Conductive Education, Certificate

Suggested Program of Study

Program Information

The Certificate in Conductive Education program is a 5 trimester program for students who hold a bachelor degree. The student must also complete 3 pre-requisite courses. The certificate includes clinicals in 4 of the 5 trimesters. The goal of the program is to graduate professionals who are educated in the health and learning needs of individuals with motor disorders, the principles of pedagogy, and liberal studies. These graduates will be trained to work as conductor-educator specialists in conductive education settings and in sites that assist individuals with motor disorders such as clinics and schools.

Program Mission Statement

The mission of the Certificate Science in Conductive Education program is supportive of the AdventHealth University’ mission through the provision of quality educational experiences to prepare competent conductor-educator specialists who are able to use critical thinking skills effectively address the daily living needs of individuals living with motor disorders. The program will provide experiences to develop a professional graduate who is able to reason critically, to use evidence-based resources, and provide competent services in a caring and spiritual manner.

Program Faculty

Tia Hughes, DrOT, MBA, OTR/L
Krisztina Weiszhaupt, CET, BA,
Ann Vining, EdD
Janice Wooten, BS, OTR/L

Policies

The Conductive Education Student Handbook Supplement contains the program policies. By accepting enrollment as a conductive education student, each applicant agrees to abide by the policies as outlined in the Supplement.

All students must present:

• Proof of health insurance before entering the clinical environment and must maintain this insurance for the duration of the program.
• Yearly verification of tuberculosis screening. If the test is positive, refer to the Communicable Disease Policy in the Student Handbook for additional information.
• Updated immunization records including hepatitis B, MMR and Tetanus-Diphtheria.
• Verification of varicella vaccination or show immunity (titer).
• Evidence of physical examination within three months prior to beginning the clinical component (final 5 terms) of the program.
• Verification of current certification in professional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from the American Heart Association, including infant, child, and adult CPR.

Mental and Physical Requirements

The practice of conductive education has cognitive, sensory, affective and psychomotor requirements.  Based upon these requirements, the following Student Performance Standards have been developed.  Each standard has examples of activities, which the student will be required to perform while enrolled in the occupational therapy assistant program. 

These standards should be used to assist students in determining whether accommodations or modifications are necessary for meeting program requirements.  As soon as potential difficulties with meeting the Student Performance Standards are identified, students must communicate their concerns to the Program Director.  Determination is made on an individual basis as to whether or not the necessary accommodations or modifications can be made reasonably.

 

Issue	Standard	Specific examples (Not all-inclusive)
Critical Thinking	Must be able to problem solve, understand selected goals, interpret evaluation data, implement appropriate treatment techniques, assess progress and make recommendations for change in education plan	Reads and clearly interprets goals and established plan of care, makes appropriate accommodations and adaptations to maximize student function, recognizes and reports progress and need for change in intervention
Interpersonal	Must be able to professionally and effectively interact with individuals, families, groups and other team members from a variety of social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds and with individuals with a variety of disabilities	Establish rapport with clients/students (individually or in groups), family members and team
Communication	Must be able to explain methodologies, techniques, progress and precautions to clients/students, family members and other team members in written and spoken form	Explain plan and progress to client/student, family and team; teach safe compensatory techniques and safe use of adaptive equipment to clients/students and caregivers; prepare accurate documentation
Mobility	Must be able to independently maneuver from place to place in a classroom or clinical setting	Administers treatment at tabletop, on mats or beds, or in bathrooms/kitchens in a variety of settings including clinic, home or classroom
Motor Skills	Must be able to carry out selected evaluations and tasks which may involve maneuvering extremities, trunk, head and neck of clients/students and manipulation of equipment and materials of varying sizes, shapes and weights	Don/doff splints and adaptive equipment, performs range of motion exercises/activities, performs or demonstrates functional activities, positions another person, assists in a transfer, performs CPR and performs components of evaluations
Hearing	Must be able to accurately receive information verbally communicated by clients/students and respond independently to an emergency situation signal	Acquires client information during evaluations, intervention, and emergency signals
Visual	Must be able to observe changes in client/student behavior and physical status  and respond to an emergency situation signal	Observes responses to pain, changes in physical behavior, changes in coloration of face, wounds or extremities
Tactile	Must be able to feel movement in muscle groups, pulse, changes in temperature of skin	Performs motoric and sensory tasks

 

** Student teaching rotations require the AHU student participate in full time work ranging between 40-60 hours/week.  This time is primarily standing and walking with some seated breaks. Transferring clients/student that weigh up to 200 pounds is highly likely during this time. Conductive education students must have reliable transportation. Fieldtrips, community projects, practicum experiences, and student teaching internships are critical components of this program. Sites will be within 60 miles of the university campus.

Admission

The Conductive Education Admissions Committee makes the final decision regarding an applicant’s acceptance to the program. A successful applicant for admission to the Conductive Education Program must meet the general requirements for admission to AdventHealth University (AHU) and will be evaluated, based on the following criteria:

1. Submit the Conductive Education Certificate Program Application. The application can be accessed at http://my.adu.edu.
2. Have a minimum college GPA of 2.70 (on a 4.00 scale)¹. GPAs presented to the admissions committee for each applicant will be a cumulative record of all college-level work.
3. Submit recommendations on AHU Recommendation Forms. If an applicant to an undergraduate program has completed at least one trimester at AdventHealth University (AHU) before being admitted to a program, one of the recommendations must come from any AHU faculty member, adjunct professor, tutoring coordinator, chaplain, or academic coach/advisor. Special recommendation forms for this requirement are available in the Office of Enrollment Services.
4. Write an essay explaining his or her interest in becoming a conductor and the reason for selecting a faith-based institution. The essay must be proctored and hand-written. It must include correct spelling and grammar, be completed in two hours, and be one to two pages in length. For proctoring instructions, call the Center for Academic Achievement at 407-303-7747 x 110-6413. Topics for the essay will be related to the field of conductive education, reflections of the student’s observations, the student’s aptitude toward the field, and what it means to attend a faith-based university. Questions to answer will be chosen at random by the essay proctor. Essays will be reviewed, based on content, spelling, grammar, and organization.
5. Observation hours (minimum of 40) at a conductive education site is a requirement to admission in order to gain knowledge of the profession, required aptitudes, and physical demands of conductive education.
6. Complete the following pre-requisites with a ‘C’ or better from a regionally accredited college within 5 years of the admission deadline: Anatomy & Physiology I, Anatomy & Physiology II, & Developmental Psychology

If invited, applicant will be required to attend (a face to face) interview on the AHU campus.

Admission into all professional programs is competitive. Each program has a maximum number of students that can be admitted each year. Students meeting the admission requirements for a given program qualify to be considered for admission to that program. However, due to the competitive nature of each program’s admission process, meeting minimum admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance. Students may be given preferential consideration for admission to degree and certificate programs when they have successfully completed 12 college-level hours at AHU. A maximum of 15 students may be enrolled in the certificate program each fall. 

Program Progression

1. Eligibility for Progression:  Students may progress in the program when they:
   1. Earn a grade of at least “C” (2.00) in each Conductive Education (OTCE) course.
   2. Repeat successfully all courses in which the minimum grade of “C” (2.00) was not achieved.  No more than two courses may be repeated, only one of which may be a conductive education course. Remediation constitutes ‘unsuccessful’ status.
   3. Document current CPR certification and tuberculosis screening during the clinical phase of the program.
2.  Ineligibility for Progression
   1. Students who are dismissed from the program through the Disciplinary Policy are not eligible for progression.
   2. Students who do not achieve the minimum grade of “C” (2.00) in each conductive education and cognate course are not eligible for progression.  These students must petition for an opportunity to repeat one or more conductive education courses during the next academic year.  Petitions are granted, in part, on the basis of space available in conductive education courses.  The conductive education faculty reserves the right to specify which courses may be repeated.
3. Course Withdrawal
   A student who elects to withdraw because of a failing grade will be considered as having taken that particular course.  Withdrawal will be reviewed by the conductive education faculty to determine if the course should constitute as having been taken.
4. Course “Incomplete” Grade Designation
   When a student is granted a grade of “incomplete” in a conductive education course, the grade must be changed to a grade of “C” (2.00) or better prior to the first day of class the following trimester.  The student must apply for an incomplete grade designation in the Records office.  If the student does not satisfactorily complete the required work for the course, the student will not be allowed to continue in the program.

Students who do not progress with their class cannot be assured of placement in their choice of subsequent classes.  Readmission is, in part, subject to available space.  Students will be readmitted under current program policies.

Readmission

Students are considered for readmission to the Conductive Education Program when they meet admission requirements and:

1. Submit a re-application form to the Conductive Education Program no later than May 1 for re-entry in the Fall trimester, August 1 for re-entry in the Spring trimester and January 1 for re-entry in the Summer trimester.
2. Have a cumulative university GPA of 2.70.
3. Present annual verification of tuberculosis screening and maintain current professional American Heart infant, child and adult CPR certification.
4. Meet specified requirements as set forth by the Conductive Education Program regarding the individual student.
5. Repeat no more than two required conductive education course.
6. Readmission is subject to available classroom and clinical space.

If a lapse of time greater than 2 years (24 months) occurs in a student’s program of study, prior conductive education credits will not be accepted unless the student can validate CE knowledge through written examination and clinical performance.

Students who do not progress with their class cannot be assured of placement in their choice of subsequent classes.  Readmission is, in part, subject to available space.  Students will be readmitted under current program policies.

Completion

Students will be considered for graduation from the Conductive Education Program and for the conferral of Certificate in Conductive Education when they have met the general requirements for graduation (see Graduation ).

1. Completed a minimum 48 hours of credit.
2. Completed the prescribed course of study for the Conductive Education Program.
3. Achieved a minimum overall GPA of 2.00 (students must achieve a minimum grade of grade of “C” (2.00) in all cognates and conductive education courses).
4. Completed a minimum of 50% of academic credit hours in residence at AdventHealth University.

Clinical Information

Students will be required to complete 2 levels of clinicals: practicals and student teaching internships.

Students must complete 2 practical courses within a conductive education setting under the direction and supervision of a practicing conductor-educator. Practical experiences must be completed during the trimester indicated in the curriculum for a student to progress to the following term. Student teaching internships occur over 2 consecutive terms. Students work under the direction and supervision of a practicing conductor-educator on a full time (M-F) basis at a conductive education center.

During each level of clinical experience, students are responsible for his/her transportation to and from the site and to and from fieldtrips. Students are responsible for purchasing uniforms and necessary equipment as determined by the clinical site.

 

Suggested Program of Study