The March of Dimes Canada summer camp for kids with neuro-motor disorders is helping many get back on their feet.
Beth Brydon, who runs a conductive education for kids with cerebral palsy and development delay, said the program helps participants gain or regain physical mobility and self-sufficiency one step at a time.
"It's a camp that we make fun, but we're also teaching them skills to improve their independence. So we're working on speech, walking, moving, mobility and anything that can help the child improve their independence," Brydon said.
For mom Tammy Chaisson, the program has been a lifesaver for her son Alexander, 11, who's inflicted with spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy.
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Alex Chaisson is becoming more independent since joining the March of Dimes conductive education program. SUBMITTED |
"I think it's great for Alexander to learn independence and he really enjoys learning to live with the body he was given," Chaisson said.
Chaisson said the program has given him more confidence in doing things he wants to do.
"His goal is to stand up and pee like a big boy like daddy," Chaisson said, and he's getting close.
Chaisson said one of the main obstacles is the expense, which is not covered by the province or through the family's health plan. Chaisson and her husband Chris have three children, with Alexander being the oldest. The family had to move from Halifax to Truro recently, so that adds travel expenses as well.
"But you don't want to withhold from the program because you know so much comes out of it," she said. Alexander has been going to the conductive education program for five years.
Before the program was available here from March of Dimes Canada, the Chaissons and other families paid the expenses to fly a conductive education instructor here from Hungary.
Debra Banting said the program has also given her daughter May, 20, the confidence she needs despite having cerebral palsy.
"She really took to it. She really wanted to do it and was motivated," Banting said.
The program has given May a sense of accomplishment when she can do things without asking for help, like transferring from her wheelchair to another chair, getting in and out of bed, or going to the bathroom alone, she said.
"That's really big, that's huge," Banting said.
The program can help with things like balance, breathing and coordination, sitting up without help, developing hand-eye coordination, establish security and self-confidence, bowel and bladder control and verbal and non-verbal communication.
The kids summer day camp is being offered in one or two week sessions from July 5 until Aug. 13 at the program's Kempt Road location in Halifax.
The conductive education centre is also offering a week-long life skills camp for teenagers from July 16 until Aug. 20, where instructors and participants go out into the community and perform basic tasks, like making a purchase.
The March of Dimes Canada program has been in Nova Scotia for four years, and is the only such program east of Ontario. The conductive education program works year-round with individuals of all ages who are suffering from conditions related to cerebral palsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's and acquired brain injury, she said.
While March of Dimes Canada pays 75 per cent of the costs associated with the summer camp program, participants pay $39.70 an hour. The adult rate is $24.80 an hour.
For more information about the conductive education program, call 444-3692 or go to www.marchofdimes.ca.
kmoar@hfxnews.ca
