Children
My work with children
Providing wellbeing for children who have disabilities is delicate work that requires experience, care, and a deep understanding of the individual and their condition.
My intention is to find ways for them to be present and comfortable in their body, enabling them to be as active as possible throughout their day, and to feel empowered as they strive towards future independence.
As the only conductor in Essex, and with nearly 20 years experience, I specialise in working with babies and young children who have a range of complex conditions, including:
Conductive Education
Conductive Education is a method of learning for people who have neurological motor disorders such as Parkinson’s, stroke, head injury, MS, or cerebral palsy. It is a way of life rather than something that is done only at specific times, and it considers the whole person, including their family and the impacts of their condition.
“CE combines education, psychology and medical science and considers all aspects of the person simultaneously.”
- National Institute of Conductive Education
As part of our sessions I will show you practical ways to facilitate your child’s active participation throughout the day, such as transferring to-and-from a wheelchair, dressing, eating, playing, communicating, and how to create ongoing opportunities for them to learn and succeed.
I also do a great deal of work with carers and schools. I have found that once your child’s condition is more deeply understood, carers are more comfortable and confident interacting with your child, and so their time together is much more active and fun. Furthermore, the consistency offered by doing something in the same way at both home and school offers your child additional opportunities for reinforcement, and learning of a new skill.
As well as working with children in their home or at school, I am the conductor for Kids First , a registered charity in Essex who have been subsidising CE sessions for children for 25 years. We have a beautiful space, with plenty of toys and great equipment! For more details or to book an assessment for your child.
Special Yoga
In the same way that adults hold the physical and emotional effects of stress, overwhelm or illness in their body, so too do children. They pick up on the emotions and activity around them, even when they are not yet able to make sense of it. Many of the children I work with have limited movement, but through yoga, they are offered freedom and support to move as their body needs, without imposition, to release tension held on every layer of their being.
Being in a truly relaxed state allows muscles to release tension, and sleep, digestion and immune systems to function properly. In this way, yoga may provide relief from the effects of muscle tightness, wind, constipation, inconsistent sleep, recurring illness, and many other complaints that children with special needs commonly experience.