The Rainbow Centre
For over twenty years, The Rainbow Centre has been transforming the lives of children with Cerebral Palsy, those who care for them and, more recently, adults with MS, Parkinson’s Disease or in recovery from strokes.
Based in the town of Fareham in Hampshire, The Rainbow Centre works with individuals and families from across the South using a unique form of positive learning called ‘Conductive Education’, which focuses on what learners, are able to achieve to fulfil their true potential in life.
For our children this can involve learning how to sit up without support or the ability to walk unaided. For adults it can be re learning or preserving the ability to carry out everyday activities with skills we all take for granted.
We are immensely proud to have been chosen as one of the charities who will benefit from the 123 Decathlon Challenge. Receiving no statutory funding, The Rainbow Centre relies on donations, sponsorship and fundraising to cover our operating costs of up to £45,000 per month. For each child to attend just one weekly session for a whole year, we need to raise £3,000.
All funds raised from 123 Decathlon Challenge 2012 will go towards sustaining our current excellent range of services and help us to realise our plans for expansion in our adult services from 2012. On behalf of all our children, adults, families and staff, The Rainbow Centre would like to thank you for your support.
Case Study
Felix is three and has been attending the Centre for a year and a half. All four of Felix’s limbs are affected by cerebral palsy, with his right arm and left leg being the two stronger limbs. His speech is a little delayed as well, however his cognition and understanding are age appropriate.
Felix was born normally at 38 weeks. Apart from a slight hiccup at 26 weeks, when his mother contracted a virus and there was a threatened premature labour, Felix’s birth was perfectly straightforward and all appeared to be normal.
Then, when he was eight months old, his mother noticed that he couldn’t hold his head very well, or sit up. However, she wasn’t too concerned – his uncle and Grandfather had both been late developers, not walking until around two and talking even later – when his mother took him to the GP she was told not to worry and to bring him back at 11 months to see how he was doing then.
At 11 months the GP felt there might be cause for concern and referred Felix for a ‘Multi-disciplinary assessment.’ That assessment showed there was some delay in Felix’s gross and fine motor skills. But the reason for these was uncertain.
However, as Felix got older he seemed to be turning into a different baby – he was easily startled, anxious and could only be with his mother, he cried a great deal.
Eventually, an MRI scan revealed that Felix had faint scarring to the top of his brain – at the point where the nerves come into the brain.
Felix’s parents heard about the Centre through word of mouth and Felix began attending sessions in April 2010.
After just six months at the Centre there were massive changes in Felix. He could sit really well, and sit unsupported; he could roll over on his own and – the biggest thing as far as his mother was concerned – Felix was now able to handle being around people – prior to coming to The Centre he was easily startled, couldn’t be around strangers and found new situations distressing.
Eighteen months on and the picture is even brighter – having been reluctant to use his left arm (he would push his conductor away when she tried to make him use it) – he has begun using his left arm more spontaneously and with less verbal encouragement. More than that, he is beginning to understand that he needs to use his left arm.
At the beginning of the Summer Felix, who is desperate to walk and can do so only with his mother’s support at the moment, took delivery of a smart new tricycle. This has been a fantastic success – as demonstrated when Felix led the Decathlon cyclists recently.
It has given him his independence, strengthened his legs, and encouraged him to learn steering skills and play like any other boy his age – in other words not coming back to mother when he is called!
The family have just taken delivery of a ‘walker’ and the next challenge will be for Felix to start to use that walker. He calls it his racing car. Watch this space for further developments!