Practice makes perfect

Dolls lent to Cassie to keep working on zipping, buttoning and tying.

Aunt Shirley and Uncle Sam stayed with Cassie at Ability camp allowing me a few days to go home and get a few things done. Aunt Shirley timed Cassie and it takes her 25 minutes to put on her socks and shoes. Aunt Shirley went to a parent inofrmation session and they discussed the daily program and allowing time for tasks. Aunty Shirley gave me the written information and she educated me on some of the important points. Like other busy parents we are not allowing Cassie enough time to master certain tasks. One example is getting her shoes on each morning. We are always rushing out the door to work and school and Cassie does not have enough time so we end up just doing the task for her. By timing Cassie with the task of putting on her shoes, it makes me realize that I must incorporate extra time into Cassie's morning. (No more cartoons until after the shoes are on.) Aunt Shirley highlighted the important information being reinforced. The Practice makes perfect idea that has been adopted and utilized to its maximum here at Ability camp (following the lead from the Peto Institute for Conductive Education in Hungary). The daily program at Ability camp revolves around programs and routines wherein the children are encouraged to do things for themselves even if it takes them extra time. Cassie like other children with Cerebral Palsy suffers some learning problems and some motor problems on her left side. She needs extra time and practise to accomplish some of the more difficult tasks but is very capable when given the opportunity. Here at Ability camp Cassie has the opportunity to practice and repeat the skills she has learned over and over again. Learning the new skill is very empowering to her and she runs around showing everyone what she has learned. Aunt Shirley had her show me how she is learning to do zippers. It took her awile but she beamed from ear to ear and did not allow any one to offer any help.

Here at Ability camp the children have the time during the five to six hour class and the opportunity to practice and reinforce the skills they need and then they transfer the skills learned into every day life skills. Continuity is necessary to reinforce a new skill. Thus Chris and I have practised with Cassie all weekend. An opportunity to use the same skill for many different tasks is also essential. We have been using a set of dolls to continue to practise tying, zipping and buttoning our clothes, wooden shoes for lacing and our own clothing is great for practise. How exciting to see Cassie's confidence grow. She is one determined little girl. Thanks Aunt Shirley for helping to educate me and show me again what Cassie is capable of. We are so thankful to have had you and Uncle Sam share the experience of Ability camp. Cassie was proud to show you what gains she has made and to see just how hard she is working here at camp.

Aunty Shirley and me at Ability camp.

Thanks for all the home cooked food, the trip to Bellville, the long talks and the wonderful week together. We love you

Kathy

The Winter Blah's Art Gallery

Thank you Natalie, Colum, Abbey, Ellie and Cora.

This wonderful family hosted an Art Gallery in their home that showcased and sold children's artwork. The three young girls raised $427.00 for Cassie's campaign. Around 40-50 people attended the art gallery. All of the art, crafts and jewellery were sold and others gave financial donation towards Cassie's expenses.

Some of Abbey, Ellie and Cora's beautiful artwork!

Aunt Shirley and Uncle Sam arrived at Ability camp and brought pictures of this wonderful event to share with Cassie.

Abbey, Ellie and Cara displaying the donations raised for Cassie's Campaign! Thank you girls for your contribution to Cassie's rehabillitation. What thoughtful girls you are!

The board displaying information about Cassie. Written by Abbey.

We are so fortunate to be getting to know this family. Thank you Natalie from the bottom of my heart
Kathy Fruck

Keeping busy in our free time

Here is one of the wonderful services available to the children at Ability camp. A Mobile Toy Lending Library. Cassie got a keyboard so she can continue to practise her piano and a educational computer game. In two weeks the truck returns and you pick two new toys.








Games that the children play in class. Earning points and rewards make the therapy more fun and the friendly competition is what Cassie enjoys. Having their faces as the pawns is brilliant and so exciting to an eight year old


































A New toy from Cassie's Spanish speaking friend Sophia and her mom Carolina. This one is great for Cassie's weak hand because you bend it and pull it and make shapes requiring the use of both hands. Cassie played with it for hours and hours. Angela and Eugenia lent Cassie the stability ball and the two toys were perfect therapy but such fun.

Friends from Venazuela

Cassie and I have made friends with a wonderful family from Venezuela. Maria Mercedes is 16 years old and her younger sister Maria Gracia is at Ability camp. Maria Mercedes spent two weeks at camp with her sister. Cassie absolutely fell in love with this girl. Unfortunately Maria Mercedes had to return to school in Venezuela and left for the Toronto airport on Saturday.






Cassie and Maria Mercedes playing in the kitchen.













Here is a nice picture of the two wonderful sisters. We wish you well Maria Mercedes and it was wonderful getting to know you.

A Weekend with Julia

Cassie tried really hard to stay awake on Friday night for Julia to arrive but lost the battle. Julia met everyone Friday night while Cassie slept. Cassie woke Saturday morning to hugs from big sister. The girls seemed so pleased to see each other. They played well and were kind all morning. By afternoon they were having a disagreement and Chris and I were pleased to see they were back to their old ways!!

Chris took us to a Best Western Hotel on Saturday night in Belleville, Ontario. We had a fun time swimming in the pool and hot tub. Dre, Oma, Jessie and Norma Anne came to the hotel. We had diner out and swam all night in the pool. The children had a really fun evening.

Cassie showing off how good she is lifting the weak hand. She is getting more confidence in the pool and learning to put her face underwater. The goggles made the world of difference. She still needs to learn to float. Swimming lessons for sure when we return home.

Picton has a 100 year old theatre named the Regent theatre. It was designed with the same architecture as Toronto's Royal Alexandria Theater. Once a month this theatre plays a free movie for families. Chris took us to the movies. It was a wonderful old theatre. Two girls from camp Eugenie and Eva and their moms met us at the theatre. The movie was My Dog Skip which was fantastic. The girls enjoyed themselves. This would have cost us $100.00 back home in Ancaster. The event is sponsored by a local funeral home. What a terrific community event!

Chris, Julia and Cassie at the Regant Theatre in Picton Ontario. Thanks for the fun weekend. Julia we will see you in two weeks. Cassie and I will miss you.

Team Work, Learning to work together

For the last few days the children have exited their class marching left, right,left right and holding this rope. The children are working together and moving together and when one falls out of line they all go back. Cassie is enjoying being the leader. I wonder why Cassie would not be asked to use her left hand to hold the rope as she is so good with the right but anyways the children loved this one.

Cipöfüzö, Schnürsenkel - shoe laces, in Hungarian and German

I am facinated by the use of the internet. It allows different people with common interests to communicate easily. A Conductor in Germany named Susie Mallet saw my blog and linked me to her website called the Conductor. It just so happened she was working in Germany with children who are learning to tie their shoes. She mentioned Cassie on her blog. Susie has emailed me some wonderful information I can look up on CE and she recommended I post my comment that I made to her on my blog today.

My comment read as follows:

Glad you are interested in reading a mother's perspective on CE. I am not sure I understand the point you are making about my perception of the individual program working between two lines. I have never heard the term "pedagogy" before so this may be why I dont understand your point. Anyway, it is fascinating to see who is interested in what I write. My blog is a journal for my daughter, myself and our family and friends who are interested in my daughters progress here at ability camp. It is also a way to say thanks for the donations raised to support this very expensive camp. I take the pictures of Cassie if the conductors allow me to. I post them if the parents allow me to. There is only a short amount of time that the parents are allowed into the program. In the past Cassie has done extensive amounts of physiotherapy at Chedoke Children's Developmental Rehabillitation program in Hamilton Ontario. She used a Pony walker, regular walker, treadmill, gait training and other methods to learn to ambulate. I only have the Canadian physiotherapy perspective to compare CE with. There seems to be alot of conflicting views. The conductors dont support some of the types of therapy that we feel have been very useful for Cassie's growth and development. After five weeks I plan to return to Cassie's rehab program that is covered by Ontario Health Insurance Plan but hope to take home some ideas tht we can continue to work on. Cassie's well being is important to her dad and I. Cassie has had Botox (into thumb and various leg muscles), Serial Casting recently before coming to camp. She has used a left AFO and a SMO on her right since 6 months old. She pretty much wears them from morning until night and often wears her AFO and a knee immobilizer at night. I have learned to stretch her and I have learned to mobilize her calcaneous. (To assist with her problem of walking on the outside boarder of her foot.) It is a evolving process where things look great, she grows and things look worse. We have invested huge amounts of time in various therapies for her hand. Focus on Function study, Contraint induced movement therapy, Therapuetic horse back riding programs and she loves Ballet and swimming. I believe children need to be well rounded and too much therapy is not really what I promote. School, day care, church, theatre camp and girl guides have allowed Cassie to participate and shine and develop well along with her peers. We do not participate in any active therapy programs in the summer, Instead we enjoy fun at our trailer where Cassie is free to play, swim and bike ride with her friends and sister. We give her only small reminders to correct things or use a weak hand during the entire summer. Every child needs this free time and we find it invaluable to her growth and development. Interestingly, I have many pictures of Cassie at her after school physio clinic and she is doing the entire progam with her AFO's on. This is very different from her program here at Ability camp.The conductors are working hard to educate me on the dangers of Botox and AFO's as well they do not seem to support orthopedic surgery although they have not commented to me on the surgery Cassie needs. I am still not sure of what is best and may take the best of what I can remember from each type of therapy. I am conflicted as to what are the best options for my girl and I build trust with different professionals and guide my decisions based on what I think is best. I continue to put her AFO back on her left foot after her class here. Cassie loves to run alot and runs better with her left foot supported. I have a terrific orthotist who invests a lot of time and a great deal of skill watching Cassie ambulate. Constant adjustments are made to her AFO's. I still may consider allowing a surgeon to correct her equinovarus foot deformity if the stars align and Cassie works hard and continues to improve her muscle tone problems. I would love to prevent the need for surgery however. It is a continual balancing act. The planned surgery is club foot surgery and the timing is cruical and her specialist sees her every six months and we work together. Here at Ability camp the CE conductors are presenting me with other options which is empowering and inportant to me. Yesterday Cassie saw a chiropractor who may be able to assist with her leg length discrepancy and twisted foot. The lack of written material here at camp makes it slower for me to grasp and remember what is said. Yesterday Cassie walked down the hall in orhopedic shoes that are too big (borrowed and put on her by conductors) Although I dont like the look of her foot I do not say anything as I respect what they are doing and came here to learn their ideas. Cassie's left foot is rolling over badly as I watched her run down the hall back to her CE class. I am interested in reading alot more information before I give up on some of the medically managed ways of controlling Cassies spasticity and poor muscle tone. I dont believe the amount of therapy she gets at home would ever allow her to be without AFO's without a huge committment on my part. Until Cassie is old enough to make her own decisions I must balance out what I feel is best for her. I am a busy RN, mother and wife. I am just learning CE and yes I relate it to exercise or physiotherapy because it is what I am familiar with. Cassie invested huge amounts of time into constraint induced movement therapy which I also support but unfortunately she looses what she has gained after she goes back to doing what is easiest for her using her strong right side. I have no doubts Cassie will make gains with an intensive program like CE because she makes huge gains in every program she participates in. I am glad I linked to Susie as there seems to be alot of good information on this web site. The internet is how I found Ability camp. Keep organizing the web site Suzie, If I can find the info I am looking for easily I am more likely to read more. The camp here has no written material which I find strange. Like alot of mothers of children with CP I am always overloaded, I lead a hectic life. I have slowed considerably these two weeks because I am away from home.My first two weeks at this camp I have loved what I have seen and more importantly my daughter is having a fun, enjoyable time and she seems eager to do the program. This is what truly matters to me.I excitingly await more responses from others and love sharing information. Take Care
20 February 2009 10:37

Susie wrote me an email and I loved what she said about Conductive Education:

"CE is not about 12345, plinths and boxes, it is about learning to have a healthy outlook on life, leaning how to motivate oneself to live an active life. It is about having a healthy soul which in turn will make movement so much easier."

This fits in with my philosophy of what I want for Cassie as she grows up with cerebral palsy.

Susie also recommends some reading I would like to do with the help of my German speaking husband. Here are some books she recommended. A book by Maria hari which you can get from the NICE library website...Mária hári on Conductive Pedagogy and a book by andras petö written in german under the name Dr Otto Barnklau. Unfug - Unfug der Krankheit-Triumph der Heilkunst, Dr.Med. Karl Otto Bärnklau, (Dr András Petö) Karl Schustek Verlag, Main, Hanau. These books may help me understand the man behind CE a bit better. You can read quite a lot about this book on Susies website in her andrás Petö blogs. too. Chris hope you can help with me with this husband!Cassie balancing an bean bag on her head.

Reading Between the Lines

Cassie's conductive Education class working between two lines. This exercise you must walk with left foot forward, right hand up and alternate. Interesting to see how difficult this is for children with cerebral palsy. It takes lots of correcting and concentration. Cassie spent a lot of time doing this type of therapy and she really excels in this program.

Cassie and Jessie getting ready for this exercise.

Cassie is trying to side step keeping her toes on the line. She has to concentrate and correct her foot placement each time. Such easy exercises that could be incorporated into any physical education program or physiotherapy program. Hope to keep these up when she returns to school. Cassie thinks these are such fun.


Rewards after hard work. The children get to play the Wii Fit. This game they have to shift their weight from left to right. Balance and co-ordiantion. The kids try to beat each others score. I may be convinced to buy my children this gaming system after all

A Discussion about Hard Work

Yesterday Cassie had a melt down and did not want to go to class. She had told her teacher she had to go to the bathroom and snuck out to cry and said her tummy hurt, she found me and tried to try to bail out of her program for the day. It was difficult for me to watch. She was really mad and freaking out about me sending her back to class. She got a time out from her conductor due to breaking trust and leaving the program. She had a temper tantrum in the corner of her class. The conductor later told me she was doing fine again and it was short lived. I had numerous mothers give me support. These mothers have to push their disabled children every day of their lives. It is important to stay calm and follow through on what we say. Cassie needs clear expectations. When Cassie has this behavior is usually worse on me than Cassie. She gets over things quickly and is not embarrassed. I appreciated the support from the other mothers. Ability camp truly has ups and downs as you push through the tough program.Today the conductors asked us mothers to stay for the entire class. We all thought we were going to be watching our children and see what they are learning. These conductors are smart. They told the parents we had to do the program. This was brilliant. It helped me realize exactly what Cassie is going through. I am so tired, stiff and sore. Yet the children did all the exercises with weights and elastics and I did not have any weights. The children blew their parents out of the water. Below is Jessie with the lying program with his weights. His mom is beside him with no weights trying to keep up.

Cassie using elastics for resistance. My muscles were burning and yet these children do the entire programs with weak or stiff muscle tone. Can you blame a child if they have a bad day? I am able to put yesterday's melt down by my eight year old in perspective. Hard work makes you emotional. Who would not try to get out of working some days.

Cassie loved making her mother do this exercise that she does easily. I may keep going to class. I may as well get in shape while I'm here if the conductor lets me. The children do act differently when their parent is in the class with them. What a fun experience.

This was an enlightening day. It reinforces just how hard Cassie is working. It reminds me to have patience with her ups and downs with her mood. Again, Cassie your father and I are very very pleased and proud of you. Keep up the hard work this effort will truly pay off for you in the long run.

The Conductors

Two very skilled and professional conductors. Kisztina Kelemenne and Tunde Orovecz received their Bachelor degrees as a Conductors and Teachers from the Peto Institute in Hungary, These gals have years of experience working with children. Cassie warmed up quickly and responds so well to these teachers. What is Conductive Education? Conductive Education was started in Hungary overy sixty years ago by Dr. Andras Peto to help children and Adults with motor disorders learn to overcome problems of movement resulting from disease or damage to the central nervous system. It approaches motor disorders as a problem of learning or relearning that will respond to the appropriate teaching. By repeating taskks and integrating intentional movement with learning, the brain creates alternate pathways to send messages to muscle group enabling the desired movements.
What is Conductive Education to Cassie. Quite simply it is hard work, possibly the hardest work Cassie has ever completed. It is intensive group physical therapy which builds confidence. It is very intense sensible form of therapy. Another parent said that the Conductors never falter in their encouragement and patience with the kids, and they make every efoort to make the long grueling day of exercise full of fun and laughter. Cassie has had blisters, sore muscles self doubt and exhaustion. Cassie notices other children are working just as hard as she is. The conductors praise intention and attempt. "Its okay if you cant move your arm the whole way. You start and I will help you finish.: Both Tunde and Kristina give praise and much coveted hugs. Repeative phrases are used to help the child focus on an activity. Songs and music are incorporated into the day which Cassie loves. The Conductors are very positive and goal oriented towards the children. I worried the other children were more affected than Cassie and the goals would not be hard enough. Boy was I wrong, the program is individually tailored to meet each child's goals. Cassie is always being challenged. This therapy is just what I have been looking for my girl.

Cassie's homework today is learning to tie her shoes

Cassie came out of her class today with a wooden shoe. She has homework to learn to tie her shoes and she is to practise on this wooden shoe. This is a two handed task which has always been difficult for Cassie however she is improving her left hand use at camp and this is one of the tasks given to her today. Cassie proudly showing off how she is learning to tie in the kitchen of Ability camp.

This one she had assistance to get it. Down below she is concentrating really hard, left hand contracts slightly this takes alot of brain work. Keep up the good work Cassie we are proud of you!!

Two Birthday Boys at Ability Camp

Here are two very special brothers who have birthdays one day apart. Zac Rowitz turned 14 and his younger bother Tyler turned 10. Tyler has cerebral palsy from birth. He had a very rocky start to the world. His mother told me that he had an Apgar of 0 and was revived at birth. The lack of oxygen caused his cerebral palsy. The family is at Ability camp for the second time to work on Tyler's rehabillitation. They come from Los Angeles California for Conductive Education and Hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Big brother Zac is auesome with Tyler. He is home schooled and helps his mom all the time. I have watched him cook meals in the kitchen. Having a brother with so many medical problems has taught him to be independent.

Tyler in his super cool, sporty stroller at his birthday party. He has gorgeous jet black hair and dark eyes. I cant help but admire this family. Dad flew in from Calefornia to see the boys for their birthdays.
Some of the children at the boys birthday party sharing cake and singing to the two brothers. I think I will ask Julia if she wants to stay at camp on our last week here. Many of the chidren came with their siblings. The older children hangout together. This may be something Julia would like to do as these kids have something in common having a sibling with disability. They are able to share time and stories together and the friendships grow at Ability camp.

A Trip with Daddy around Prince Edward County

Chris took Cassie and I on a drive around Prince Edward County. Just outside of Picton is a short Ferry ride across the Bay of Quinte. Cassie was nervous on the Ferry and than started to relax and like the ride. It was a beautiful sunny day. I could not figure out how the Ferry travels through the ice during the winter but when we arrived we noticed the ice was broken straight across the Bay. The Ferry continues through the ice breaking up smaller peices as it goes.

Chris and Cassie on the Ferry beside the truck. The Ferry ride is very short and once across the bay it is a short drive to Napanee. We all wished we were at camp during the summer as the lake and Bay are gorgeous and there is a lot of fishing and camping which is what my family likes to do. The Last picture is a light house at a marine museum right near Ability camp. Unfortunately the museum is not open this time of year.

Cassie has had a wonderful weekend with her dad. He is so patient and a terrific tour guide. We will have some good ideas for some fun on another weekend when Julia comes to camp.

Welcome to Holland

Written By Emily Perl Kinglsey 1987
and Hanging on the board at Ability Camp

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability- to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It’s like this….
When you’re going to have a baby, it’s like planning a fabulous vacation trip-to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It is all very exciting.
After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, “Welcome to Holland.”
“Holland?” you say. “What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I’m supposed to be in Italy. All my life I’ve dreamed of gong to Italy.”
But there’s been a change in the flight plan. They’ve landed in Holland and there you must stay.
The important thing is that they haven’t taken you to a horrible, disgusting filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It’s just a different place.
So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.
It’s just a different place. It’s slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you’ve been there for awhile and you catch your breath, you look around…and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills….and Holland has tulips Holland even has Rembrandts.
But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy…and they’re all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say “Yes, that’s where I was supposed to go. That’s what I had planned.”
And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away…because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss. But …if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn’t get to Italy, my may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things….about Holland

Air Canada Did not allow Eva to use her specially designed seat on the Airplane

Today us mothers sat around together listening to CBC Whitehorse. 8 year old Eva travels to ability camp by airplane. Eva has a custom made orthopedic seat she needs to be able to sit up. The seat was made by Columbia Orthopedics only 2 years ago. It is the only one on the market approved for American Air travel. It cost her parents 1200.00 dollars which they paid for themselves. Eva and her mother Lyn told the stewardess of Air Canada this information. While traveling from Whiltehorse to Vancouver Lyn had to hold her daughter Eva up in her seat the entire flight. When she arrived at Vancouver for a flight to Toronto the next Air Canada stewardess used common sense and allowed Eva to use her car seat. I am almost positive the Policy on the use of Car seats on planes in Canada is referring to infant car seats. Lyn bravely spoke about her situation on CBC radio and we sat around listening to the story. I really hope Lyn is able to make head way and will be allowed to use Eva's seat to assist her to sit properly on her return flight home. If you dont have a child in this situation you do not realize what these mothers deal with on a daily basis. Lyn is one of my favourite mothers I have met here at camp. I admire her determination. She goes to great lengths to ensure Eva gets what she needs. Cassie really enjoys Eva. Eva has beautiful red hair and terrific communication skills and Cassie and her both love Hannah Montana. The friendship is terrific for Cassie as she is learning to interact with a child in a wheelchair and accept all children for their differences. Keep up the good fight Lyn and Eva

Sage Baths

Today there was a parent' s meeting to discuss various housekeeping details and hear more about our children's progress. One of the natural remedies that is recommended at camp is a Sage Bath. I wanted to look up more information on Sage. Sage is a common ingredient of herbal medicines, herbal cosmetics preparations and health food. Sage bath was traditionally used in many countries to help improve various health conditions, from depression to skin inflammations, rheumatism and arthritis. It is also applied as a restorative and invigorating treatment, especially for patients of older age. As a cosmetic treatment Sage bath helps combat acne and skin inflammations, maintain healthy young skin. Used in foot bath to help get rid of foot odor and dry pealing skin. Many of the children at camp are working on ways to improve their muscle tone. Conductive Education is a program offering intensive therapy of around six hours a day. First of all everyday exercise and stretching helps..the brain is very flexible when we are young (up to 10-12 years) it is capable of learning new motor patterns, and because of it the brain can get used to the change of the muscle tone...thats why its important to exercise and stretch every day. Lack of exercise can lead to tightness and contractures which is what we are working to prevent with Cassie.

There are few good ways to reduce spasticity..Sage is a natural muscle relaxer..sage bath is done here at camp in the mornings to help the children with increased tone to loosen up. It is followed by a passive stretching program and then all their other active programs. Cassie who is milder than others at the camp is lucky as she was told she only has to soak her feet in sage in the mornings before class. Mornings are a rush and with only four bathtubs at camp the children who are stiffer than Cassie need them and we are able to stay out of their way.

Oma mentioned to me that sage oil has some hormone like estrogen in it so I will stay away from the oil. I went to the health food store and got dry sage. You put it into a nylon stocking and let it brew like tea in hot water then soak in it to work as a natural muscle relaxer. Cassie enjoys relaxing treatments anyway. You are aware that Cassie has also been doing her Botox treatments at home. Botox temporarily loosen the muscles and the affects last approximately three months after each injection. I feel fortunate to try a natural remedy and Cassie will recieve a combination of effective treatments as she grows.

Another successful day

Cassie has settled in well at Ability camp.  She has classes from 0800 am until 2pm.  Many of the other children do hyperbaric oxygen therapy at 2:30 but we are not doing this therapy so Cassie plays with her new friends.  Yesterday after class Cassie and Samuel went into the Conductive Education Class and played Ability camp.  It was heartwarming to see. I have learned a set of 15 stretching exercises that I do with Cassie each morning.  It is quite physical stretching your child.  Cassie has a full day with Passive exercises, lying program, standing program, sitting program and individual program.  I was fascinated with how little equipment is used.  The rooms have floor space and carpet space.  The have stools and chairs, ladders and wood.  Wooden dowls and bean bags.  There is not that much more equipment involved.  The conductors are very friendly to the children.  Cassie's class has 12 year old Jessie from Edmonton AB, 10 year old Dre from Michigan, 9 year old Samuel from Calefornia and 8 year old Cassie.  All four children are ambulatory.  Samuel uses to canes to walk.  Cassie is fitting in well in the class.  She does not appear to mind being the only girl.  There is alot of laughter, jokes and the children motivate each other.  Cassie is extremely tired at the end of the day.  She has stiffness and sore muscles.  The conductors encourage the children to take a bath in Sage.  Sage is a natural muscle relaxer.  Cassie will be in much better shape after five weeks.  I think every child with cerebral palsy should have a chance to experience this therapy at least once in their lifetime.  

Cassie is having a terrific time.  She has had no homesick at all today.  We are finding time for homework and are working on reading.  Cassie is doing all the words that we brought so we are making new ones.  Two of the siblings at camp are home schooled and it is hard to separte the kids and make them knuckle down from playing and do homework.  

Our First Day At Ability Camp

What a first day we have had. Cassie's classes start at 0800 am sharp. The stretches that they do are working muscles that will for sure help Cassie. The parents are taught the stretches and must come every morning at 0800am to do the stretches. This way we will know the exercises perfectly once we come home we can continue to do them. Cassie will probably be stiff because she is really stretching and using muscles that are weak. These exercises are terrific and will help her with her weak affected side. Today's class all the children were together. The children were divded up at the end of the day and will be separted according to abilities. Cassie's new class will have four children. Cassie, 10 year old Dre, 12 year old Jessie and 9 year old Samuel. They are all ambulatory. Cassie and Jessie seem the highest functioning. Jessie has a seven year old brother back in Edmonton and Cassie misses her big sister badly. The two seem to have bonded and Jessie is great with Cassie. He is a very handsome boy. Braces, big brown eyes and he his preteen humour are auesome. Here are two pictures of Cassie and Dre. Dre brought his Oma to camp which is great as Cassie misses her Oma. They bonded well together yesterday as they were first to arrive.

Cassie has had tears a few times related to homesickness. Also the camp is such hard work but she has also had a lot of fun already and seems to be settling in. I will discuss Conductive Education more and try to take some pictures but the parents are not allowed in to class any more. We have to have our child's lunch made for 11:45 everday and we take turns with a cleaning schedule around the camp. We pick our child up at 2:00 everyday. Jessie and his mom want me and Cassie to go swimming with them. Jessie is an auesome swimmer and has one some medals. What an inspiration for Cassie and a great way for me to get to do my favourite exercise so I wont be out of shape when I return to my Master's club