What is Conductive Education in Detail

When children with Cerebral Palsy spend much of their lives being treated as sick and incapable, they learn very early on that they must look to others to meet their needs instead of developing the belief in themselves that is so central to the development of well adjusted, happy individuals who participate in society.

Regular access to CE gives preparation and support for successful inclusion into mainstream school, home, the workplace and the community. Strive’s transitional program will support the child and family when moving from Strive’s pre-school program into a mainstream system, by providing education, support and ongoing consultation services to the new school as to how to best support the child, while encouraging maximum independence.

Childhood should be a rich social time for children. Always being surrounded by an adult presence and being treated as the “sick” or “special” one, can lead to a distorted self image, impacting negatively on personality development, while nurturing a love of ease and special treatment. If this is the norm, children become very comfortable with adult conversation, but their social skills with their peers can suffer. Being in a group environment with their peers provides a high level of motivation for natural competition and encouragement, nurturing an internal desire to make progress. As well this rich social environment provides lots of opportunity to interact on an age appropriate level.

Strive is committed to offering Conductive Education as it was designed. And we are so fortunate to have as its’ Executive Director and Head Conductor, Tunde Orovecz who has an unsurpassed passion and skill for improving the lives of children living with Cerebral Palsy. It was her vision for the need of a widespread Canadian program that parents could afford, was the driving force behind the Strive Learning Centre and its receiving charitable status from the Canadian Revenue Agency.