Center offers a unique type of therapy

MOORESVILLE, Ind. (WISH) - An Indiana family with a special needs child has helped bring a unique type of therapy to the state.

Jackson DePoy is the kind of child that gets your attention.

"He's a vibrant, energetic, just full-of-spunk kid," Jackson's mother, Lara DePoy described.

When Lara learned Jackson has Cerebral Palsy, her research took her to something called conductive therapy. The therapy originated in Hungary. There were no centers for it in Indiana at the time.

"The closest center was in Chicago. When Jackson three and a half we took him to Chicago to take part in the program there. And in five weeks he was doing things that they said he may never be able to do," Lara said.

She became convinced that conductive therapy needed a home in Indiana. Just recently she helped open a new facility called The Jackson Center in Mooresville.

Lara explained that the teachers at the centers are called conductors, "The conductors have a degree that equates here to like a special education degree, with rehabilitation strengths in it. So it incorporates rehabilitation and education together."

It may look like the kids are just playing but they're also learning skills that will help them in their everyday lives.

"By using the ring and driving the bus we would like them to learn how to stretch their arms so that when they go home they will be able to reach things because for them it's not easy to stretch the arms," conductor Agi Maulik said.

The parents of the kids have seen what they say is remarkable progress.

"It has been phenomenal," parent Karen Chandler said.

"The singing part, our speech has come a long way," Sarah Achor said of her child's progress.

"The doctors were unsure if Cole was going to be able to walk and do a lot of things. And I give the Jackson Center credit for his success and he's walking now, he's practically running now," parent Brittany Garrigus said.

The Jackson Center has been focusing on kids. But it will also provide education for adults.

"We'll have persons that have suffered from a stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease," Lara said.

For adults and children, there is a new way to learn in Mooresville and it all started with a boy named Jackson.