We have two five week Conductive Education classes for children 7 -14 years old classes coming up; June 28th to July 30th and

August 2nd to September 3rd, 2010

We work with a variety of children ranging from children that spend most of the time in their wheelchair to children that can walk independently.

Some parents see pictures of our classes with children sitting at the tables and no wheelchairs in sight and assume that we could not help their child, however what you don't see in the pictures are the  wheel-chairs lined up in the hallway outside of the class.

We do not use wheel-chairs in the class as it is our goal to have the children walk from place to place either with assistance or without.

Children continue to grow and get heavier so the more we can help the children improve their skills this allows them more personal freedom as well as helping the parents.

There are some insurance companies that have reimbursed families for the entire cost of their Conductive Education fee and Tricare Medical Insurance which is available to  U.S. Military families has done this for several families. 

We have helped many children over the past 15 years make progress further than anyone ever thought they could and we can help your child too!

Please contact me with any questions I will try and help any way that I can.

Kevin Hickling
Director, Ability Camp
1-800-442-6992
www.abilitycamp.com

January 2010 Newsletter for 7 - 14 year olds
Erin Starts to get on her feet!

My daughter Erin is 10 years old and  has Cerebral Palsy.  She has had many obstacles to overcome.  When she was 6 she had to have hip repair surgery with tendon lengthening.  Prior to this surgery she never used a wheelchair just her walker.  But the surgery weakened her so much she was not able to walk.  Then when she was 8 she had an accident.  My son ( then 25) fell down the stairs carrying her on the day of his wedding.
She again had to have surgery to repair her leg ( same leg with the hip repair).  So needless to say she has not walked since.

I was getting desperate to find a way to help her get back on her feet.  She was at an age where she didn’t want Mom trying to get her to do things for herself and she was getting bigger everyday.

I had been reading about Ability Camp Inc. in Canada for a few years.  And thought since other parents had been having success there maybe this would be something to try.

We went for the 5 week program.  During the first week I wasn’t sure just what Erin would be able to accomplish because she was so weak.  And a lot of the other children seemed so much more independent.  But after meeting the other parents who had been coming every summer for a few years I found out this is how they all started out.

By the 3rd week I saw how she had improved strength wise and emotionally.  She was so proud of herself.  It was hard on me to see her struggle so much but with such great support from the other parents and children it got easier.  It was like one big family while I was there.  When I felt frustrated with walking her in her walker or she was feeling like she couldn’t take another step a mother or even the kids would step in with cheering us on !! 

At the end of the 5 weeks the parents were able to sit in on the class to see what the children were doing throughout the day.  I was shocked how well Erin could sit in a chair (without arms) and not screaming from fear of falling.  And all of the exercises she was able to do on her own.  I was never able to get her to even lift one leg.  So not only did Erin learn a lot but I did too.  I learned to stop babying her that she is capable of so much more than I gave her credit for.  And to push her a little bit more everyday. 

Since we have been back home she uses her Kaye walker every where.  She is still afraid of falling so she wants me to have my hands on her back but THAT WILL END VERY SOON !!  We do her exercises and stretches she learned at camp and she is stronger everyday.  I can’t say enough about the Ability Camp program and their conductors.  They are tough but they need to be.  And I love them for it!!!!!
 
WE WILL BE RETURNING AGAIN THIS SUMMER!!! 

Samuel is now walking independently!
Samuel came to us six years ago and at that time we worked on teaching him to use a walker. Recently his mother has brought him back two more times.

During his second visit he learned to walk with two single canes and in this last visit we helped to teach him to walk with one cane . He was taught to stand up from the floor, stand up from a chair also how to bend down and pick up objects as well as practicing all aspects of his balance and control exercises. 

Samuel's smile lit up the entire room when he started to walk independently without any canes not to mention bringing tears of joy to his mother's eyes!

We have just received an email from his mother Dina stating,"  Samuel has been walking along the walls and independently in the house since Christmas. He walked beautifully through the grocery store two days ago."

Samuel worked very hard for what he has achieved and is very, very proud of his accomplishments!
Jesse improves balance and control.
My son Jesse Power first attended Ability Camp when he was 11 years old, then  again when he was 12(2008,2009) - he has Spastic Diplegia.
He was a bit nervous to be away from home and missing school the first
time.

Because he was able to have My husband and I with him and he had the
approval of his teacher, that helped.

Jesse really enjoys camp and all the opportunities it holds.
He generally works very hard, but also likes to joke around with the 
Conductors.
Since attending camp, Jesse has made the following gains:
- riding his bike in traffic without training wheels
- standing on risers to sing with his choir
- enrolling in competitive swimming and being coded a para-swimmer for 
  competition - winning 5 medals in the last two years
- graduating from child/adolescent clinic at Glenrose Hospital and 
receiving accolades from the therapists for his involvement in Ability Camp and Sports in general.