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Princess Diana greets members of the public before opening the Foundation for Conductive Education for the disabled in October 1995 in Birmingham, England.
Welcome To Our Site
S.WO.N.T. Optimist Conductive Education offers a safe, learning environment where your child will get the attention and care that he or she needs. Our ratio of children to conductors is always within safe and reasonable guidelines - to make certain each child receives top-quality time and attention
We are also a registered charity with Canada Customs and Revenue, and have met or exceeded all health , safety and regulatory guidelines.
At S.WO.N.T. Optimist Conductive Education, your child will participate in aggressive developmentally-appropriate activities throughout the day, such as:
- muscle stretching exercises
- motor skill activities
You can rest assured that your child will be cared for with the utmost kindness, love and respect. We believe all children are precious gifts and we treat them as though they are precious gifts.
Data Show 1 in 303 Children Have Cerebral Palsy
Learn more about the signs and causes of cerebral palsy and what to do if you think your child might have it.
How Common Is Cerebral Palsy?Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affect a person's ability to move and keep their balance and posture as a result of an injury to parts of the brain, or as a result of a problem with brain development. Cerebral means having to do with the brain. Palsy means weakness or problems with using the muscles. Often the problem happens before birth or soon after being born. Cerebral palsy causes different types of motor impairment in each child. A child may simply be a little clumsy or awkward, or unable to walk at all.
A recent CDC study shows that the average prevalence of CP is 3.3 per 1,000 8-year-old children or 1 in 303 children. This report of the prevalence and features of CP, the most common cause of motor disability in childhood, is from select communities that include Georgia, Alabama and Wisconsin. These three sites reported higher prevalence among boys compared with girls and the most common type of CP across all three sites was spastic CP ranging from 85% in Georgia to 89% in Alabama and Wisconsin. The latest overall prevalence estimate was not notably different from that of the previous surveillance year with CP prevalence as 3.6 per 1,000 or 1 in 278 children.
What Are Some of the Signs of Cerebral Palsy?
The signs of cerebral palsy vary greatly because there are many different types and levels of disability. The main sign that your child might have cerebral palsy is a delay reaching the motor or movement milestones. If you see any of these signs, call your child's doctor or nurse.
A child over 2 months with cerebral palsy might:
- Have difficulty controlling head when picked up
- Have stiff legs that cross or "scissor" when picked up
A child over 6 months with cerebral palsy might: - Continue to have a hard time controlling head when picked up
- Reach with only one hand while keeping the other in a fist
A child over 10 months with cerebral palsy might: - Crawl by pushing off with one hand and leg while dragging the opposite hand and leg
- Not sit by himself or herself
A child over 12 months with cerebral palsy might: - Not crawl
- Not be able to stand with support
A child over 24 months with cerebral palsy might: - Not be able to walk
- Not be able to push a toy with wheels
What Causes Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is caused by a problem in the brain that affects a child's ability to control his or her muscles. Problems in different parts of the brain cause problems in different parts of the body. There are many possible causes of problems, such as genetic conditions, problems with the blood supply to the brain before birth, infections, bleeding in the brain, lack of oxygen, severe jaundice, and head injury.
Southwestern Ontario District of OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL
Conductive Education Program
CEREBRAL PALSY is a health condition caused by permanent brain injury that occurs before, during or shortly after birth. The main characteristic of cerebral palsy is a lack of muscle control and movement. Cerebral palsy is not a progressive disease, but the consequences are known to change over time. Although the cause of cerebral palsy is not known for sure, there is evidence that links it to both the health history of mother and child, and accidents causing brain damage. The diagnosis of cerebral palsy is often made immediately after birth, but it can also be made later in childhood. Cerebral palsy can have a variety of symptoms, including cramps, spasms, and visual and hearing impairment, hyperactivity and learning disorders.
Conductive Education® is an innovative learning system that merges the elements of education with rehabilitation. The system deals not only with the physical needs, but also with the social and psychological issues facing people of all ages with neurological conditions. Unlike most medical or therapeutic models of treatment, Conductive Education® attempts to change the way people see their own abilities, and to raise their awareness of the way their body works.
The repeated process of setting and attaining small goals helps develop independence and self-esteem, and encourages participants to keep working. Tasks are designed to focus on co-ordinating the physical, mental and emotional factors by making the body and the mind work together.
sitting up without help developing hand-eye co-ordination establishing security and self-confidence learning or improving self-expression dealing with crowded environments bowel and bladder control verbal and non-verbal communication developing self-sufficiency, reducing dependence on others
Conductive Education has a reported seventy percent success rate for children with Cerebral Palsy, helping them to learn how to hold their heads up, how to sit up, how to feed themselves, become toilet trained and, even, how to walk.
The three to four week program can dramatically improve their motor skills and self-esteem, developing self-initiative, problem solving and encouraging greater independence.
In our twelve years in South-Western Ontario, the Conductive Education Committee has established a registered charity, the S.W.ONT. Conductive Education Trust Fund, raising funds from service groups, businesses, industries, corporations and individuals which help to minimize the cost and financial impact of these procedures on families needing them. Starting in Chatham-Kent, the program has expanded to Sarnia-Lambton and St. Thomas.
It costs about $2,000.00 to provide each child with the custom fitted furniture and equipment, necessary for the program and the cost of specially trained Conductors. Only a $300.00 commitment fee is expected from the parents of the child, the remainder of the cost being covered by the trust. The administration of the program is performed by dedicated Optimist members, who receive absolutely no remuneration, ensuring the maximum amount possible of your donation goes to help children in need.
Conductive Education has a reported seventy percent success rate for children with Cerebral Palsy to learn how to walk, not to mention learning how to hold their heads up, how to sit up, how to feed themselves or become toilet trained.
The three to four week program can dramatically improve their motor skills and self esteem, developing self-initiative, problem solving and encouraging greater independence.
Through our ten years in south-western ontario, we have expanded to three centres. One in Chatham-kent, one in Sarnia-lambton, and the other in St.Thomas.
Our Trust seeks financial support from service groups, together with businesses, industries, corporations and individuals to fund the program. It cost about $2,000.00 to provide this program for each child. This includes the cost of special furniture that's fitted for the size of each child and necessary for the program. Only a $100.00 commitment fee is expected from the parents of the child, the remainder of the cost is covered by the trust, after approval of a completed application
We are a registered charity with Canada Customs and Revenue and have the ability to issue a receipt for any charitable donation.
Through the integrity and honesty of the board of trustees, the dedication and compassion of the conductors, the love from the children s parents, the enduring hard work from the children and the generous supports from all Canadians funding this worthy cause, we're confident our quest to help thousands of children in Canada with Cerebral Palsy will continue for years to come.
What is the philosophy of Conductive Education?
Conductive education is neither therapy, treatment nor cure. It recognizes motor disorders as chronic conditions which result in problems of learning or relearning which will respond to appropriate teaching.
Conductive Education fully acknowledges that children or adults with motor disorders may have continuing medical needs, which will benifit from appropriate medical intervention. This does not deny the needs for teaching and learning.
Conductive Education asserts that there is much more to living and development than the medical and the social. There is the phycological too and, as in every sphere of human life, this is best addressed by education in its wildest sense. Further, as in all excellent education, the goal of Conductive Education is to create autonomous learners who go on to learn, adapt and develop under their own direction, because that is how they now are.
To learn more, contact us today!
TYPES OF CEREBRAL PALSYPosted June 12th, 2009 by admin 1 Comment » Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common form, affecting about 70 percent of patients with cerebral palsy. This form is characterized by rigid and permantently contract muscles. This is intermittent, unpredictable effect on the freedom of movement, making it difficult to move from position to position. Spastic cerebral palsy are these categories: (last two are rare)• diplegia – both arms, both legs are affected. • hemiplegia – a right arm and left leg or arm and leg are affected.
• quadriplegia – all arms and legs suffer
• Monoplegia – only one arm or leg is affected
• Triplegia – Three arms or legs affectedAtaxic Cerebral PalsyAtaxic cerebral palsy is much less common spastic, which affects about 5 to 10 percent of patients with cerebral palsy. The main effect of this type is the child a sense of depth perception and balance. This is often accompanied by poor coordination, and children affected with ataxic cerebral palsy can see the abnormal gait when walking, and difficulty with precise movements. Another characteristic of ataxic cerebral palsy is an intention tremor. These tremors began with a movement of volunteers, how to achieve a light switch, and become more serious as the individual is close to the lens.Athetoid Cerebral PalsyAthetoid cerebral palsy affects about 10 to 20 per cent of patients. The main feature is a slow, uncontrolled movements. In most cases, it affects the arms, legs, hands and feet, and in rare cases, muscles of the face and tongue, which can lead to drooling and grimacing. These effects often become more severe in stressful and / or emotional times, and may completely disappear during sleep. Many children also have problems of coordination of the muscles that are used in speech recognition, resulting in a condition known as dysarthria.Tags: cerebral palsy Posted in cerebral palsy CEREBRAL PALSYPosted June 12th, 2009 by admin No Comments » Cerebral palsy is a health condition caused by permanent brain injury that occurs before, during or shortly after birth. The main characteristic of cerebral palsy is a lack of muscle control and movement. Cerebral palsy is not a progressive disease, but the consequences are known to change over time. Although the cause of cerebral palsy is not known for sure, there is evidence that links it to both the health history of mother and child, and accidents causing brain damage. The diagnosis of cerebral palsy are often immediately after birth, but it can also be made later in childhood.Cerebral palsy can cause a variety of symptoms, including cramps, spasms, visual and hearing impairment, hyperactivity and learning disorders. There is not a panacea, but several therapies are available for the treatment of cerebral palsy. Although living with cerebral palsy can be difficult, it certainly can be successful, while coping with the disorder.It can be a challenge if you are a parent of a child with cerebral palsy. However, there are many resources available to help you learn how to help your child cope. If there is a possibility of injury to your child before, during or soon after birth, it is important to contact a lawyer to discuss your legal rights.Tags: cerebral palsy Posted in cerebral palsy
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