Conference News

On Friday 28^th September 2001, Conductive Education Support Services presented 

‘Stepping into the 21^st Century with Conductive Education: An inspirational insight’ 
at the University of Southampton, Avenue Campus, Hampshire.

It was a beautiful sunny autumn day and as we drove through the forest the early autumn mist was just lifting above the ground.

At the University, expert speakers (from around the Country) were ready to share their wealth of knowledge and experience. They finished their coffee and gathered at the stage of the lecture theatre to make sure that everything was ready to share with the delegates the possibilities which can be opened when resources are shared and human intelligence is utilised for all.

Sixty delegates attended the Conference, from many different professional and personal backgrounds to listen and be inspired by the speakers.

The majority of the delegates were Head Teachers, Centre Directors, and Professionals in managerial positions. The numbers were closely followed by Parents, then Physiotherapists, Nursery Nurses, Conductors and Educational Psychologists, Teachers, Occupational Therapists, and Portage Teachers.

He spoke from an impartial point of view, and said that he was there to learn and he was there to keep an open mind about exploring all possibilities about provision for children. He explained his work as Chairman of the Education Committee in Hampshire and all of the demands, expectations and responsibilities that come with this position.

Andrew Sutton, Director Foundation for Conductive Education, Birmingham Followed Cllr. Allen with his presentation ‘The Way of the Future’.  Download a copy in pdf format (61k) or Download in MS Word format (28k)

Andrew shared with the delegates the ‘secret ingredients’ of Conductive Education, which cater for the multidimensional needs of families, children and adult participants. An important focus of Andrew’s speech was that Conductive Education gives people real hope; hope which is necessary to plan the future and to be able to look forward to tomorrow. He also explained that Conductive Education lays down the foundations to create realistic stages, which individuals can build upon in order to transform stagnation and lack of power into positive creative potentials.

She talked about why the concepts presented during the conference have relevance to rehabilitation and education in the 21^st Century.

She made it clear that the issue is not to cure but to provide structures to solutions. To support the individual so that he/she can live an authentic, creative dignified human life. She spoke about the immeasurable number of choices available to improve the overall quality of our lives and the lives of those around us. In Judit’s words Conductive Education is a journey into learning. It provides a path into discovering our own uniqueness, our individual potentials and possible limitations. It creates an ideal environment for learning.

It guides us to discover unknown solutions and to minimise limitations.

Judit finished her presentation with a slide show showing children and adult’s actively problem solving.

Sue Staines, Parent (Conductive Education Support Services) gave a short but inspiring presentation on how Conductive Education has helped her son and the positive changes it has made to his life. She explained how simple but meaningful things can make such a big difference when all hope was given up.

Sue also officially launched the 'REECE Trust‘ (Raising Essential funds to Enable Conductive Education) which she and a group of enthusiastic forward thinking individuals set up to support families who wish to access Conductive Education at the Conductive Education Support Centre, Hampshire.

Dr. Melanie Brown, Senior Conductor, Sessional and Training Services. The National Institute of Conductive Education, Birmingham presented on ‘Meeting the Needs of Adults’.

Melanie’s precise and outstanding presentation provided an informative overview of progressive and non progressive adult neurological conditions and how Conductive Education challenges traditional ways of thinking to help individuals to overcome these conditions. She stated that human potential has no limitation and individuals can learn in spite of having a neurological condition and that progress can be made even with progressive conditions.

Norman Perrin, Chief Executive, Paces Sheffield, shared his achievement and solutions as a father and an entrepreneur. He gave constructive examples how to use creative intelligence to provide different but adequate provision for different ages and conditions within the community.

After the Conference, we had an overwhelming positive response via telephone, e-mail and post. A selection of comments from the delegates from the feedback form:

• "Excellent because it covered all of the age ranges and highlighted the ‘practical’ aspects of Conductive Education’ in the context of education, society and environment".

• "I attended with colleagues who had little specific knowledge of CE and little time within the workplace to extend their knowledge. To be able to bring them to a conference where they were totally immersed in CE was a great opportunity and it was also relevant to personal and professional needs"

• "Fantastic overall outlook from a lot of different views"

• "As a parent and carer it was great to have more in-depth information even though I already attend Conductive Education"

• "Excellent very professional. I enjoyed the angles bought from the different speakers"

• "Even though I work with children, the presentations focusing on adults could be transferred and were all relevant to my own setting".

• "The talks were inspiring and uplifting. The information packs and resources were very useful".

• "I have learnt how valuable Conductive Education is to disabled children and adults and what a wonderful job the Conductors do".

• "I loved looking at the slide show of the work in Brockenhurst".

• "It was wonderful to listen to the parents perspective and to see how simple and practical things can make a difference".

• "This Conference has been a terrific achievement, very well presented and a great model".

• "I would have liked to listen to more".

• "I was deeply inspired by the enthusiasm at the conference and the presenters"

• "Inspirational, it has given me lots of ideas for future development for the service we currently have".

• "Good pack of handouts".

• "The Conference taught me more about options which parents can take and I can now pass that information on. I found it invaluable that there is hope which is given to the children and their parents, how it comes about and how it is achieved"

• "Excellent slide shows"

• "Useful contacts were made at the Conference".

• "Very well presented for such an eclectic audience"

• "Great food for thought".

It became apparent that people would have liked a longer Conference and would have liked to be given the opportunity for closer networking to reduce the isolation and to share some valuable on-going experience and knowledge.

We will work on it…watch this space!

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING THERE.