“It was not recognized much that our basic principal is that the primal goal is not strictly biological -correcting the movements and increasing functionality, but more rightly focusing on the personality -by developing self reliance and creativity. It was hard to put one's mind around that to gain coordinated operation which results are visible in movements, we need an indirect way through cognition and sensations from the perceptual areas.”

Dr. Mária Hári on Conductive Education

The Peto Institute, Budapest Hungary

The Foundation for Conductive Education, Birmingham UK

   Conductive Education is a very unique Hungarian teaching method which was developed about sixty years ago by a doctor educator called Dr. András Pető. Dr. Pető specifically designed his education system for individuals with central nervous system injuries both in children and adults (like CP, Parkinson, MS, etc.)

   Conductive Education molds physical activities with cognitive tasks, emphasizes communication and places the individuals in group settings to stimulate their senses and body on multiple levels, which maximizes active learning and functionality. Conductive Education is offered in various group and individual settings in North-America. Its professionals are the Conductors/Conductive Education Teachers, who hold a bachelor/master degree in Conductive Education and regular education teaching. Conductive Education focuses on the child's/adult's potential and ultimately attempts to shift the disabled personality to a physically and emotionally independent mind set regardless of the equipment they may or may not use for the long or short term. Depending on the age group in Conductive Education, the Conductors introduce individualized problem solving methods which are followed by a very consistent and functional practice. As the result the student/adults realize their success which helps them to stay motivated, physically and cognitively active during their every day routine as well.

   Unlike in many other countries Conductive Education is only part of a few schools or health-care systems in North-America. Most centers which offer some type of Conductive Education services are private non-profit organizations, but there are also several independent Conductors working on the northern side of the American continent. Conductive Education's main clientèles are children with motor skill disabilities like CP. Candidates for Conductive Education should be able to show basic cognitive skills and should show signs of understanding and following verbal communication and simple instructions. Lastly Conductive Education is not appropriate for individuals with Rhett's syndromes, autism, muscular or bone diseases, myopathies, progressive neurological diseases, sever/multiple impairments of the sense organs, or sever mental disability.