Marika Kalanges, CE Conductor and Rehabilitation Specialist
Marika Kalanges is the owner, Principal Conductor and Rehabilitation Specialist of Creating Footprints with Conductive Education, Inc. A graduate of The Andras Peto International Institute for Conductive Education in Budapest, Hungary, she has over 20 years of experience in the field of Conductive Education. Marika teaches both group and private Conductive Education and has worked internationally in European countries such as Great Britain, Ireland, Greece, Switzerland and in the United States. She is fluent in Hungarian, German, and English.
As a CE Conductor and Rehabilitation Specialist, Marika works in both one-on-one and group client environments and special schools. She works with children and young adults affected with motor challenged disorders such as Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Traumatic Brain Injury, Stroke…. Marika provides post hospitalization and post-surgical rehabilitation services.
Marika, and her business, follow the traditional methods of Conductive Education envisioned and taught at the Institute for Conductive Education in Hungary.
As a CE Conductor and Rehabilitation Specialist, Marika works in both one-on-one and group client environments and special schools. She works with children and young adults affected with motor challenged disorders such as Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Traumatic Brain Injury, Stroke…. Marika provides post hospitalization and post-surgical rehabilitation services.
Marika, and her business, follow the traditional methods of Conductive Education envisioned and taught at the Institute for Conductive Education in Hungary.
Testimonials
Marika changed my daughter’s life. While a lot of it was because of the intense therapy of Conductive
Education, a large part of it was because Marika showed us the incredible power of shifting our
expectations.
My daughter, Madison, and I had the pleasure and honor of working with Marika for 3 ½ weeks during
Boost Camp, a Conductive Education summer camp in Santa Rosa, CA. Madison came to camp walking
(like a maniac!) in a walker. She left camp walking 10-15 steps unassisted for the first time in her life.
Madison was seven at this time, and though I might not have admitted it, I think I had started to give up
hope that Madison would ever be able to walk on her own two feet.
Other changes in Madison were a bit more subtle, but almost just as significant. When Marika saw
Madison eating for the first time, she said (bluntly, but so sweetly!), “Why does Madison eat like that?
She doesn’t need to eat like that!” A little taken aback, I told her that I didn’t know – that was just how
Madison ate. I didn’t really think that Madison was capable of eating any differently. Though Madison
could eat independently, she was the messiest little diner ever. Food ended up everywhere after her
meals. After a few lessons of getting her feet flat, her spoon back on her plate after each bite, and
telling Madison to slow down and think about what she was doing, the change was incredible. While
Madison is no etiquette expert now, she tries her best to eat like a little lady!
Madison has had many valuable experiences in her life and has met a lot of amazing people who have
helped her tremendously. However, Marika has definitely been the most influential person we have
come across so far and has made the most definite and measurable impact on her life. We whole-
heartedly recommend Marika’s services!
Keri Gustafson
Education, a large part of it was because Marika showed us the incredible power of shifting our
expectations.
My daughter, Madison, and I had the pleasure and honor of working with Marika for 3 ½ weeks during
Boost Camp, a Conductive Education summer camp in Santa Rosa, CA. Madison came to camp walking
(like a maniac!) in a walker. She left camp walking 10-15 steps unassisted for the first time in her life.
Madison was seven at this time, and though I might not have admitted it, I think I had started to give up
hope that Madison would ever be able to walk on her own two feet.
Other changes in Madison were a bit more subtle, but almost just as significant. When Marika saw
Madison eating for the first time, she said (bluntly, but so sweetly!), “Why does Madison eat like that?
She doesn’t need to eat like that!” A little taken aback, I told her that I didn’t know – that was just how
Madison ate. I didn’t really think that Madison was capable of eating any differently. Though Madison
could eat independently, she was the messiest little diner ever. Food ended up everywhere after her
meals. After a few lessons of getting her feet flat, her spoon back on her plate after each bite, and
telling Madison to slow down and think about what she was doing, the change was incredible. While
Madison is no etiquette expert now, she tries her best to eat like a little lady!
Madison has had many valuable experiences in her life and has met a lot of amazing people who have
helped her tremendously. However, Marika has definitely been the most influential person we have
come across so far and has made the most definite and measurable impact on her life. We whole-
heartedly recommend Marika’s services!
Keri Gustafson
I have known Marika Kalanges for many year's. I first met her at the famous Peto Andras Institute in
Budapest, Hungary in the late l980's. I have a son called Anthony who has a very rare genetic disorder
called Polymicrogyria and is also profoundly deaf. He was born in l982. He presents as someone who
suffers from cerebral palsy, profound deafness and profound learning difficulties. He also now in later
year's suffers from seizures and is on medication.
Despite all these problems, Anthony has learned many tasks over the year's towards independence, with
of course, the help of the methods from the Peto Institute. Whatever tasks the Conductor's applied to
facilitate his independence, I followed at home over many year's. Marika used to come and stay with me
during many school holidays and work with Anthony. As a result he is able to walk short distances indoors
independently, feed himself with a spoon, drink independently and pour his own drink. He can swim by
himself, ride a specially adapted three-wheeled bike. He is also able to get in a car, nearly by himself.
His communication is extremely limited and he uses a few signs, but gestures a lot and makes his needs
understood.
I do honestly believe that without the knowledge and intervention of the Peto Institute's methods, he would
not probably be alive today and relatively speaking is quite healthy, given his complex disabilities. Needless
to say, I highly recommend Conductive Education....
Jane Papadopoulos
Budapest, Hungary in the late l980's. I have a son called Anthony who has a very rare genetic disorder
called Polymicrogyria and is also profoundly deaf. He was born in l982. He presents as someone who
suffers from cerebral palsy, profound deafness and profound learning difficulties. He also now in later
year's suffers from seizures and is on medication.
Despite all these problems, Anthony has learned many tasks over the year's towards independence, with
of course, the help of the methods from the Peto Institute. Whatever tasks the Conductor's applied to
facilitate his independence, I followed at home over many year's. Marika used to come and stay with me
during many school holidays and work with Anthony. As a result he is able to walk short distances indoors
independently, feed himself with a spoon, drink independently and pour his own drink. He can swim by
himself, ride a specially adapted three-wheeled bike. He is also able to get in a car, nearly by himself.
His communication is extremely limited and he uses a few signs, but gestures a lot and makes his needs
understood.
I do honestly believe that without the knowledge and intervention of the Peto Institute's methods, he would
not probably be alive today and relatively speaking is quite healthy, given his complex disabilities. Needless
to say, I highly recommend Conductive Education....
Jane Papadopoulos
I am very pleased to be writing a testimonial for Marika Kalanges whom I have known since January
1991, when she came from the Peto Institute in Hungary to join the staff as a Conductor in the therapy
department of St. Rose’s School in Stroud, Gloucestershire.
St. Rose’s is a specialist boarding and day school for multiply physically disabled children ages 3 to 19
years. It has a large staff of physiotherapists, speech therapists and occupation therapists.
Several of the parents had taken their children to the Peto Institute in Hungary for Conductive
Education during the summer vacation and were very keen for the school to provide Conductive
Education because of the results achieved in Hungary.
Marika, and Janos, a colleague from the Institute, worked as a team, not only in the Therapy Unit
alongside the other therapists but also in the classroom to combine their work with the teaching staff.
Marika has a very happy and friendly disposition and although quite demanding in her work, was loved
by the children. She had a good rapport with the parents and staff, and was able to work alongside the
physiotherapists each sharing their expertise and integrating both forms of therapy. One noticeable
difference which became evident was the relaxation work, helping the ataxic children to relax, which
in turn helped with their speech. I remember one young boy in particular who virtually had no speech
because of his severe spasms and gradually as he worked with Marika and as he began to relax his
speech improved dramatically and he became much more confident and happy. This also applied to
their walking ability as they gained more confidence.
Marika also ran several Summer Schools during the vacation, which were very beneficial because the
therapy was able to continue without the long summer break.
Marika is very dedicated in her work with children radiating happiness and commitment. She was highly
thought of both by the management and the parents and would be an asset wherever she works.
Grace Dewhurst
Retired Administrator of St. Rose’s School, England
1991, when she came from the Peto Institute in Hungary to join the staff as a Conductor in the therapy
department of St. Rose’s School in Stroud, Gloucestershire.
St. Rose’s is a specialist boarding and day school for multiply physically disabled children ages 3 to 19
years. It has a large staff of physiotherapists, speech therapists and occupation therapists.
Several of the parents had taken their children to the Peto Institute in Hungary for Conductive
Education during the summer vacation and were very keen for the school to provide Conductive
Education because of the results achieved in Hungary.
Marika, and Janos, a colleague from the Institute, worked as a team, not only in the Therapy Unit
alongside the other therapists but also in the classroom to combine their work with the teaching staff.
Marika has a very happy and friendly disposition and although quite demanding in her work, was loved
by the children. She had a good rapport with the parents and staff, and was able to work alongside the
physiotherapists each sharing their expertise and integrating both forms of therapy. One noticeable
difference which became evident was the relaxation work, helping the ataxic children to relax, which
in turn helped with their speech. I remember one young boy in particular who virtually had no speech
because of his severe spasms and gradually as he worked with Marika and as he began to relax his
speech improved dramatically and he became much more confident and happy. This also applied to
their walking ability as they gained more confidence.
Marika also ran several Summer Schools during the vacation, which were very beneficial because the
therapy was able to continue without the long summer break.
Marika is very dedicated in her work with children radiating happiness and commitment. She was highly
thought of both by the management and the parents and would be an asset wherever she works.
Grace Dewhurst
Retired Administrator of St. Rose’s School, England
Marika and I both worked in a special school in England. I was employed by the school as a Senior
Chartered Paediatric Physiotherapist. Marika was in the next room providing Conductive Education with
a colleague, to groups of children for several weeks at a time.
I had 25 years of experience as a Bobath trained Physio, with a somewhat eclectic approach and was
always interested to find out more about alternative methods of treating children with disabilities, in
order that I could support the parents in their quest to find the best options for them and their child.
My overall impression was that Marika had something very positive to offer the children and it was
obvious that they had much love and respect for her and were stimulated to make much effort in a well
varied programme of activities. Marika was always very professional and worked very hard with the
children, though provided much fun at the same time. She also got involved in other activities around
the school and was well known and liked by all.
Marika was always happy to discuss her work and the particular needs of the individual children. She
would listen to any suggestions or requests for specific aims of treatment that I might make to her and,
if relevant, incorporate them in her routines. She was able to be flexible without compromising her
training which she took very seriously.
So all in all, I did feel that what Marika had to offer in Conductive Education was well worth considering
and would recommend that parents give it a try to see if it is something that suits their child.
Sarah Ashmead
Physical Therapist
Chartered Paediatric Physiotherapist. Marika was in the next room providing Conductive Education with
a colleague, to groups of children for several weeks at a time.
I had 25 years of experience as a Bobath trained Physio, with a somewhat eclectic approach and was
always interested to find out more about alternative methods of treating children with disabilities, in
order that I could support the parents in their quest to find the best options for them and their child.
My overall impression was that Marika had something very positive to offer the children and it was
obvious that they had much love and respect for her and were stimulated to make much effort in a well
varied programme of activities. Marika was always very professional and worked very hard with the
children, though provided much fun at the same time. She also got involved in other activities around
the school and was well known and liked by all.
Marika was always happy to discuss her work and the particular needs of the individual children. She
would listen to any suggestions or requests for specific aims of treatment that I might make to her and,
if relevant, incorporate them in her routines. She was able to be flexible without compromising her
training which she took very seriously.
So all in all, I did feel that what Marika had to offer in Conductive Education was well worth considering
and would recommend that parents give it a try to see if it is something that suits their child.
Sarah Ashmead
Physical Therapist
I have known Marika for 25 years. We first met in the Peto Institute in Hungary where she worked with my son, Sean. She was a real inspiration to me and my family as she taught us the exercises to make Sean stronger and more able. He loved her; she made everything happy even though it was hard work. She spent many weeks at our house one summer working with Sean and we were sorry when it was time for her to leave. When she worked at a school in Stroud for disabled children, on the weekends she would travel to Bristol to work with a group of children at Sean's school. All the parents were so happy with the classes and it was very beneficial to all who attended. We have kept in touch over the years, which is good. I can't praise Marika enough; she is happy, caring, hardworking and so dedicated it's amazing. You couldn't wish to meet a nicer or more results oriented person.
Carolyn Francis
Carolyn Francis
