Making all the right moves
New SDC program gets wheelchair-bound clients up and about.
Gerald was a young child when a debilitating illness took away the use of his legs. For years he scooted around on carpets before learning to use a wheelchair to get from one room to the next. Today Gerald walks again with a big grin on his face and obvious pride in his accomplishment.Gerald is one of 44 clients at Sonoma Developmental Center who is involved in a program that is giving people new hope. (From The Sonoma Index-Tribune, May 10, 2002 edition)

A step toward goals
On the slow, painstaking path to independence, a tiny disabled Argentinian boy took his first, giggling steps Monday without the tether of another human clutching his armpits from behind, holding him up. (From The Bakersfield Californian, Monday February 3, 2003)

Reaching For The Stars: Profile on Gregshea Dolberry
As Gregshea's Occupational Therapist, I have seen him emerge in numerous areas. At the start of his Baer School experience, Gregshea seemed to be a timid and withdrawn child. Now he is outgoing and expressive, the total opposite! (By Anna Rotenberg, OTR/L & Brandi Boone-West, PTA at the Baer School, a MOVE Model Site in Baltimore, Maryland)

Bryson MOVEs Forward
When Health Aide Mary Williams let go of the strap connecting her to 4-year-old Bryson Meadors on October 18, Bryson began to walk independently. Those were huge steps for him and another giant step forward for Mobility Opportunities Via Education (MOVE).

MOVE ''miracle'' student graduates
They are calling five-year-old Renata Vargas their "miracle" graduate at the Harry E. Blair Learning Center Mobility Opportunities Via Education (MOVE) Model Site in Bakersfield. Blair/MOVE had a graduation party for Renata on April 24. The following day she began the next step in her education at the Claude W. Richardson Child Development Center. The word “miracle” is used for a couple of reasons. It was a miracle she didn’t die in a swimming pool drowning accident just two-and-a-half years ago.

MOVE has changed so many lives
I so often find myself marveling at the effects of MOVE even after 7 years of using it. Move has changed so many lives. Each week at McBride I see and hear of students who are improving their skills in the MOVE Program. One day I'll see a student in a gait trainer with most of the prompts; next, he'll be missing some prompts and within months, walking in a K-walker. Some of the progress is quite astonishing. Sometimes I try to imagine what these students' lives would have been like without MOVE. (By Janet, a MOVE Site Trainer and teacher at the McBride School, a MOVE Model Site in Los Angeles, February, 2001)

Moving Ahead One Step at a Time
Important Strides for Children with Severe Disabilites.
Bryson Meadors beamed as he took his first wobbly steps the other day. There were only four of them, each just a little stronger than the one before. For any child, those first tentative steps are a big milestone. For four and a half-year-old Bryson, they were one small miracle. those steps were hard won, the result of grueling work by his teachers at Sequoia Middle School, his parents and a local organization named MOVE – Mobility Opportunities Via Education. Aptly named, this is a common-sense program with the goal of helping children with severe disabilities take strides toward a life-long gift: independence. (From Kern County Family Magazine, November 2000)

Moving Experiences
Six months ago, 5-year-old Jo-Jo couldn't sit in a chair, Robby couldn't bear weight on his feet, and 4-year-old Crystal couldn't move about without her wheelchair. These children, like others at Sven Lokrantz Special Education School in Reseda, are severely handicapped. Their parents were told they would never sit, stand or walk. Today, Jo-Jo can sit in a chair during snack time, Robby can stand, and Crystal can take steps across the room. "It's a miracle," said Anita Boyance, Robby's mother. "We've been waiting for a program like this forever." (From The Los Angeles Times, May 1991)

Making a MOVE to independence
Program boosts mobility and confidence
Cerebral palsy victim Robert Shumate once begged his mother to send $1,000 to a television evangelist he hoped could heal him. "Jesus doesn't charge for miracles", Vicki Shumate told her son. "If Jesus wants you to be healed, he will heal you." Robert's one wish was to be able to walk. His dreams finally came true in the fall when MOVE International came to Decatur. (by Emily McMackin, The Decatur, AL DAILY Staff Writer, June 22, 2000)

Donna Jean (DJ) and MOVE, written by her mom, Marjie
Donna Jean has semi lobar holoprosencephaly and cerebral palsy. She has major physical delays.
DJ is very interested in all that goes on around her. She is 6 1/2 years old. I believe MOVE based programs are one of the best.

MOVE at The Joseph Sams School-It was one of those pushy parents! (by Lana Carr, MOVE International Trainer, EP Magazine, September 2005)

MORE MOVE TESTIMONIALS

"Eddie is our first graduate of the MOVE Program. We at Miller High School in Reseda, CA have been using the MOVE Program since 1991. Eddie has been in the program since 1994. Just last Tuesday (November 7, 2000), Eddie walked a mile independently (at the local high school track as a part of our physical education fundraiser)! Everyone has tears in their eyes over Eddie."
- Eileen Roseman, Special Education Teacher and MOVE Site Trainer

"Dear Linda: The MOVE Program has finally made it into our yearbook, 2001-2002 (and a whole page at that). Eddie is now in Community-Based Instruction (CBI). He broke his ankle a few weeks ago and can still walk independently (I feared that he'd be back in a wheelchair but he's not, and I'm so jazzed). Gilberto (Gilly) uses the Pacer all day (wheelchair is used to and from school only).Thank you on behalf of my students and myself."
Eileen Roseman, MST at Joaquin Miller H.S., Reseda, CA. 9/02

"My grandson had a profound brain injury at 5 months of age. I heard about the MOVE Program and went to Bakersfield to see Blair (Learning Center) in early 1992 and was so impressed with the committment of everyone, we went home and started to make arrangements to relocate to Bakersfield. Unfortunately, my husband became very ill and died. Nevertheless, I obtained the MOVE Program and home schooled my grandson for two years before he passed away due to repeat esophogial bleeding. During that two years he went from sitting most of the time to walking in a gait trainer and two days before he died held his head upright on his own with no prompting. I now work as a respite/attendant care for the Department of Developmental Disabilities in Arizona. I constantly tell people about the MOVE Program. It is great and it works!!!"
-Margot Hathaway, April, 2002

"Zackary is my seven year old son who attends California Avenue School in Riverbank, CA with Randy DeShane and Luanna Stephens. Zackary has been in the MOVE Program now for a little over two years. He started in the beginning with a few steps in the gait trainer every now and then. Today, Zackary is our success story. He is now walking just about anywhere he wants to go-from the activity table to the computer and even into the room next door. There's no stopping him now. Look out world, Zack's on the MOVE!"
- Zackary's Mommy, Traci Trujillo, June, 2001

"One little boy's first time experience with school and his motor skills improved to such a degree that his self confidence improved and he has been mainstreamed into a regular kindergarten class this year (1999-2000)."
- Lokrantz School, a MOVE Model Site located in Reseda, CA.

"CCS (California Children's Services) ordered a new wheelchair and walker for a newly enrolled student. By the time they arrived, the student didn't need either!"
- McBride School, a MOVE Model Site located in Los Angeles, CA.

"Nicole is a 4 year old child with multiple disabilities. Her functional ability is affected in all four limbs. She has spastic motor coordination. She currently uses a Tech Talker as an augmentative communication device. Nicole is enrolled in an integrated pre-school class. There are 6 preschoolers with disabilities and 6 typical preschoolers in her class. She has a one-on-one aide to assist her throughout the day.With the assistance of the MOVE Program, we see Nicole walk into school every day and to the classroom. She arrives on the bus, and then she is placed in her gait trainer and she walks into class with her classmates. During playtime, Nicole can be seen quite often, pushing her doll carriage while standing and walking in her gait trainer.
With the use of an advancement chair she is able to sit and participate in classroom activities with her classmates. During this past year (1999-2000) her sitting and standing ability have increased tremendously. Nicole is now able to sit on the Blue Wave pottying system in the bathroom that her classmates use. Nicole has also partaken of numerous school activities with a second grade buddy class. She even recently performed in a school play about "Somewhere over the rainbow". Nicole can always be seen smiling and laughing as she shows everybody what she can do. This child believes in herself, and because of the MOVE Program has shown people what she can do independently."
- UCP, The Children's Center, a MOVE Model Site on Long Island, NY.

"Ashley, a 14 year old girl with spastic CP has progressed from using a Rifton gait trainer for ambulation and physical supports for standing and transferring, to walking with a walker and transferring with no physical assistance in spite of prior orthopedic impairments, including knee and hip contractures."
- RISE Learning Center, a MOVE Model Site located in Indianapolis, IN.

“If Thomas did not have the opportunity to be in the MOVE Program, he would still be either lying on the floor, sitting in our laps or in a wheelchair...”
– Kelly McGrath, parent

"Our dreams for Angela (age 10) to walk across the room with her hand held are now realistic through many hours of love and labor."
- Mary Litterilla, parent

"Case after case of improvements in youngsters with cerebral palsy, accident victims or children with devilitating brain damage have proven the methods used in the (MOVE) program."
- The Bakersfield Californian

"I have never seen the teachers of a special education school so excited as they are about this MOVE program."
- Phil Callison, Director of Special Education, Los Angeles Unified School District

"We had a wonderful 'MOVE moment' last week. There was a person who I had never seen out of his wheelchair, nor vertical. Under the direction of the physical therapist, who has been very supportive of MOVE, this person used a Pacer gait trainer and was able to ambulate through our facility. The staff gathered and cheered and took pictures. Melinda had talked about these kinds of moments, but I did not expect it so quickly!!" (Editor's note: Melinda Harrison, a MOVE International Trainer conducted a 2-Day MOVE for Adults Provider training at the Tallmadge Center in Talmage, Ohio in June 2009. The MOVE International office received ths 'MOVE testimonial' in August 2009.)   
- Joe DiFranco, Administrator, The Tallmadge Center, Tallmadge, Ohio   

Decatur's MOVE program commemorates 10 years of helping students with disabilities by giving $2,000 to four Decatur schools Saturday.

It's been an incredible 10 years of watching people break free from physical limitations, said Shawnie Subido, the mother of a girl with cerebral palsy and one of the parents who prompted Decatur City Schools into adopting Mobility Opportunties Via Education [the MOVE program].

MOVE is an international organization that provides training . . . to help people with severe disabilities gain increased independence in sitting, standing and walkin, which leads to better mobility, health and personal dignity.

In 1999, after watching a video of MOVE success stories, Subido shared the information with school officials. After getting approval from the superintendent's office, a Decatur special education teacher and physical therapist then observed a school in Delaware [the John G. Leach School in New Castle] using MOVE and enthusiastically endorsed the program.

The following fall, Decatur teachers and parents began receiving MOVE training and equipjment.

Subido said MOVE . . . made huge improvements in the lives of students.

"This year, a young girl with cerebral palsy was able to stand in her walker the entire length of a year-end awards program," Sibido said. Earlier in the year, that same girl couldn't stand and wouldn't let people touch her so she stayed in her bean-bag chair all the time.

"If you could see her now, she's just flourished like you can't believe," Subido said. "It's just amazing over the years, the progress you see with these kids. That's why we support this program."

The $2,000 raised by the celebration breakfast will go to Decatur High Developmental, Somerville Road Elementary, Oak Park Middle School and Chestnut Grove Middle. 
-May 31, 2010, "Student mobility program celebrates 10 years in Decatur, Decatur Daily, Decatur, Alabama

Got a story to share about MOVE?
We'd love to hear it! Please email your story to move-international@kern.org