Conductive Education
Conductive Education is a holistic approach to serving individuals with neurological motor disabilities such as Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinsons Disease. It combines medical knowledge with educational principles. Conductive Education does not focus on just one area of development but instead encompasses all areas of development, all of the time. Gross motor, fine motor, daily living skills, speech and communication, social skills, emotional regulation, motor planning and cognitive development are all intertwined into this innovative learning method. Functional goals that aim to maximize the individual’s independence are broken down into smaller steps and practiced in various situations during the session. The involvement of family is important to help transfer skills learned during sessions into family and community life.
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Conductive Education sessions take place in the therapy room, on a horse, out on the farm or any combination of all 3.
Conductive Education in the therapy room:
Conductive Education sessions that take place in the therapy room can be on an individual or small group basis. Working in a group provides support and motivation to those involved. Cognitive, social and communication skills are incorporated into activities carried out in lying, sitting, standing, walking and other developmental positions.
Conductive Education utilizing equine movement
Teaching riding skills is not the focus of a Conductive Education session incorporating equine movement. The same developmental skills targeted in the therapy room are promoted on the horse but now a unique model of 3-dimensional movement is introduced. The horse's walk transfers variable, repetitive and rhythmic movement to the client. The responses in the client are similar to human movement patterns of the pelvis while walking. During a treatment session a horse can take thousands of steps, allowing thousands of opportunities for a client to experience this dynamic movement that cannot be replicated by other apparatus or equipment. Our specially trained therapist aptly positions the individual on the horse, analyses the rider’s response to the equine movement and then adjusts the horse’s movement accordingly to provide a “just right challenge” for each individual. Changing the tempo and direction of the horse, the position of the rider on the horse and the use of carefully chosen activities can alter that challenge.
Conductive Education on the Farm
This is an opportunity for skills learned in other settings to be practiced outside in a sensory rich environment. Not only can the client interact with our horses, goats, chickens and cats but they can also learn how to take care of the animals, all whilst working on their own developmental skills.