He traveled to walk

moveTrain1203: As Linda Bidabe and Gerald Goebel fit Dane Snodgrass into the pacer, he was a little unsure. After all, this foreign piece of equipment had small wheels which would allow him to move, if he used his legs. Dane was taken to a sidewalk ramp. At the other end was his mother Holly. He looked up and Holly started calling to him. At first no movement. Then a first step.

Dane got a bad break early in life. He and his twin brother Chase were born prematurely in Omaha, Nebraska. Chase came through fine, but Dane suffered brain bleeding which affected his motor fibers. It took four years, but when Dane finally took his first steps it happened in Bakersfield, California.

Holly brought Dane to a workshop for those training to be basic providers for severely disabled. It is held annually by a non-profit organization called MOVE (mobility Opportunities Via Education) International based in Bakersfield and underwritten by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools. Attendees came from as far away as Canada, England, New Zealand, Japan and 13 states.

“I spend a lot of time on the Internet looking for solutions to help Dane,” Holly said. “One day I discovered the MOVE website. Its philosophy of empowering disabled people to move independently fit mine. I called and explained Dane’s condition. They invited me to come to the Bakersfield training and to bring Dane along so they could work with him. I really appreciated that.”

As other parents have discovered, who live in areas that do not have the MOVE curriculum, getting the proper care for a disabled child can at times be frustrating. The closest facility to Holly was eight hours away in Chicago Heights.

“There were plenty of people in Omaha who could suggest equipment that would make it easier for me to push Dane, but what I needed was training to teach him to be independently mobile.”

Dozens gathered around to observe and learn on the second day of MOVE training. Dane’s condition had made it difficult for him to bear weight on his legs while standing, but MOVE Founder/Author Linda Bidabe and MOVE International Trainer Gerald Goebel got Dane standing on his own. He was first placed in a piece of equipment called a dynamic stander that uses restraints to keep the body in place. Large wheels allowed Dane to propel himself by using his hands. It wasn’t long before Dane was smiling. The further he went, the more smiles he produced.

But that was only his first dose of success. About a half hour later, Bidabe prepared Dane to use a gait trainer pacer and explained the importance of strengthening muscles to those there for the training.

“People learn to strengthen their legs by using their muscles to move from a sitting position to a standing position,” Bidabe told them. “Then standing to sitting. Remember it’s noses over toes. Strength comes through repetition.”

At last, the moment reported at the beginning of this story arrived. As Holly called, down the ramp Dane successfully walked in his pacer smiling and laughing his way to her.

Stories such as Dane’s have spread the word about MOVE’s success, bringing people to Bakersfield to learn how to make those with disabilities more independent.

One of those who watched and took note was Nicole Chimbole, a teacher’s aide from Antelope Valley who works with children ages three and under who have special needs. Witnessing the progress of a young girl using the MOVE program got Chimbole interested in the training.

“I saw how she improved — sitting, standing and walking — and it wasn’t long before she graduated from the program. I love MOVE. It is awesome, and I want to get more training in the next few years.”

Those interested in finding out more about MOVE can visit its website at http://www.move-international.org/.


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