M.O.V.E. (Mobility Opportunities Via Education) Program was founded by Australian born Linda Bidabe in 1986 when she was a special education teacher for the Kern County Superintendent of Schools office in Bakersfield, USA. She observed that students with severe disabilities often spent all day on beanbags and had no opportunities to move and enjoy a more full and abundant lifestyle in their homes, schools and communities. She crated the M.O.V.E. Program to help/teach disabled person who are non-ambulatory, with an aim to improve their motor skills of sitting, transferring, standing and walking, while participating in functional activities. The therapists, tachers and the disabled person all togther thus involve in a lifelong teaching and learning process. Since then there are many successful stories and the program spread to Canada, New Zealand, and 23 other countries around the world.

The M.O.V.E. Program is designed to help families, educators and therapists work together toward goals specific to the student's needs. The M.O.V.E. Program uses a task-oriented approach, and incorporates components from the current motor control and motor learning theories. The M.O.V.E. Program may involve using RIFTON equipment such as Pacer Gait Trainer, Dynamic (mobile prone) Stander, Advancement Chair, Rifton Seating System and Arm Anchor.

The M.O.V.E. Program is now available in Australia. The first accredited training was conducted by the international M.O.V.E. trainers - Ms. Anne Hanna (PT) Ms. Kathy Davidson (teacher) both from New Zealand in April 2006 with 29 therapists, teachers and parents attended. Since then a lot of schools and treatment centres have introduced the M.O.V.E. Program. We expect soon there will be model sites and accredited trainers appear in Australia.

To understand more about M.O.V.E., visit website: http://www.move-international.org/
To register for accredited training, ring FAS on 03-9587 6766 or email:sales@fasequipment.com