Program Information

View a presentation on the services of the Motor Development Clinic

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Motor Development Clinic is to: 1) develop and improve motor skills; 2) increase movement behavior (cooperation, attention, participation, teamwork); and 3) provide movement experiences that are fun.

The academic school year program operating October through May concentrates on the first two goals in a very isolated setting. The summer program focuses on the enjoyment of movement in a setting that is more general by providing a chance for the children to put into practice what they learned during the school year. It also concentrates on a wide variety of activities including but not limited to physical attributes, rhythms and locomotor, games and manipulation, fine motor, water play and experiences, and sport skills.

Dean Way with Denise English and her son Jimmy (who attended the clinic for 9 years); and Nancy Espinal and her daughter Victoria (two summer sessions).

SERVICES

The Motor Development Clinic is designed to provide three services.

• A movement therapy program for children between the ages of five and 13 who are experiencing movement
  problems.
• Instructional concepts and materials for parents which enable them to supplement the clinic's movement program at
  home.
• A valuable learning experience for graduate and undergraduate students at Cal Poly Pomona specializing in teaching adapted physical education, elementary physical education, psychology, liberal studies, and other related fields.

SCOPE

The name of the clinic is highly significant to its purpose and goals. The term "motor" refers to movement in the four basic categories of motor skills, including:

• physical attributes (physical and motor fitness);
• locomotor skills (walk, run, hop, jump, and skip);
• non-locomotor skills (body awareness and identification of body parts); and
• manipulation skills (reception/propulsion and fine motor).

The term "development" refers to the growth and maturation process through which all children progress. As a unique individual, each child possesses specific movement abilities. These abilities are influenced by a child's skill in social interaction, proficiency in processing information, and general level of growth and maturation (physical size and how the body performs motor skills).

The program at the Motor Development Clinic is based upon the uniqueness discoverable in each individual. The abilities of each child is assessed in a manner that allows the clinic staff to diagnose movement problems. Appropriate movement
tasks are then prescribed which are sequenced to meet the goals and objectives of the therapy program. Since each child is viewed individually, no two movement therapy programs are alike. The clinic staff invests a great deal of time to assure a quality movement therapy program which will fulfill each child?s specific movement needs.

The basic underlying theme of the clinic is inclusion. The clinic exposes the child to various movement experiences which may also develop such areas as movement confidence, social interaction skills, and enjoyment while participating in
movement activities. The child may then transfer these skills into his or her own school's physical education program due to the clinic experience and personal improvement in motor skills. Upon parent request, the clinic interacts with school districts, individual classroom teachers, and others working with the child to ensure program continuity.

CLIENTS

The Motor Development Clinic is open to all children between the ages of five and 13. Each child is carefully assessed by a clinician using a minimum of two different assessment devices, according to the client's age and motor needs. An assessment fee is charged which varies according to the number of tests given. It usually takes one to two hours for the total test battery to be administered. A formal written evaluation of the assessment is provided to the parent which includes all test scores and a movement program recommendation.

Not all children assessed are enrolled in the clinic. Most clients are experiencing movement difficulties in one or more of the four basic categories of movement. The clinic is designed to help children who are experiencing movement problems due to a lag in the growth and development process, or poor personal social skills, or the inability to process information. If a client cannot be helped by the clinic, the staff will refer the client to appropriate sources.

The number of clients served each quarter varies according to the clinic staff and available hours. A waiting list is used to facilitate those clients who wish to be enrolled in the clinic when an opening occurs.