Events: Conference Presentations

2002 Choice Conference

Choice Conference, sponsored by the National Institute on Conductive Education, Birmingham, UK, June 2002

Pawelski, C.E. The role of conductive education and other complementary practices within mandated US educational services: Is it possible?

This was a keynote presentation at the annual research symposium sponsored by the National Institute on Conductive Education in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Parents seeking alternative or complementary approaches for children with disabilities challenge an established system of special education in the United States that is the product of long historical development. Powerful ideas have been enshrined in laws that would seem to ensure succesful special educational programming, i.e. least restrictive environments, due process, individual educational planning, specialist and technology strategies, and standardization of practice to establish professional credentials. Issues raised involved the possible reconsideration or modification of held beliefs in order to accomodate practices such as conductive education...and/or conductive education may have to adapt to integrate or be accepted within the context of special education in the US.