Conductive education works to retrain how the brain communicates with muscles.
By SEAN BARRON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BOARDMAN — In less than a year, 9-year-old Cheyenne Naylor has made a few notable 180-degree turns.
A sample: converting negative attitudes into positive ones, changing a lack of desire to accomplish tasks into a quest for independence, and going from a regression in mobility to greater physical tolerance.
You can also tack on to her list of recent successes making her school's honor roll.
Cheyenne, 9, of Warren, was diagnosed at infancy with cerebral palsy, which has affected not only her mobility, but her self-esteem, said her mother, Tammy Grubbs. Cheyenne, a third-grader at Emerson Elementary School in Warren, has higher self-confidence and a greater determination to overcome challenges, Grubbs said.
Much of Cheyenne's turnaround comes courtesy of her being enrolled in the Miracles Unlimited program, her mother added.
"I've noticed so many differences in her mobility and her attitude. Her self-esteem has really come up since she started the program" last year, Grubbs explained, adding that her daughter uses a wheelchair but may soon switch to a walker.
Conductive education
Once a week, Cheyenne attends Miracles Unlimited Inc., 100 DeBartolo Place, which started about four years ago and has at its core a conductive education program. While not a cure for motor disabilities, conductive education works to retrain how the brain and central nervous system communicate with the body's core muscles, as opposed to focusing on and treating individual muscles and symptoms; core muscles include those in the back, chest, buttocks and abdomen.
Much of the program relies heavily on motivation, repetition and intensity, explained Tracy Tatar, Miracles' executive director. The child continually progresses from one goal to the next, she noted.
A large component is basic equipment, which includes beanbags, rings, batons, balls, floor ladders, mats, parallel bars and plinths (slatted tables), explained Eszter Takacs, a conductive-education teacher.
Six children ages 2 to 9 are in the program, and integral parts of their therapy are songs with repetitive patterns such as "London Bridge," counting and certain arm movements, all of which serve as motivators and to retrain the brain through repetition, Takacs said.
These approaches also have led to positive results for 2-year-old Evan Thompson, said his mother, Shannon Thompson of Canfield.
Evan, who suffers from various physical, developmental and speech delays but hasn't been given a diagnosis, has gotten better at sitting, standing and using fine motor skills, thanks largely to the therapy he's received for 90 minutes a day, five days a week, his mother said, adding that Evan started with Miracles last summer.
As early as 2 months of age, she continued, Evan wasn't focusing properly, and he had low muscle tone as well as occasional seizures.
"Every day, they're making him use all those muscles," Thompson said. "It's hard to be a mom and a physical therapist, so it's nice that someone is doing something you can't do, and getting progress out of it."
Also getting a lot out of it is 5-year-old Jacob Hostetter, who was diagnosed at 15 months with cerebral palsy. Last November, for example, Jacob took eight steps with little assistance; recently he was able to take 16, noted his father, Chuck.
Other recent accomplishments have been Jacob's being able to stand unassisted, as well as reaching a higher level of independence, Chuck and Denise Hostetter said of their son.
Busy schedule
Jacob goes to Miracles three hours a day, five days a week. For three hours each morning, he attends kindergarten at C.H. Campbell Elementary in Canfield. On Mondays, Jacob goes to a therapeutic horseback-riding program in East Liverpool.
Meanwhile, Jacob's posture continues to improve, and he seems to enjoy his therapy, the Hostetters say. Long-term goals are to get him to walk on his own and live a happy, productive life, Chuck Hostetter said.
"We're doing everything possible and seeking every avenue to make that happen," he added.
Regarding Cheyenne, Grubbs concurred, saying she wants to see her daughter be as independent as possible and attend college.
Miracles Unlimited is accepting applications for two five-week summer camps, each of which will feature morning and afternoon conductive education classes as well as certified physical and occupational therapists, Takacs noted.
The first program will be from June 11 to July 13 at the Southwoods Executive Center, 100 DeBartolo Place; the second will be from July 23 to Aug. 24 at a site to be determined, she said.
For more information, call Tatar at (330) 259-0784 or visit Miracles' Web site, www.miraclesunlimitedce.org.
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Conductive education works to retrain how the brain communicates with muscles.
By SEAN BARRON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BOARDMAN — In less than a year, 9-year-old Cheyenne Naylor has made a few notable 180-degree turns.
A sample: converting negative attitudes into positive ones, changing a lack of desire to accomplish tasks into a quest for independence, and going from a regression in mobility to greater physical tolerance.
You can also tack on to her list of recent successes making her school's honor roll.
Cheyenne, 9, of Warren, was diagnosed at infancy with cerebral palsy, which has affected not only her mobility, but her self-esteem, said her mother, Tammy Grubbs. Cheyenne, a third-grader at Emerson Elementary School in Warren, has higher self-confidence and a greater determination to overcome challenges, Grubbs said.
Much of Cheyenne's turnaround comes courtesy of her being enrolled in the Miracles Unlimited program, her mother added.
"I've noticed so many differences in her mobility and her attitude. Her self-esteem has really come up since she started the program" last year, Grubbs explained, adding that her daughter uses a wheelchair but may soon switch to a walker.
Conductive education
Once a week, Cheyenne attends Miracles Unlimited Inc., 100 DeBartolo Place, which started about four years ago and has at its core a conductive education program. While not a cure for motor disabilities, conductive education works to retrain how the brain and central nervous system communicate with the body's core muscles, as opposed to focusing on and treating individual muscles and symptoms; core muscles include those in the back, chest, buttocks and abdomen.
Much of the program relies heavily on motivation, repetition and intensity, explained Tracy Tatar, Miracles' executive director. The child continually progresses from one goal to the next, she noted.
A large component is basic equipment, which includes beanbags, rings, batons, balls, floor ladders, mats, parallel bars and plinths (slatted tables), explained Eszter Takacs, a conductive-education teacher.
Six children ages 2 to 9 are in the program, and integral parts of their therapy are songs with repetitive patterns such as "London Bridge," counting and certain arm movements, all of which serve as motivators and to retrain the brain through repetition, Takacs said.
These approaches also have led to positive results for 2-year-old Evan Thompson, said his mother, Shannon Thompson of Canfield.
Evan, who suffers from various physical, developmental and speech delays but hasn't been given a diagnosis, has gotten better at sitting, standing and using fine motor skills, thanks largely to the therapy he's received for 90 minutes a day, five days a week, his mother said, adding that Evan started with Miracles last summer.
As early as 2 months of age, she continued, Evan wasn't focusing properly, and he had low muscle tone as well as occasional seizures.
"Every day, they're making him use all those muscles," Thompson said. "It's hard to be a mom and a physical therapist, so it's nice that someone is doing something you can't do, and getting progress out of it."
Also getting a lot out of it is 5-year-old Jacob Hostetter, who was diagnosed at 15 months with cerebral palsy. Last November, for example, Jacob took eight steps with little assistance; recently he was able to take 16, noted his father, Chuck.
Other recent accomplishments have been Jacob's being able to stand unassisted, as well as reaching a higher level of independence, Chuck and Denise Hostetter said of their son.
Busy schedule
Jacob goes to Miracles three hours a day, five days a week. For three hours each morning, he attends kindergarten at C.H. Campbell Elementary in Canfield. On Mondays, Jacob goes to a therapeutic horseback-riding program in East Liverpool.
Meanwhile, Jacob's posture continues to improve, and he seems to enjoy his therapy, the Hostetters say. Long-term goals are to get him to walk on his own and live a happy, productive life, Chuck Hostetter said.
"We're doing everything possible and seeking every avenue to make that happen," he added.
Regarding Cheyenne, Grubbs concurred, saying she wants to see her daughter be as independent as possible and attend college.
Miracles Unlimited is accepting applications for two five-week summer camps, each of which will feature morning and afternoon conductive education classes as well as certified physical and occupational therapists, Takacs noted.
The first program will be from June 11 to July 13 at the Southwoods Executive Center, 100 DeBartolo Place; the second will be from July 23 to Aug. 24 at a site to be determined, she said.
For more information, call Tatar at (330) 259-0784 or visit Miracles' Web site, www.miraclesunlimitedce.org.
Saturday, June 2, 2007
In less than a year, 9-year-old Cheyenne Naylor has made a few notable 180-degree turns.
A sample: converting negative...
