Facilitation Techniques
Facilitation Techniques
By: Lois Bly, M.A., PT, Allison Whiteside, PT
With both verbal description and sequential photographic presentation, Facilitation Techniques Based on NDT Principles describes the techniques Lois Bly and Allison Whiteside use to help their clients move more freely.
Title information
Facilitate: to free from difficulties or obstacles; make easier; aid; assist. Specifically, a process in which the therapist’s hands and body give direction to the client in how to move.
In many ways, facilitation is a dance between the client and the therapist. The ultimate goal is for the client to perform a solo dance, moving through space with fluidity and effortless movement.
With both verbal description and sequential photographic presentation, Facilitation Techniques Based on NDT Principles describes the techniques Lois Bly and Allison Whiteside use to help their clients move more freely.
The techniques include facilitation from the following position:
• Bench and Floor Sitting
• Bolster Sitting
• Sitting on Ball
• Prone on Floor
• Prone on Bolster
• Prone on Ball
• Kneeling and Half Kneeling
• Quadruped
• Standing
• Gait: Foward Walking
Lois Bly, M.A., PT
Lois L. Bly, M.A., PT, C/NDT, received her bachelor of arts, with a major in biology, from Thiel College in Greenville, Pennsylvania, and a certificate of physical therapy from the D. T. Watson School of Psychiatrics in Leetsdale, Pennsylvania. She did graduate work in pathokinesiology at New York University, New York, New York, and received her Master of Arts degree in motor learning from Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, New York.
Ms. Bly received her initial training in Neuro-Developmental Treatment (NDT) from Dr. and Mrs. Bobath in London, England. She also has attended numerous NDT courses, including the NDT Baby Course with Ms. Mary Quinton and Dr. Elsbeth Koeng in Bern, Switzerland. Following the Baby Course, Ms. Bly worked and studied at the Inselspital Bern, Zentrum fur Cerebrale Bewegungsstorungen, Bern Switzerland. Following a 10-week course with Ms. Quinton and Dr. Koeng in Seattle, Washington, Ms. Bly became an NDT Coordinator Instructor and was certified to teach NDTA Pediatric Certificate Courses.
Ms. Bly is the author of several books:
- The Components of Normal Movement during the First Year of Life
- Motor Skills Acquisition in the First Year and Motor Skills Acquisition Checklist
- Baby Treatment Based on NDT Principles, and
- Facilitation Techniques Base on NDT Principles (was previously published)
Ms. Bly has worked for many years as a physical therapist, treating babies with developmental disabilities and children with cerebral palsy. Since 1980, she has taught numerous seminars, workshops, NDT certification courses, and advanced Baby Courses throughout the United States, Australia, South America, and South Africa. Currently she continues to teach, consult, and maintain a small private practice in Maryland.
In 2000, Ms. Bly received the NDTA Award of Excellence. In 2009, she received the APTA Pediatric Section Jeanne Fischer Mentorship Award.
Allison Whiteside, PT
Allison Whiteside, PT, received her bachelor of science degree in physical therapy from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas, Texas. She continued her clinical education by pursuing Pediatric Neuro-Developmental Treatment (NDT) through the eight-week course with Christine Nelson, Ph.D., OTR, in Cuernavaca, Mexico. She has completed advanced NDTA courses: Baby Course with Joan Mohr, PT; Lower Extremity and Gait Course with Lois Bly, PT; Refresher Course with Joan Mohr, PT, and Daphne Hinchcliffe, PT; and Baby Course with Mary Quinton, Physiotherapist.
Ms. Whiteside became an NDTA physical therapy instructor in 1991and had the opportunity to assist in eleven NDTA Pediatric Certificate Courses for the treatment of children with cerebral palsy with six different NDTA coordinator instructors. She also teaches introductory NDT courses. Ms. Whiteside is currently an inactive NDTA instructor. She continues to annually teach an elective pediatric seminar for DPT students at Northern Arizona University, NAU, Phoenix & Flagstaff campuses for students with an interest in pediatric PT.
Ms. Whiteside currently works part-time for Mealtime Connections in Tucson, AZ specializing in the care of children 0-4 years of age. She worked with the Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP) by contracting with Easter Seals/Blake Foundation from 2003-2014. She also provided interim PT services at The Children’s Clinic. She contracted with the University of Arizona Developmental Follow-Up Clinic from 1993-2003, where she evaluated and monitored the development of children who were born prematurely, had an NICU stay, or had been identified as developmentally delayed.