlag. 592pp. ISBN 3898963659 Price 34.50 euros.

This has been written in German and the title translated into English is -

The relationship between physical disability, pedagogy and Conductive Education in education and upbringing.

Details can be found at

http://www.phoenix-kf.de/index.php?n1=&n2=&r1=I&r2=&BB_ID=25

And a brief abstract (in German) is available on Amazon at

http://www.amazon.de/Beziehung-K%C3%B6rperbehindertenp%C3%A4dagogik-Konduktiver-F%C3%B6rderung-Erziehung/dp/3898963659/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258299125&sr=1-2

Unfortunately my knowledge of German is a little weak to say the least, and so I cannot say anymore. However, I will look forward to receiving your comments and reviews which I will post on this blog.
　
　
　
　
　
　

Internet News no.6

This is a selection of news items found on the Internet in the past few weeks that may be of interest.

Conductive Education

http://english.mti.hu/default.asp?menu=1&theme=2&cat=25&newsid=264602
Hungarian president, Solyom, will visit the Tui Glen foundation for neurological rehabilitation, which maintains links with the Hungarian Peto Institute for Conductive Education.

http://www.dudleynews.co.uk/news/4658542.Dudley_Parkinson_s_support_group_benefits_from_supermarket_shoppers/
Supermarket raises funds for Parkinson’s sufferers.

http://southdownsliving.blogspot.com/2009/10/vera-lynn-charitable-side-of-forces.html
Big fundraising event for Dame Very Lynn School for Parents in Sussex

http://www.edgazette.govt.nz/Vacancies/Vacancy.aspx?VacancyId=565433
Management vacancy for centre in New Zealand

http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/4659585.Founder_of_Megan_Baker_House_charity_resigns_as_leader/
Megan Baker House founder resigns as leader of the centre in Herefordshire

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1917041
Fundraiser benefit for March of Dimes

http://www.crescent-news.com/news/article/4682132
Fundraiser for little boy attending Sara’s Garden

http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/your_money/New_jobs_need_new_degrees
New degree in CE offered by Aquinas College

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=60536525
Video on adult work at the National Institute of Conductive Education

http://www.peoplenewspapers.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=E2F53C4F6B614F7B91AB36319693A230&AudID=DA7D68F24889442D98449D08560D8327

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/fea/healthyliving/family/stories/DN-nh_kidfit_1013gd.ART.State.Edition1.4bc1e5c.html
Stories about CE at I Can Do All Things in Texas

http://www.guardian.co.uk/publicservicesawards/joe-mawdsley
Award for Joe Mawdsley, founder of Rainbow House, Cheshire

http://www.freep.com/article/20091109/NEWS06/911090330/1001/News/Michigan-news-10-million-drug-bust-in-Thumb-area
Fundraiser for Conductive Education center Metro Detroit

http://www.wowjobs.co.nz/job/Conductor+08+FTE-iris-auckland-218247
Details of a job in New Zealand

Blogs that mention CE

http://southdownsliving.blogspot.com/2009/10/would-you-walk-over-hot-coals-to-help.html

http://southdownsliving.blogspot.com/2009/11/incredible-mission-undertaken-for-dame.html

http://greimannkappa.blogspot.com/2009/11/great-day-on-job.html

http://themoose.aquinas.edu/2009/11/11/interested-in-special-education/

Cerebral palsy

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091001/babies_091001/20091001?hub=Health
Cooling premature babies’ brains appears to help limit brain damage

http://www.northwaleschronicle.co.uk/news/78878/llanberis-cerebral-palsy-climber-to-make-history.aspx
Man with cerebral palsy becomes first with condition to qualify as indoor climbing instructor

Multiple sclerosis

http://www.examiner.com/x-11509-Multiple-Sclerosis-Examiner~y2009m11d10-New-drug-once-used-as-bird-poison-shows-promise-for-Multiple-Sclerosis
New drug may help MS

http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/11/06/early-relapse-of-ms-may-mean-fewer-issues-later.html
Early relapse may mean fewer issues later

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/11/09/obese-teenage-girls-run-a-greater-risk-of-developing-multiple-sclerosis-115875-21807906/
Obesity may create greater risk of developing MS.

Parkinson’s disease

http://www.viartis.net/parkinsons.disease/news/091113.htm
Michael J Fox’s foundation funds four new approaches to Parkinson’s disease.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/6350921/Can-drugs-for-Parkinsons-Disease-cause-uncontrollable-desires.html
Drugs for Parkinson’s have compulsive side effects

http://news.therecord.com/Life/article/627960
Space perception may be reason for ‘freezing’ in Parkinson’s.

Stroke

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5hkqiBIF0sct2MYYFjLhpYmhgy8hQ
Doctors link migraine to strokes

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/besttreatments/2009/nov/10/common-infections-may-increase-stroke-risk
Common infections may increase stroke risk

http://u.tv/News/Revolutionary-drug-for-stroke-victims/8aba35f5-3469-488e-9544-a4bdb75206c6
New drug helping save lives in Northern Ireland

Disability issues

http://lifeandstyle.independentminds.livejournal.com/698875.html
Families with disabled children receive little support from outside the family in UK

Reviews of the documentary - When a mother's love is not enough

The documentary was broadcast last night and unfortunately I was not able to watch it and have not tried the Internet yet. Others did see it and a number of reviews have appeared in the media.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/6539642/When-a-Mothers-Love-Is-Not-Enough-BBC-One-review.html

There are 18 comments on this.

http://channelhopping.onthebox.com/2009/11/09/when-a-mothers-love-is-not-enough-review-special-television/

The end of this review calls the programme 'a worthwhile piece of entertainment' and has five comments on it.

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/last-nights-television--when-a-mothers-love-is-not-enough-bbc1-james-mays-toy-stories-bbc2-john-sergeant-on-the-tourist-trail-itv1-1818096.html

No comments so far on this one.

Would anyone like to add to these with their thoughts ?

When a mother's love is not enough

This the title of a documentary on BBC1 television on Tuesday 10 November at 10.35pm and should be of interest to all those with disabled children as it presents it as it is. Rosa Monkton (best known for being a friend of Princess Diana) has a daughter with Down's syndrome and in this film she meets and interviews other families struggling to raise a disabled child.

In the Radio Times it says:

The emphasis here is deliberately - and courageously -on the hardships that come with caring for disabled children rather than the joys...All the parents - including Monckton - and able-bodied siblings talk freely about their lowest points. Some even admit to thinking about harming their children. It's not easy to watch as families battle to keep it together and prepare for a difficult future.

On Tuesday morning there will be a piece about this on BBC1 Breakfast News (between 8.15am and 9.15am) as Julie Evett, a parent who appears in the film and Rosa Monckton are interviewed.

The documentary should be accessible via the BBC's website for those unable to watch it on television

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00ntmbf

New Conductive Education portal now up and running!

Today I received the press release re the new CE portal which is now up and running. Rather than try and summarise it I have reproduced it here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 5, 2009 Contact: M.J. Szimanski
Publisher@conductiveducation.net
202.560.75 1 6


Conductive Education Communications Center (CECC) Launched at

www.ConductiveEducation.net

Website Portal will Connect and Inform Parents, Educators and Legislators with Conductive Education Resources and News for Children with Cerebral Palsy and Related Disorders


WASHINGTON, DC – The Conductive Education Communications Center (CECC) website, blog and discussion forum was officially launched today at

http://www.conductiveeducation.net/.

The CECC website is specifically designed for parents, certified Conductive Education teachers and specialists, other therapists, center and facility owners, service providers, legislators, attorneys, the media and those involved with the care and education of children with cerebral palsy and related neuromuscular disorders.

The Conductive Education Communications Center offers areas including a blog, links, a resource toolbox, videos, attorney resources, worldwide Conductive Education centers, an employment center (for those seeking both Conductive Education employment and applicants), recent and relevant articles, news and perhaps most importantly, a discussion forum for parents, educators and others to discuss Conductive Education resources and experiences. Contributions from parents, educators and others will also we welcomed.

According to the Peto Institute (http://www.petoinstitute.org/), Conductive Education’s founding organization, “Conductive education is a unique system of teaching and learning for children with motor disorders such as cerebral palsy and spina bifida. It is designed to improve motor skills and increase independence of many aspects of common living.

Conductive Education was developed at the Petö Institute (http://www.peto.hu/) in Hungary over 40 years ago and has now been widely established in Hungary, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Germany, Australia, Israel , and others. There are other centers using principles of Conductive Education in Malta and New Zealand as well.”

For further information on the Conductive Education Communications Center , please contact the publisher at publisher@conductiveeducation.net. Sponsorship and advertising opportunities are available.

New content is still to be added and a little tweaking to be done. I am sure Mike Szimanski would appreciate any feedback that you may wish to give and it will be interesting to see how it develops.

Award for Conductive Education

Another award for someone in Conductive Education was announced today. Six years ago the Guardian public service awards were created and are run in conjunction with Hays Specialist Recruitment. The awards are for all organisations involved in public services including those in the public, private or voluntary sector. For further information see:

://www.guardian.co.uk/publicservicesawards/about-the-awards

The Award for 2009 has been given to Joe Mawdsley, founder of the Rainbow House Centre in Cheshire. The article states:

In April 2001, four months after her five and three year old sons' were diagnosed with the rare genetic life-threatening disorder (CDG), Mawdsley created Rainbow House, a self-help group delivering conductive educational and holistic therapies to six children including her own boys. Mawdsley funded the centre for two years using her disability allowance. In 2003, Rainbow House became a charity tending 112 youngsters weekly, in Chorley, its East Lancashire and Cumbria branches.
Officially opened by Princess Royal in 2007, the emotional, physical and behavioural rehabilitation centre now treats 187 children aged from 7 months to 21 years old. And there is a two year waiting list. It employs 32 staff plus an on-site physiotherapist and provides tailor-made treatments from 7.30 am until 6.30pm for 50 weeks a year. Last year, in Mawdsley's drive to raise £1m annual maintenance, this indefatigable mother-of-three addressed 85 charitable groups nationwide and organised countless communal events.
Despite living with a ticking time-bomb, Mawdsley remains positive stating: "My boys shouldn't sit up, talk, feed, toilet themselves or walk - albeit with crutches - but they do . They were fine at birth. But at 13 months, Tom, now 11, was discharged from hospital to die. At 4 months, Will, now 13, stopped supporting his head. Looking into his eyes, it seemed his light had been switched off -nothing there. I've been desperate and suicidal. Occupational and physiotherapies proved ineffective, so I arrived with 21 months old Will, floppy like jelly in my arms, at Merseyside Association for Conductive Education. Three months later he crawled, sat and uttered his first word- 'No!'"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/publicservicesawards/joe-mawdsley

A wonderful result, Joe, and great publicity for Conductive Education.

Access to new portal now available

The new portal for CE is now up at

www.conductiveeducation.net

and I have managed to register for the Forum. Andrew has blogged that he has found it impossible to do so, so perhaps adjustments have now been made. Do try.

I hope to look at the website more closely and will say more later.

Announcement of Interesting National Seminar in London

I have received notification of a seminar in London on 27 November which should be of interest to parents and professionals working with babies and young children. The following was sent to me :

This Interconnections seminar in London on Thursday 27th November 2009 is for multi-disciplinary practitioners and managers who support babies and young children who need ongoing multiple interventions and their families. We will address the questions:

Do we offer some vulnerable infants
too many practitioners?
Do we give some infants too many separate therapy
and education programmes?
Should we assess the infant’s emotional, social
and psychological readiness before asking him or her to relate to so many
people?

As seminar facilitator, [Peter Limbrick] will argue that it is not always appropriate to assume that ‘multiple’ disability needs ‘multiple’ practitioners. The Team Around the Child model will be offered as the forum for creative solutions when a baby or pre-school child is being overloaded.
The venue is

Friends Meeting House near Euston Station and the cost varies between £75 and £120. There are free places for parents.

For more information and booking form please contact Peter Limbrick, Interconnections – the home of Team Around the Child. Tel: 01497 831550 E-mail: p.limbrick@virgin.net Web: www.icwhatsnew.com

Conductive Education Communications Center is nearly here

It is nearly the end of October when the new portal being set up in the US is due to be launched.The announcement of its aims and content has now been extended and updated. For further details go to

http://conductiveeducation.blogspot.com/

The portal, Conductive Education Communications Center, hopes to provide information for all those interested and involved in Conductive Education and 'will allow you and others to learn more about Conductive Education and share what they know'.

It will provide, amongst other services, articles and information obtained from libraries, (I hope copyright has been looked at here), a discussion forum, a blog, access to videos and news, sample forms, correspondence and strategies to help support Conductive Education in your area, webinars, and advertise centres, services etc for a fee.

This is a lot of information to be kept up to date and accurate, so I wish the CECC the best of luck and look forward to posting about the launch soon.

Presentations from the Finland 'European Conductive Education' conference

In May Susie posted a blog about a ‘European’ Conductive Education conference in Helsinki, Finland happening in October this year.

http://www.susie-mallett.org/2009/05/revealing-soul-and-magic-will-simply.html

This took place on 19 October at Ruskeasuo School in Helsinki from 9am-4pm with an hour break for lunch. I cannot find information on who organised the conference and assume it was Ruskeasuo School which I believe has been 'applying the principles of Conductive Education' for some time now.

There were parallel presentations in two halls, six in each and two plenary speakers. Franz Schaffhauser, director of the Peto Institute, started the morning programme with Ideas and Methods in Conductive Education and Logotherapy and Melanie Brown the afternoon sessions with Conductive Education an unchanging philosophy and changing methodology.

Nineteen people presented, six of whom were conductors. Three from the National Institute in Birmigham, England, one from the Norsk Forum for Konduktiv Pedagogikk, Norway and two from Joriel School, Stockholm, Sweden.

All presentations (except Franz Schaffhauser’s) are available in their Powerpoint formats at

http://www.ruskis.fi/innovation_in_conductive_education-educational_equality_presentations.html

It seems to be the trend at the moment to talk to Powerpoint and consequently the presentation is not written down for publication in proceedings or to give interested parties. As a result there is no written record for those who could not make the conference to read, or to archive in libraries for future reference. Perhaps this conference will be different. There is no mention either of a report on the conference to follow, but again perhaps that will come later.

Susie made the point in her blog that finance can play a big part in whether conductors can attend such gatherings or not.

http://www.susie-mallett.org/2009/05/when-it-comes-to-crunch.html

It would be interesting to know how many managed to get to this one.

New Conductive Education portal about to be launched

I received an email over the weekend informing me that the new portal www.conductiveeducation.net is being launched this week.

Watch this space for more information.

New portal may still help parents find out more about Conductive Education

Two things have been sent to me today which made me think about the lack of accessible accurate information for parents on what Conductive Education is and what it could do for their child.

Firstly, a discussion forum for parents had a posting asking about CE and received two very limited responses. Perhaps parents or centres would like to elaborate on these and help the mother make an informed decision.

http://www.parent-2-parent.com/forum/showthread.php?p=223940

I imagine there may be other forums with similar requests; it is difficult to keep track of them all.

Secondly, two stories in the Texas press highlight the success of Conductive Education for one child and relate the process of finding out about it and the setting up a centre by this child's parents. This may provide publicity in Texas but that doesn't necessarily spread out from there.

http://www.peoplenewspapers.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=E2F53C4F6B614F7B91AB36319693A230&AudID=DA7D68F24889442D98449D08560D8327

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/fea/healthyliving/family/stories/DN-nh_kidfit_1013gd.ART.State.Edition1.4bc1e5c.html

How this lack of information can be remedied is a moot question. The proposed CE website, www.conductiveEducation.net, announced earlier this year failed to meet its launch dates in April and May, but now hopes to launch on 30 October and intends to act as a portal for all those interested in CE at all levels. See-

http://conductiveeducation.blogspot.com/

Maybe this will go some way to providing answers.

Conductive Education videos

It is great to receive emails passing on information to me about sources of information in Conductive Education. Today I had one from Susie about a website which has a list of Conductive Education videos on the Internet. No indication of the compiler is given but the URL does include a reference to fantasy football!

There is a substantial number listed and the title, source and brief description of each is given. Some have been produced by parents highlighting the progress of their child/children receiving Conductive Education and some by conductors who wish to demonstrate their work in a particular session, group or centre. This could be a useful source of information for those wanting to see 'what conductors do' .

Also included is a selection of news items.

http://www.fantasyfootball101.mallentry.com/Conductive+Education/

Please keep such emails coming and I will blog the details.

Honorary conductors

I received an email re the exact date that Marion Fang was made an honorary conductor and it set me thinking about honorary conductors in general. In the process I remembered having seen a list on the Internet in the past and have managed to track it down on the website of the 5th World Congress of Conductive Education, 2007.

http://www.ce-congress2007.com/v1/content/7/honorary.html?lang=en

Here it states the criteria for the award.

The College Senate of the International Peto Institute gives the Honorary Conductor Award. It was established in 1990 to recognise the work of non-conductors in the field, which is well known both in the homeland and internationally. Nominations are initiated by leading persons and are submitted to the International Peto Association Executive Committee. The IPA Nominating Committee considers the person’s contribution to the development of Conductive Education and is deserving of wider and more formal recognition. Final nomination is submitted to the Senate of the International Peto College who are authorized to make a final decision about acceptance.

Included is a list of the recipients from 1990-2007 which includes Marion Fang who received her award in 2001 at the World Congress held in London.

The site also has a list of all the World Congresses with their dates and venues.

No doubt nominations to receive the award at the Congress in Hong Kong, 2010 will be requested soon, if they have not been already.

'History is more or less bunk' - is it so for Conductive Education?

I have received an enquiry about the history of Conductive Education which made me realise that this is a very difficult area to investigate with few accurate sources.

Over the years I have seen a number of publications and papers which give different accounts, have different dates for the same events and different emphases. Primary sources for information are very thin on the ground and quite a few accounts rely on the memories of those involved and have no references for follow up. I built up a collection of such materials, which can give at least some of the answers if carefully looked at, and the National Library of Conductive Education is now a rich resource of all sorts of material, including videos and press cuttings, in a variety of languages which can help to confirm facts and check details. I am sure that the Peto Institute library has an equally good collection of material too.

This would make a wonderful research project for someone.

Here are a few items which may be worth considering in a first trawl through the known resources, in no particular order.

Hári, M. (1999) A history of conductive pedagogy. Budapest: International Peto Institute.

Mária Hári produced this history published in Hungarian, English and German editions which includes details of the spread of CE outside Hungary. Some details do not tally with other accounts especially in relation to the UK. As I recall, there are no references.

Forrai, J. (1999) Memoirs of the beginnings of conductive pedagogy and András Petõ. Budapest: Ú j Aranyhí d and Birmingham: Foundation for Conductive Education.

This concentreates on the memories of those who knew Peto and discusses how he started, who he worked with and the development of his services into the Institute.

Sutton, A. (1986) The social-historical context. In Cottam, P. and Sutton, A., ed. Conductive Education; a system for overcoming motor disorder. London: Croom Helm, pp.3-28.

This early account includes a number of references that were available in English at the time of writing and concentrates on the system in Hungary.

Sutton, A. (2004) Mária Hári, from whom we have still so much to learn. Unpublished paper.

A paper read in tribute to Mária Hári after her death and looks at her achievements.

Kilborn, E. (2007) The Hungarian origins of Conductive Education: an educational system for children with neurological disorders (1945-2001). Unpublished paper.

This paper was written as a precursor to a research project which did not get started in the end.

Balogh, M., ed. (2007) Mária Hári and her conductive education. Budapest: International Pető Institute.

This book is also a tribute to Hári and looks at the development of the Peto Institute. English and Hungarian editions are available.

Ákos, K. and Ákos, M. (1997) The enigmatic Dr Petõ . The Conductor, 6(3-4), pp.49-55.

The Ákos' recall their experiences of working with Peto.

Maguire, G. and Sutton, A., ed. (2004) Mária Hári on conductive pedagogy. Birmingham: Foundation for Conductive Education.

This is a collection of papers presented by Mária Hári between 1967 and 2001. Each paper has an introduction putting it in its historical context.

On a previous blog in November 2008, I included a list of material relating to Peto himself. http://www.conductiveeducationinformation.org/2008/11/what-do-we-know-about-andrs-pet.html

This is only a small selection and I would suggest anyone wishing to consult any of these or other material in the National Library should contact mel@conductive-education.org.uk

By the way, just in case you were wondering, the title of this posting includes a well known quote from Henry Ford, motor car manufacturer.

Dealing with change

It has never been easy to establish, promote and provide Conductive Education and it is not likely to get easier in the current situation. Daily we read and hear about the collapse of companies and the consequent redundancies. Conductive Education may not be exempt from this.

I have just read a book recommended by a friend. Bearing in mind that the current financial situation means the world as we know it is changing and we all have to change with it, I thought I would pass the details on for those who may be interested.

Who Moved My Cheese? intends to show the reader 'an amazing way to deal with change in your work and in your life'.

Not being one for self help books I approached this with some reluctance, but now think it is worth a read particularly as it is short and easy to understand.

Written by an American well known for writing The One Minute Manager, it intends to help you deal with difficult changes in your life, taking the situation seriously, but not yourself. Perhaps this is something we all forget, especially at difficult times, and we may need all the help we can get to battle through. I am sure that most of us will see the contents of this book as common sense, but I think sometimes we need the obvious to be pointed out.

Reference

Johnson, S. (1998) Who moved my cheese? London: Vermillion.