Camp Helps Youngsters with Cerebral palsy Improve Skills
August 16, 2007
Athena Ebright, 4, lifted her legs slowly over a series of small rails raised a few inches off the floor.
Smiling, she balanced hersel f by holding higher rails on both sides. After she cleared the small obstacle course, Aniko Salga moved a small box into the girl's path.
The youngster bent down to retriev e a brightly colored beanbag and tossed it into the box while taking part in the Pediatric Life Skills Specialists 2007 summer camp. The camp runs through Friday at the Jewish Community Center.
Across the room Judit Roth, Pediatric Life founder and executive director, watched camp participant Chad Lowery walk unassisted.
"Eight weeks ago he couldn't do that," Roth said. "He has come so far. "
Athena, Chad a nd several other campers have cerebral palsy or a condition with similar symptoms. Roth started the Virginia Beach-based Pediatric Life S kills Specialists, a nonprofit organization, to serve children with cerebral palsy. She is also president of Cerebral Palsy Solutions, Coaching and Consulting, a "Conductive Education" consulting service.
Dr. Andras Peto started Conductive Education in the 1940 s in Budapest, Hungary, Roth said.
"It helps children or adults with cerebral palsy or other physical disabilities reach a higher level of functional independence," she added.
The program encourages children with physical disabilities to master their immediate environment with less catering to special needs. Roth encourages families to keep their children in whatever therapy and treatment they were in before attending the camp.
"Here at the camp, we encourage development and integration of motor, intellectual, social and academic skills," said Roth.
This is the second summer the camp has been offered.
" We're currently on the search for a building so we can run a full-time program," Roth said.
That's good news to Felicia Baker-Davi s o f Chesapeake, who brings her son, Evan, to the camp. The 2-year-ol d is developmentally delayed and exhibits cerebral palsy-like symptoms, but has not been diagnosed with the disease.
"Since he's been coming here he's been able to grasp objects better than before and is better at social interaction," Baker-Da vis said. "The other kids keep him motivated and help teach him as he is learning to do something on his own. Each seemingly insignificant step of progress my son makes is huge to us."
Roth, born near Budapest, decide d early in life that she would help children.
"When I was 16 I decided to be a camp counselor in Hungary," she said. "A child in a wheelchair that summer who attended the camp made me realize that I wanted to help children."
Roth earned a bache lor's degree in special education and Conductive Education in Hungary and a mast er's in teaching from Aquinas College, in Michigan. She also has 15 years experience in Conductive Education field and has helped set up programs and teacher training for the progra m.
"We want to be a link in the healing process for these children," said Roth. "That is the most important thing for me is to help them live life to the fullest."
source: http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=130428&ran=246049
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