NICE - Centre for Movement Disorders

Who we are

What we do

We have two distinct strands to our mission:

The first one is to provide a range of flexible services, through the delivery of Conductive Education, for children and adults with movement disorders and their families. These services cross the whole age-range and are tailored to suit the needs and requirements of the families we work with.

Our main activity is the provision of direct services for children and adults. This may take the form of joint sessions with the young child and their parent/guardian; weekly sessions alongside other provision; part or full time primary school placements or weekly, fortnightly and monthly sessions for adults. Each service is designed to meet the needs of the family and is discussed and agreed with all parties prior to commencement.

Alongside direct services we also recognise the importance of practical support for the whole family. We achieve this through parent workshops, diagnosis specific carers groups and an open-house policy where family members can observe sessions and learn directly from the conductors.

Who we work with

We work with anyone who has a movement disorder. Typically this would include the following diagnoses:

• Global developmental delay
• Cerebral palsy
• Dyspraxia/ Developmental coordination disorder
• Parkinson’s and Parkinsonism
• Stroke
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Brain Injury

How we do it

All our work is achieved through the practice of Conductive Education (CE). CE originated in Hungary in the late 1940’s as a unique form of education and rehabilitation for people with neurological movement disorders (e.g. cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s, stroke, multiple sclerosis). It is based on a belief of human potential where people with neurological motor disorders have the capacity to learn and develop skills, previously deemed impossible, through structured teaching and learning programmes designed and delivered by professionally trained conductors.

Our conductors deliver specialised movement based programmes to teach people with disabilities the full range of skills required to promote an active lifestyle thus equipping them with the confidence, personality and motor skills to lead a lifestyle which reflects their abilities and opens up new opportunities for equality and inclusion within society.