Kindly adapted with permission from the Percy Hedley Foundation, UK
Conductive Education® is a system of learning initially developed by physician Andras Peto in Budapest, Hungary initially for children with cerebral palsy. The system is an ongoing learning process rather than a treatment or therapy – it is a positive concept that looks for ways in which individuals can develop purposeful movement.
Conductive Education® is a partnership between specially-trained rehabilitation educators (conductors) and participants.
By viewing problems of movement as problems of learning, Conductive Education® teaches participants to achieve what they want and motivates them to find their own way of learning. Conductive Education® also works to develop movement, speech and cognitive abilities simultaneously -- not separately or consecutively. As a result, participants work in an integrated manner with other individuals who have similar but uniquely different challenges.
Conductive Education® is not a miracle cure. A concentrated effort over a period of time is required for participants to achieve goals recognized through task analysis.
What are the goals of Conductive Education®?
To develop new, different methods of functioning
To reconstruct functioning requires a unique organizational strategy. This is known as the orthofunctional route (i.e., a method that is tailored to an individual’s requirements and has to be learnt and practiced).
These methods are not pre-ordained; they are reached by discovery through an individual’s effort, which is personal, educational, economical, functional and successful. Notably, the method itself is not a sequence of learned repetitive exercises -- it is comprised of a personal strategy developed through an educational process in an appropriate motivating environment.
The functional activities incorporated within the program are not specific goals in their own right. They are the means, the vehicle whereby we maintain flow, rhythm and purpose to move on educationally and independently.
Beyond just functional exercises, Conductive Education® is an educational philosophy that does not allow individuals to become inactive, negative or uninvolved in their daily life or in finding the solutions to their challenges.
To encourage personality development
To influence personality we observe an individual’s degree of activity, their problem-solving skills, their motor skills and any functional, behavioural, communication and educational strategies.
Simultaneously, solutions are formulated for any identified challenges in order to facilitate a person’s progress and success.
This observational approach applies to all Conductive Education® participants initially, however, aims can and do differ as well as the strategies designed to achieve and solve those goals.
To be orthofunctional means that in spite of fundamental problems, an individual has learnt particular strategies whereby they can confront any eventuality and find the solution, which will enable them to pursue their desired life style.