Developed in the 1980s by a special education teacher, D. Linda Bidabe in Bakersfield, CA for school age children with significant motor impairments. In the early 2000s, a pilot study was done by Drs. Keith/Stacie Whinnery at Chesapeake Care Resources for adults with development and motor impairments. This pilot proved that the MOVE Program was beneficial regardless of age
Children and adults with multiple disabilities and their care providers and educators - benefit from innovative techniques and trainings of the MOVE Program. Many individuals who had little hope now have opportunities for inclusion within families, agencies, schools and centers, and communities.
SIT to eat participate in activities, education, and even employment;
STAND such as washing at a sink, food prep, and upright toileting;
WALK to move to participate in play or complete tasks (with and without support);
TRANSITION from bed to chair, sitting to standing, etc.
An activity-based program that combines therapy with an instructional process designed to help individuals acquire increasing amounts of motor skills needed for sitting, standing, walking and transitioning
Anyone, regardless of age or cognitive level, who is not independently sitting, standing, walking or transitioning.
The MOVE Program is meant to be implemented by family members, teachers, therapists, paraprofessionals, direct support staff, etc... All training on how to use the MOVE Program is arranged through MOVE International
The MOVE Program is designed to occur in all environments i.e. schools (regardless if they are center-based or general education sites), adult day programs, assisted living communities/nursing care centers, the home, and the community
The individual practices sitting, standing, walking and transitioning during naturally occurring opportunities throughout the day. Wheelchairs are only used when needed for transportation and walking long distances in the community.
Depending on the individual, common everyday furniture, adaptive chairs, mobile standers, gait trainers, and transitioning devices. The hope of the program is to reduce the amount of equipment an individual needs as they become more mobile and independent.
The MOVE Program includes an Assessment Profile for documenting progress and a Reference Manual. Included in the Assessment Profile is a comprehensive TOP- DOWN MOTOR MILESTONE TEST® and prompt reduction plan. This allows for easy documentation, goal writing and task analysis.
Research in the area of brain cell regeneration shows that the human brain has the ability to form new “pathways” over time with numerous repetitions. Activity-based intervention refers to practicing these movements during functional meaningfulactivities
There are MOVE Model Sites throughout the United States and in several countries overseas. These sites have been recognized by MOVE International as sites that demonstrate the MOVE Program at an exceptional level. Visitors are welcome at these sites by appointment. Contact MOVE Intl. to visit a site near you.
There is a MOVE Reference Manual that compliments the training and is needed to implement the Program. Descriptions of motor milestones and Prompt Plans that are found in the MOVE Assessment Profile and explained in detail in the MOVE Reference Manual.
The treatment has made me feel my muscles stronger and less hypertonic. I feel that it helps my movements to be more precise and that makes me feel more independent.
It is a nice experience to be able to sit without support and that my hands work better.
The treatment has made Tom feel stronger, he is now able to stand up and feel his legs on the floor bearing his weight.
In addition, it is noticed that he has less tone while sitting down on the chair during the day, and while working.
Walking with the help of the Walker is important to me now, also important that I’m not sitting in my wheelchair all day long, it gives me a lot of fun and the feeling that I can walk. When I walk with the walker, we also play with a ball, it’s a fun experience, it feels like I am a football player.
