S.P.I.C.E. Program Gives New Hope For Children

FROM FOR THE RECORD (Thursday, July 24, 1997): Correction Wrong identification: Danielle Ballou was misidentified in a photo caption with a story about the Spokane Institute for Conductive Education on Tuesday’s “Choices” page in the IN Life section.

Wheelchairs aren’t allowed. Don’t bring any diapers to class; bring regular underwear. Conductor Judit Kovacsne-Varga has high expectations of her students, all of whom have cerebral palsy.

The youngsters are part of the Spokane Institute for Conductive Education (S.P.I.C.E.) program. S.P.I.C.E., is a nonprofit organization, funded by the parents of children in the program.

Conductive education uses a Hungarian method of teaching to help people function as independently as possible, both physically and mentally. It teaches the children to strengthen and use the individual parts of their bodies independently then they learn to use them together. Kovacsne-Varga is here from Hungary on a three-year contract.

Conductive education is prevalent in several countries and is becoming more so in the United States. Most U.S. programs are five-week summer sessions. However, Spokane is one of five cities in the United States where sessions run year-round.

The kids’ parents agree that conductive education has many benefits over public schools and physical therapy. Before entering the program three years ago, Dan DuBois could set his son, Jacob, on the floor “and he’d still be there today,” he said. Now Jacob has the urge and ability to explore and is comfortable doing so.

Laurie Caro said her daughter, Kendyl, is three years ahead of where she would have been without conductive education. Caro was told that Kendyl may never eat solid food. Now she does, and can walk without assistance; she’s working on potty-training.

Whereas therapies in school typically occur once a month for 30-60 minutes at a time, this program runs Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The format allows kids the kids the constant focus and encouragement they need to develop.

They begin their days with warm-ups focusing on individual parts of their bodies. As the day goes on, the teaching becomes more individualized, depending how far each child is in their development. Many of them are working on sitting up, standing, and walking.

Kovacsne-Varga runs a tight ship; she lets the kids know that they can do these things and that it’s expected of them. But she sets realistic goals for each child, and the kids have fun.

They do exercises to nursery rhymes; more importantly, though, the kids motivate each other. They see other kids with disabilities similar to their own, doing things they thought impossible, said Shawn Abell, who is here for the summer from Northern California. Her daughter, Audrey Anna is in the class. “It gives them role models, and helps Audrey Anna set goals. It encourages independent behavior,” she said.

S.P.I.C.E. is in need of volunteers and monetary donations. For more information, call 489-1142.

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