Grand Rapids, Michigan (February 24, 2004) ? On Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2004, CBS's "60 Minutes II" (8 p.m. EST, WWMT TV-3) will feature a segment on Conductive Education, a complex educational system, which teaches children and adults with motor disorders to

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Grand Rapids, Michigan (February 24, 2004) ? On Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2004, CBS's "60 Minutes II" (8 p.m. EST, WWMT TV-3) will feature a segment on Conductive Education, a complex educational system, which teaches children and adults with motor disorders to be more functional participants in society. Aquinas College's Conductive Learning Center (CLC) is the only institution in the United States offering a POHI (physically and/or health impaired) methodology teacher-training program utilizing the conductive education method. Professionals from the International PETO Institute in Budapest, Hungary deliver the Aquinas curriculum, which is designed by the College with assistance from the International PETO Teachers College.

Aquinas? CLC coordinators provided CBS producers with the information that took them to the PETO Institute in Budapest, where the techniques were developed in the 1940s. And while the "60 Minutes II" program does not specifically mention Aquinas College, CBS is providing a link to the Aquinas College CLC program on its Web site as a resource for people interested in learning more about the teaching program.

The Conductive Learning Center, 2428 Burton St. S.E., Grand Rapids, is one of only 3-4 programs in the world where the techniques are taught. Instructors from the PETO Institute teach these techniques at the CLC to Aquinas students interested in becoming future conductors of the program.

The Aquinas CLC program, which served 39 West Michigan families last year, has been attempting to raise public awareness of its program since it began here in 1998.

"We're really looking forward to this news report," says David Dvorak, executive director of the CLC. "With the incidence of cerebral palsy and other motor disorders growing throughout the world, it's helpful for parents to know that there are programs out there that can help their kids live more successful and productive lives."

The CLC offers programs for children from infancy to adolescence. The goal of the program is to help children with cerebral palsy, spina bifida and other motor challenges to achieve optimal independence and cognitive function. The program for future conductors of the program takes five years to complete.

Aquinas students spend numerous hours at the Conductive Learning Center (CLC), working directly with children with cerebral palsy and other motor challenges. While at Aquinas, students have the opportunity to travel to Hungary and study at the International PETO Institute. Aquinas College is one of only two West Michigan institutions offering the POHI endorsement given by the State of Michigan.