Helping Special Needs Children
Children with disorders who have benefited from the ABM include:
- ADD and learning disabilities
- Asperger’s Disorder
- Autism
- Cerebral Palsy
- Birth Injuries
- Brachial Plexus Injury
- Brain Damage
- Down’s Syndrome
- Feeding disorders
- Fragile X
- Genetic Disorders
- Scoliosis
- Stroke
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy
- Torticollis
Parents and Caregivers note:
- Children sleep better
- Pay attention longer
- Make more sounds
- Gain more movement choices
- Improved mood
- Have better balance
- Show better problem solving skills
How does the Anat Baniel Methodsm for Children work?
Using gentle, innovative techniques to help the brain of the special needs child form new neural connections and patterns the Anat Baniel Methodsm for Children (ABM) helps take the child beyond their current limitations. This is a learning based approach, a process. The changes begin happening right away and can be quite dramatic.
The Anat Baniel Methodsm for Children is based on the understanding that many childhood diseases and traumas interrupt the brain’s normal and spontaneous process of forming patterns by interrupting the communication that needs to happen between the child’s body, the child’s world, and the child’s brain. Often, it is possible to directly communicate with the child’s nervous system in very gentle, yet powerful ways especially through movement, greater awareness and non-verbal kinesthetic experiences.
Where in traditional therapies there is great emphasis on trying to get the child to do what it is supposed to be doing based on his or her age. A very different approach is taken with ABM. Instead of trying to directly fix the problem by focusing on what the child cannot do, whether that trying to stretch a short muscle, practice reading repetitively, or instructing the child over and over how to relate to others, the focus is shifted to where the solutions actually lie — with the brain.
Everything we see a healthy child do is the result of a complex process of differentiation in the brain, creating new connections and new patterns. All the child’s experiences, whether by her own initial random movements or by what is done with her by those caring for her, is information used by her brain to develop and grow. When a problem like a stroke, autism, cerebral palsy, or some genetic disorder happens, this process is interrupted and the child manifests a host of limitations. Forcing a child to move a spastic arm will normally give very little, or no outcome. When a child is unable to recognize and sort emotional and social interactions and cues, repeated attempts to get that child to relate to others is at best only partially successful. This is because the brain is unable to transform the stimulation received into information needed to create new patterns necessary to for the desired changes. The ABM focuses on helping the brain do its job better. It helps the brain right itself and regain its ability to powerfully and consistently create new patterns and successful solutions.
This process can often move surprisingly fast, as you can see in the videos of Carter, Grace, and Isabel. (Links to the videos are posted to the right. These are the children featured in the 3 Children DVD). When a child begins learning in this manner, significant progress often follows. Early intervention can yield very rapid results, but we have also had great successes with children who had many years of conventional treatments before discovering the Anat Baniel Methodsm for Children.
What Does Success with the special needs child Look Like?
There is some progress/change within the first few lessons, or the child is not learning. The changes may be subtle or dramatic, but if the child is learning there will be some noticeable change. Recognizing even the subtle changes and building enthusiasm toward them will help changes happen even faster.
The child should be safe, comfortable, and happy during their sessions. Learning is a pleasurable and satisfying experience leading to greater freedom and ease.
While the diagnosis may remain, the quality of the child’s experience and joy will increase.
How do I get more information?
Contact me or click this link to see more about how ABM has helped children and to learn what’s possible with this method. Read the many success stories, watch video presentations, and find more information and resources.