For Melissa Ruger, the MOVE International program at Hillside Learning and Behavior Center has been life-changing, not just for her 13-year-old daughter, Hayli, who has severe cerebral palsy, but for their entire family.
"Hayli has been in the program for almost three years now," Ruger says. "When she first started, there were a lot of areas where she was weak. But now, she's able to stand taller and even move her stander around. It’s given her so much more independence, which in turn has made her a happier kid."
The MOVE (Mobility Opportunities Via Education) International program focuses on enhancing mobility for children with significant physical disabilities. Hayli, who uses a stander, a device with large wheels that allows her to stand and move with her arms, has embraced the independence the program has helped her achieve.
"She can now maneuver through our living and dining rooms, even backing up when she runs into something," Ruger says. "She fully understands what we’re saying, but her body sometimes limits how she responds. This program has allowed her to overcome some of those limitations."
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Courtesy Heather DeJongeThe MOVE (Mobility Opportunities Via Education) International program at Hillside Learning Center focuses on enhancing mobility for children with significant physical disabilities.
Building independence
Hillside Learning Center was named an Exemplar school for its use of MOVE International. The school was evaluated in October and will be officially honored in the spring with the designation.
The program, which was introduced at the school three years ago, incorporates therapeutic techniques into students' daily routines, allowing them to practice crucial motor skills in an academic setting so they spend more time learning to stand, walk, balance, and perform basic tasks such as using the bathroom independently.
Hillside is only the fourth school in Michigan — and the second in West Michigan – to gain Exemplar status.
The MOVE International program has been life-changing for children with significant mobility challenges, says Heather DeJonge, a physical therapist who has been instrumental in bringing the curriculum to the school.
"The goal of the MOVE program is to give our students as much independence as possible," says DeJonge. "Whether they’re using wheelchairs or are ambulatory, the program provides them with the tools and opportunities they need to practice and develop their motor skills in real-life scenarios."
‘We needed to do something’
Before the introduction of the MOVE curriculum, many students were using old, worn-out activity chairs, walkers, and standers with little opportunity to move or practice mobility. None of the students using wheelchairs were able to use the restroom on their own.
“It was heartbreaking," says DeJonge, who began working at Hillsdale five years ago. "These kids couldn’t advocate for themselves, and their equipment wasn’t suited to help them develop their mobility skills. I knew we needed to do something."
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Courtesy Heather DeJongeHillside Learning Center was named an Exemplar school for its use of MOVE International.
When she and the adaptive PE teacher Cherie Owens brought her concerns to new principal Amy Tomlinson, they decided to work together on bringing MOVE to Hillside. Together, they sought funding for training and to launch the curriculum in four classrooms on Hillside’s West Wing that serve students with severe multiple disabilities.
"It was a team effort," says Tomlinson. "We had to get everyone on board, but we knew the benefits would be significant for our students."
Students who were once entirely reliant on wheelchairs when the program started now are walking with the help of pacers or other adaptive equipment.
"We’ve also seen students who were completely dependent on caregivers for toileting now achieving partial or full continence, which is a huge step toward independence,” DeJonge says.
One parent shared how their teenage daughter, who had previously needed to be changed like a toddler, walked into a stall and sat on a toilet at a restaurant after a year in the MOVE program.
Out of their wheelchairs
DeJonge says that as soon as students arrive at school, they get out of their wheelchairs and start moving.
"We make it a point to keep the students out of their wheelchairs during the day," she says. "The goal is to give them as many opportunities as possible to practice standing, walking, and other functional movements."
The focus on mobility extends to every part of the school day, whether students are being encouraged to get up from the floor, balance while sitting, or walk from one classroom to another. Every movement becomes a teaching opportunity. For students with severe disabilities, even small gains in mobility can add up to big improvements in their quality of life.
“The MOVE program has allowed our students to experience a sense of self-respect and self-worth that they wouldn't have otherwise,” says Janet Brooks, who teaches elementary students with severe multiple impairments. “To be able to see the look of pride on their faces when they achieve a milestone, whether it be with their mobility or toileting skills, has been the biggest reward for us.”
The Exemplar designation that Hillside will officially receive in the spring is given to only a few select schools that have demonstrated exceptional success in using the curriculum. Hillside will now serve as a model for other schools looking to implement the MOVE program.
"Becoming an Exemplar school is an incredible honor," says DeJonge. "It means that other schools will be able to visit Hillside and see how we’ve integrated the MOVE curriculum into our daily routines. We hope to help other schools implement similar programs so they can see the same kinds of results we’ve seen here."
Tomlinson says she is excited for her staff to share what they’ve learned.
"We want to be a resource for other schools so that more children across Michigan and beyond can benefit from the MOVE program,” Tomlinson says.
Hoping to expand
Tomlinson and DeJonge are working to expand the program to other classrooms in the school so more students can benefit from the curriculum.
"We’ve seen such incredible progress in our students over the past three years," says DeJonge. "It’s been a lot of hard work, but it’s been worth it to see the difference it’s made in their lives."
Tomlinson agrees.
"The MOVE program is helping our students gain independence, confidence, and dignity," she says. "It’s giving them a better quality of life, and that’s what makes it all worthwhile."
For parents of children with severe impairments, the benefits of the MOVE program go far beyond the classroom.
"When children are more independent, it reduces the caregiving burden on parents and allows them to focus more on enjoying time with their children, rather than just managing their needs,” explains Tomlinson.
DeJonge credits the school’s staff, as well as the parents and caregivers, for their commitment to helping the students succeed.
"It takes a village," she says. "But when we all come together — teachers, parapros, physical therapists, parents, and the students themselves — we can make a huge difference. We’re just getting started. There’s so much more we can do, and we’re excited to see what the future holds."
Reluctant student is won over
Ruger acknowledges the program was challenging at first. Hayli, who can answer yes-or-no questions but primarily relies on rolling and crawling for mobility, initially resisted the new routine.
"Hayli is really good at reading people, and she would cry to try and get out of things," Ruger says. "In other programs, they might have stopped when she got upset. But at Hillside, they pushed her in such a supportive way. They would say, ‘We know you’ve got this,’ and that extra effort has made all the difference."
Hayli’s love for the program is clear. She becomes upset during breaks or snow days because she misses school so much, Ruger says.
"She loves being there," Ruger says. "During the summer, when she has two weeks off, she gets so upset because she would rather be at school than at home."
For Ruger and her husband, Shawn, the MOVE program offers reassurance that Hayli is in a safe and nurturing environment.
"There’s such a comfort knowing the staff at Hillside truly have her best interests at heart," Ruger says. "That means everything to us as parents."
Hayli’s stander, which she uses at school and home, has become a game-changer.
"It’s amazing to see her gain independence and confidence," Ruger says. "Watching her maneuver around the house and problem-solve has been incredible."
Ruger credits Dejonge, Hayli’s MOVE program instructor, and the entire Hillside team for her daughter’s progress.
"The program and the team have been nothing short of incredible," Ruger says. "We’re so grateful for everything they’ve done for Hayli and our family."