Introduction:

The following data were taken from the MOVE® Curriculum Assessment tool for 32 children at William Patrick Day Early Childhood Center in Cleveland, Ohio. The children counted had a completed pre and post assessment and at least 6 months of instruction. The data should be looked at as reflecting gains made on the 16 Skill Areas, the Motor Milestones within them, and Prompt Reduction Plans of the assessment, and do not reflect other gains made in other instructional domains affected by mobility, such as communication, adaptive behavior or early academics. Sample children experienced half-day, 4 or 5 day per week classes, with opportunities for inclusion with typical peers for some or all of class time.

Each child has very complex needs, an individual assessment profile and individualized goals. Therefore, we look at the "numbers" with caution, as both target skills and milestones, and progress, is so individual. However, we can look at the progress of the larger group in giving us trend information to answer the formative question "Are our young children making mobility progress over time as a result of using the MOVE® Curriculum, and if so, what does that look like?"

Discussion:

The 32 children averaged gains in 8.4 Skill Areas, 13.6 Motor Milestones within them, and 15 Prompt Reductions.

The mean for Skill Areas was 8 and for Motor Milestones was 10.

The 32 children at post-test in June 2003 were 2.5 to 6 years old, with an average of 1.4 years of instruction, with a range of .5 to 3:

1 child .5 years, 19 children 1 year, 10 children 2 years, 2 children 3 years.

One child in the sample graduated to independent sitting, standing and walking without any support or prompts after 2 years of instruction. Twenty-eight children made significant progress in all target Skill Areas. The consensus of the staff was that only three children did not make the progress this year that was anticipated. Attendance, medication changes and implementation problems were factors. 91% of children achieved significant positive outcomes.

We feel these excellent results compel us to continue to use the curriculum and to refine our practices. In addition, we have parent responses that indicate a high degree of satisfaction with the program, such as: "My child could not move around and now she is walking in her gait trainer." "I cried for joy to see my (grandchild) sit in a chair at the MOVE dedication." "Your staff gave us hope when no one else would. We’re immensely grateful."

For More Information Contact:

Margery A. Welch, Ed.D., Principal
William Patrick Day Early Childhood Center
2421 Community College Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44115
telephone: (216) 736-2920
e-mail: WELCH@ccbmrdd.org