Introducing conductive education for children with cerebral palsy in Malta

Abstract

The first part of this dissertation, discusses the key concepts of cerebral palsy and conductive education. The optimisation and effectiveness of this holistic approach to maximising the development of children with motor disorders was examined. This aspect is dealt with in Chapters 1 and 2. A brief account of the introduction of conductive education in Malta is dealt with in Chapter 3. Chapters 4 and 5 focus on a group of 18 children at the Conductive Education Centre for Children with Cerebral Palsy at the Eden Foundation. These children were monitored and observed (individually or in groups) over approximately a period of one year, as they went about their daily activities The data collected was then analysed against data obtained from other studies. The written account of the study involved making a selection of observations, categorising them according to the type of development they promote and presenting them together \vi.th the relevant theory. Chapter 6 is an attempt to identify the elements which produced parental self- .confidence and family cohesion. Finally, Chapter 7 concludes the thesis. Mention is also given to the role of technology in paving the way for more effective approaches to conductive education.