Finding success with conductive education.
One step at a time is the underlying principle at The GRACE Center — building small yet big accomplishments through conductive education to help students with motor disabilities achieve independence.
These words are nothing short of miraculous to the families that come here.
Seven-year old Gabrielle Padgett’s mother, Melony, found the center through the Internet. Today, her grandmother brings her twice a week for three-hour sessions.
“For Gabrielle, it has been phenomenal,” said Pam Padgett. “For us, it has been a godsend.”When Gabrielle began her sessions two years ago, she trained with a walker, then graduated to canes, and recently began walking with crutches. Every step with the multicolored crutches brings her that much closer to independence, steps she works hard at with a glowing smile of accomplishment.
Established in 2005 by the Reed family, The GRACE Center’s conductive education services are led by Program Director and Head Conductor, Erika Bartos, who holds a degree from the world-renowned Peto Institute in Budapest, Hungary.
Andrew and Stephanie Reed have three beautiful daughters. Their youngest, six-year old Hannah, suffered a lack of oxygen at birth, and was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Stephanie was researching treatments when her search led her to Erika Bartos.
Watching a “60 Minutes” program in August of 2004, she first learned of the Peto Institute’s conductive education work with children. Today, there are a growing number of programs in the U.S. but none in this region, with the exception of The GRACE Center.
Bartos came to the United States in 2001 to work at the Minnesota Center for Conductive Education. Three years later she helped found the International Institute for Conductive Education Inc. At that time, Reed approached Bartos about coming to work with 10-month-old Hannah.
By March of 2005 they held their first session and by October moved to The GRACE Center, located in Pritchardville. The center offers short term, four-week and year-round programs for children ages six months to 14-years, based on evaluation. Families come from all over the country to participate in the summer session.
Because this is considered an alternative program, it is not covered by insurance. However, the nonprofit center does offer financial aid for families who qualify. Cerebral palsy refers to a group of disorders affecting the ability to move, maintain balance and posture, by the part of the brain that controls muscle tone.
“Making the mind-neuro connection to accomplish accomplish tasks takes time,” Reed said. “It took Hannah three years to crawl. She worked hard every day. Now she’s working with a walker.”
The program improves independence, incorporating socialization, and life skills. By building on each level, students keep advancing, such as 5-year-old student Krysta Lovett, who learned to walk independently.
It’s a sunny afternoon, just another Thursday session for Hannah and Gabrielle, as they work on vocabulary and reading. Later, Hannah sits in front of a small ladder and practices standing skills. Her wooden stool encourages awareness of position. Gabrielle moves through an obstacle-like course of colored steps, a new challenge. They’ve already put in a full day at elementary school, where they receive physical, occupational and speech therapy.
“Here, the approach is different, targeted comprehensively,” Bartos said. “It is most important for students to understand they can learn and do things. Once they get motivated, they become more interested to learn, to become more active, and more successful.”
For more information, call (843) 341-2726 or visit gracecenter.org.
