Transition to Adulthood with Conductive Education Erasmus Project

Project Title

Transition to Adulthood with Conductive Education

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation; Disabilities – special needs; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

How can Conductive Education be implemented in facilities for day structuring and sheltered living for adults?
People with a disability (typically cerebral palsy and multiple disabilities) should be equipped to lead as independent and self-determined a way of life as possible through Conductive Education.

Originally developed for children with cerebral palsy, Conductive Education prepared them in special kindergarten and school groups for integration into mainstream schools. As children with more severe (multiple) disabilities are now being taught in schools following the principles of Conductive Education, the number of those who cannot be included in mainstream schools without problems has risen.
Although following the concept of inclusion, such students – regardless of their impairment and assisted by additional staff – should attend classes in mainstream schools, many parents and pedagogues think that the needs of those students can be better met with personalised support in specialist groups. However, empowerment and establishing preconditions for inclusion are central concerns.
During the past ten years, for persons leaving formal schooling, the need for follow-on settings has become apparent. So, structured day facilities based on the principles of Conductive Education have been established. There are also some places that offer sheltered living with Conductive Education.
However, there is quite an uncertainty how Conductive Education can be adapted to meet the demands of adult participants. There has so far not been any exchange of opinion and good practice. Also, no relevant literature can be found. This fact alone suggests the assumption that this project might be one oft he first approaches towards the topic.

Within this project, contacts have been established among institutions that have so far felt themselves to be “lone fighters” and “pioneers”. Similarities and differences in approaches, as well as arising issues, have been examined and discussed on–site. Guidelines have been set out for the practice of Conductive Education with adults with cerebral palsy in the context of day activities and supported accommodation.

Three institutions that are already supplying such facilities have been involved in this project:

– KoMiT GmbH Vienna, part of Helga Keil Bastendorff Stiftung, looking back on a tradition of 40 years of Conductive Education and offering Conductive Education for adults in the fields of day structure and sheltered living
– Phoenix GmbH / Stiftung Pfennigparade Munich, providing Conductive Education for various age groups since 1995; in the last few years also in the fields of work and sheltered living for adults
– Paces Sheffield, offering Conductive Education for various target groups since the 1990s, including a school; started an adult continuing Conductive Education group in 2002. Currently working with 6 adults, this service is being expanded.

In 4 project meetings, starting with an International Symposium initiated and organized by the founder of Paces Sheffield, key issues have been identified and discussed. It has turned out that the frame conditions vary significantly from country to country and from institution to institution. This made it necessary to change the working strategy: instead of testing proposals for solutions between the project meetings, we compiled the essential features of Conductive Education and main differences between children and adults in the main areas of Conductive Education (motoric – cognitive – psycho-social – activities of everyday life ).
The results of these considerations have been evaluated, the conclusions were stated in concise summaries (recommendations) concerning staffing, day structuring facilities, supported living, life coaching and sports and leisuretime activities.
A website (trace-eu.com) and a handbook (available in a printed version and also for download from the website) make the results accessible for the public. So we hope that existing facilities as well as those to be established in the future will be able to profit from the results of the project.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 25225 Eur

Project Coordinator

KoMit GmbH & Country: AT

Project Partners

• Paces Sheffield Ltd
• Phoenix GmbH