Conductive Education: Feasibility Study on Developing a National Curriculum Plan for Those Working in Conductive Education in New Zealand.

Overview & Synopsis

This study sought to determine whether there are national training needs among staff of conductive education programs in New Zealand. Conductive education is a unified system of education for children and adults with a motor disorder whose disability has been caused by damage to the central nervous system. The study, which focuses primarily on programs employing Hungarian-trained conductors, shows conclusively that there are clearly defined training needs among coordinators/managers, program chairpersons and committees, conductors, specialists, parents, and other staff. An approach to training that would fulfill these needs is presented, with three levels including short courses, undergraduate courses, and postgraduate courses. Recommendations are made for developing a national curriculum, while recognizing that each program is responsible for its own in-house staff training and development. Recommendations are addressed to the New Zealand Foundation for Conductive Education, which is regarded as the appropriate organization to oversee the development of a national curriculum plan. The report provides an overview of conductive education, a research review, the status of conductive education in eight countries, descriptions of nine New Zealand conductive education programs, interview forms, the curriculum of the Andras Peto Institute for Conductive Education of the Motor Disabled in Hungary, and a conductive education graduate training curriculum from the University of Melbourne (Australia). (Contains approximately 100 references.) (JDD)