Event Details

Course Title:

‘Movement Analysis & Education Strategies for the Treatment of Children with Cerebral Palsy and similar neurodevelopmental conditions’

A specialist, evidence-informed and world-class course for paediatric therapists

Format:  4-Week Postgraduate Course, 2 weeks Online &  2 weeks Face-to-Face

A 4-week postgraduate course for Paediatric Therapists – Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and Speech & Language Therapists – who want to go further in their work with children with Cerebral Palsy and similar neurodevelopmental conditions.

If you feel that conventional approaches reach a plateau, this course offers a different way of thinking and treating:

If we want different outcomes, we need to think and treat differently.

M.A.E.S. Therapy focuses on the brain’s role in development and learning, helping you move beyond managing symptoms to promote meaningful, long-term change for each child. It offers a new and different dimension to the treatment and management of children with CP.

Highlights and Skills You’ll Gain:

    • Dynamic Treatment Techniques:
      Learn practical, advanced treatment strategies that help you avoid or delay treatment plateaus and adapt your intervention as the child grows and their challenges change.
    • Target the Brain, Not Just the Symptoms
      Focus on the neurological origins, not just the visible symptoms, bringing a new depth to your therapy approach.
      Explore how to work more specifically with:  Basal Ganglia for clients with Dyskinetic CP, White Matter for clients with PVL, Cerebellum for clients with Ataxia, etc.
    • Advanced Observation & Analysis:
      Develop higher-level observational skills and clinical reasoning to carry out more precise, insightful and impactful assessments.
    • Creative, Child-Centered Problem-Solving:
      Build an extensive repertoire of new treatment strategies tailored to meet each child’s unique profile and potential for change.
    • Effective Communication with Parents
      Gain practical ways to explain your reasoning, guide parents during sessions and support continuity of care in the home environment.

 

Course Outcomes:

Following successful completion of this course, you will :

– understand the brain in a new way and how the brain responds and evolves following the initial lesion for children with Cerebral Palsy and similar neurodevelopmental conditions.

– be able to deliver targeted, holistic and personalised therapy that supports long-term skill development in: mobility, hand function, constructive play, interaction, and communication.

Move beyond generic approaches and one-size-fits-all treatments, and create lasting, positive change in each child’s life as they develop, evidenced by immediate clinical changes and reinforced by positive parental feedback.

 

Course Length and Structure:

A 4-Week ( 20 Days) postgraduate course, in two parts of two weeks.

Dates:

Part 1:    26 August – 6 September 2026      Weeks 1 & 2   Online – Live & interactive
Part 2:    23 September – 4 October 2026     Weeks 3 & 4   Face-to Face

Part 1  (online)
Week 1   Weds 26 Aug – Sun 30 August 2026
Week 2   Weds 2 Sept – Sun 6 September 2026

Part 2  (face to face in Taipei City)
Week 3  Weds 23 Sept. – Sun 27 September 2026
Week 4  Weds 30 Sept – Sun 4 October 2026

 

Venue Part 2 :     8F., No. 184, Sec. 2, Chongqing N. Rd., Datong Dist., Taipei City, Taiwan

 

Course Participants:
Maximum 16 participants – to ensure close supervision and a high-quality learning environment.

  

Course Fee – 2026

Discounted Early Bird Fee
For payments before 15 January 2026:

    • TPTA member: 155,500 TWD
    • Non-member:   161,500 TWD

Regular Fee
For payments from 16 January 2026:

    • TPTA member: 160,000 TWD
    • Non-member: 165,000 TWD

How to Apply:

For further information and for an Application Form, contact:

Ming-Rong Siao Physiotherapist
Co-ordinator M.A.E.S. Therapy Taiwan
M.A.E.S. Trained Therapist

E:   siaomingrong@gmail.com

Course Participant’s Criteria:

Participants must be experienced Paediatric Therapists (Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists,  Speech Therapists) or medical Doctors (paediatricians, neurologists), with at least two years’ experience in treating children with Cerebral Palsy and similar neurological conditions.

The course will appeal to therapists planning their first specialist postgraduate cerebral palsy physiotherapy course in CP, and for highly experienced therapists who have already completed several advanced neurodevelopmental or CP-related courses and wish to deepen their expertise further.

Course Format:

Presented at post-graduate level, this certified CP paediatrics course is highly practical.
The format includes:

  • Theoretical lectures
  • Treatment demonstrations
  • Workshops
  • Case presentations
  • Supervised daily practical sessions with patients (during Weeks 3 and 4)

Unique of its kind, this neurodevelopmental course has a strong emphasis on high-level observation, analysis and clinical skills. There is an unusually high level of supervised practical sessions (almost 50% of time), with a wide variety of case presentations, giving depth and breadth to the learning experience.

The course is specially designed to give participants the time and support needed to translate theory into clinical practice and develop expertise in handling and managing children with neuro-developmental conditions.

 

 

Course Aims:

This course aims to:

    • Provide a ‘Framework’ for an effective assessment and better understanding of the challenges and needs of children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) and similar neurodevelopmental conditions
    • Gain expertise in analysis of coordination and effective and structured clinical reasoning skills.
    • Analyse Tasks in term of fine and gross motor, sensory, perceptual, biomechanical and cognitive components.
    • Relate the quality of execution of given tasks to the specific skills that the child has been able to develop and uses to accomplish these tasks.
    • Predict motor behaviour (prognosis) based upon an in-depth analysis of typical presentations associated with:
      • spastic hypertonia,
      • dyskinetic CP,
      • ataxia,
      • hypotonia
      • CP associated with preterm birth.
    • Understand the short – and long-term consequences for the child to engage in complex activities, when the skills available are missing and consequently for therapists to establish priorities and short and long-term treatment plans to change the child’s natural course of development.
    • Develop high-level problem-solving skills to provide each child with specific sensory-motor experiences to make best use of their own potential for improvement.
    • Prioritise and identify which specific skills a child is missing and that need to be promoted and at the same time discouraging the compensatory strategies this child is over-relying upon and which prevents the development of more advanced skills.
    • Expand creative thinking and develop an extensive repertoire of treatment strategies and skills, which can then be applied more confidently in a range of situations to enable the child to learn new ways that he would have difficulty or not be able to develop on his own.
    • Effectively inform and guide parents during treatment sessions, including the use of toys for play and advise them how to best interact with their child during activities of daily living in a home environment.

Development of clinical skills:

Over the 4 weeks Therapists will participate in:

15 x  Practical Sessions with 1 child being treated by 2 or 3 therapists.

Therapists generally work in pairs with 1 child at a time and throughout the course they have a variety of children with different presentations of Cerebral Palsy.

15-20 x Treatment Workshops ( Therapists’ live Case Presentations )

There will be a total of around 20 different children with Cerebral Palsy to treat during Part 2,  offering a rich variety of clinical presentations and a high level of supervised practical experience. This structure supports the integration of theory and practice and the development of expert analysis and handling skills.

Course Presenters:
Jean-Pierre Maes MCSP   &   M.A.E.S. Team

Jean-Pierre Maes MCSP  Consultant Neuro-Developmental Physiotherapist
Founder & Director MAES Therapy International

Jean-Pierre is an expert in the field of Cerebral Palsy and similar neuro-developmental conditions, with over 35 years’ experience of treating babies, children and adults.

Previously a Senior NDT-Bobath Tutor and an influential international course leader, he chose to move beyond the traditional NDT-Bobath framework in order to progress and refine treatment for children with CP. He now practises and teaches the M.A.E.S. Therapy Approach.

Due to continuing demand, Jean-Pierre leads M.A.E.S. Courses world-wide, teaching the advanced MAES Therapy Approach for paediatric therapists who wish to specialise, or to further specialise, in the treatment of children with Cerebral Palsy and similar neurodevelopmental conditions.

Testimonials:

Therapists and Doctors recommend this Course:

The best accreditation is from fellow professionals who judge and value the course and the new knowledge and skills they gain.
Below are a few comments from some therapists who have successfully completed the M.A.E.S. 4-Week Course :

 

“This is the course that I would really like to have taken earlier in my career, as it would have saved me many years of searching for answers to my questions about Cerebral Palsy.”

「一開始報名課程是因為治療過程遇到瓶頸，之前對於腦性麻痺的治療觀點，在這堂課程出現了很多的挑戰，讓我重新調整了對於孩子的看法。觀點的改變過程其實並不容易，但改變了就很難再回到過去的思考模式。

課程的進行很流暢，透過每個階段的說明，可以逐步了解MAES治療架構，針對不同的孩子有更針對的理解，進而能提供更針對性的介入，不會是所有的腦性麻痺的孩子都做類似的治療。

這次的課程給了我很多的想法，讓我發現之前忽略掉的許多關鍵點，對於腦性麻痺有了更多的認識，也讓我重新思考自己的治療想要帶給個案的是什麼。非常希望所有的治療師都來上課！」

蔡方婷　物理治療師

“I initially enrolled in the MAES course due to encountering treatment plateau in my career. My understanding on cerebral palsy was significantly challenged in this course. The process of changing perspectives was not easy, but once changed, it’s impossible to revert to past thought patterns!

The course progression was smooth and elaborated with various explanations, which allows me to gradually understood the concept of MAES therapy. The MAES framework equipped me with a more specific understanding of cerebral palsy, which has helped me to further provide more specific interventions, not just undergoing similar treatments despite different brain lesion.

This course has sparked numerous nuggets, helping me discover essential points that I had previously overlooked. It has deepened my understanding of cerebral palsy, prompting a reconsideration of what I aim to bring to my clients in therapy. I highly recommend this course to all therapists!”

Fang-Ting Tsai, Physiotherapist

 

「MAES不像其他的課程，結束後可以直接帶一系列的手法回去使用，而是更能看懂孩子們想傳達的訊息，再從這些訊息中思考什麼是最關鍵需要改變的東西，而這個改變能為這孩子帶來什麼漣漪效應。

透過課程我理解每位個案需要的改變不同，需要改變的順序也不同；我從MAES Therapy得到的不是一個結論，而是找到改變關鍵的放大鏡，讓自己也能回去找到這些鑰匙，並且開啟更多的可能性。」

廖士涵 物理治療師

“The MAES course differs from other courses; upon completion, you don’t immediately acquire a set of techniques to apply. It’s more about gaining an in-depth understanding of children’s presentations then contemplating what key changes are needed, akin to a ripple effect.

Through the course I understand the specific need of each client, and the priority of specific needs also varies. What I’ve learned from MAES therapy is not a conclusive answer, but rather gaining a ‘magnifier’ to find these keys ourselves and open up more possibilities for my clients with cerebral palsy.”

Shih-Han Liao, Physiotherapist

 

「MAES架構可以讓我用更精細、更細緻的觀點了解孩子以及介入孩子。從任務複雜度開始去評估觀察孩子的大腦跟需求，這是我最喜歡的部分。

想改變突破瓶頸，無論是自己或是孩子的，給自己一個學習跟一直思考的機會，準備好open-mind就來吧！」

賀葳　物理治療師

“The MAES framework allows me to understand and intervene with children from a more detailed and refined perspective. Evaluating and observing a child’s brain and needs by starting with the complexity of tasks is my favorite part of the framework.

If you’re looking to break through plateau, whether for yourself or for the children you work with, give yourself the opportunity to learn and constantly think. Come with an open mind, and you’ll be ready to grow!”

Wei Ho, Physiotherapist

 

「我很喜歡MAES，我覺得在課程的每一天都顛覆了我過去對治療的想像。這堂課跟我過去所上的的課程都很不一樣，我們不會只是被動的接受新的知識而已，老師會帶領我們透過大量的邏輯推理過程還有很多淺顯易懂的例子，使得我可以開始從大腦的觀點、而非只有症狀去看待我們的個案，這樣的改變對自己過去對個案的觀察都產生了截然不同的詮釋，讓我可以去看見對個案來說更長遠更有意義的事情。

這堂課對我帶來的改變不只限於針對腦性麻痺個案的介入而已，也大大的影響了我未來想要成為什麼樣的治療師。所以我想要真心的推薦所有希望突破治療瓶頸的治療師都可以來參加這堂課！」

方宜君 物理治療師

“I have truly enjoyed taking the MAES course. Each day of the course had completely reshaped my previous understanding of therapy. This course is very different from what I have taken in the past. Unlike typical courses where participants passively absorb new knowledge, Jean-Pierre uses extensive logical reasoning and accessible examples to guide us that have enabled me to approach children from the brain perspective, rather than just focusing on the symptoms. This shift in clinical reasoning has led me to reinterpret my clinical observations in an entirely new direction, allowing me to identify what is more meaningful and long-term for the children.

The impact of the MAES course extends far beyond interventions for cerebral palsy cases; it has significantly influenced on what kind of therapist I aspire to become. Therefore, I wholeheartedly recommend this course to any therapist looking to break through treatment plateaus!”

Yi-Jyun Fang, Physiotherapist

 

「我在機構工作，裡面有九成都是腦性麻痺，機構裡的孩子許多都達到瓶頸。在面對腦麻的孩子時，我已經開始覺得迷惘，也懷疑自己的的方式。

MAES Therapy讓我更理解腦性麻痺孩子們真正的問題，也讓我知道為什麼過去的自己這麼快就會陷入瓶頸，MAES就像是我的救生圈一樣，讓我看見希望，也讓我重新拾起熱情。」

楊紹妘　物理治療師

“I work in an institution where about 90% of the children have cerebral palsy, and many of them have reached a plateau in their progress. I have started to feel lost and have questioned my approach when dealing with these children.

“MAES Therapy has helped me better understand the real problem behind the symptoms, and has clarified why I used to fall into these plateaus so quickly. MAES has been like a lifeline for me; it has shown me hope and reignited my passion for helping my clients with cerebral palsy.”

Shao-Yun Yang, Physiotherapist

 

「MAES therapy用兩週的課程先打破我的CP世界觀，再用兩週的實體課重新建構起來。我們都知道腦性麻痺是關於大腦，但在改變孩子之前需要改變的是治療師的大腦！

如果你的個案有早產兒或CP，或是想要在治療上有所突破，瞭解有更多不同做法的治療師，請一定要來認識MAES！」

楊翊君　物理治療師

“MAES therapy shattered my understanding of cerebral palsy in the first two week, then reconstructed it during the latter two weeks of hands-on course. While we understand that cerebral palsy is all about the brain, what needs to transform before changing the child is the therapist’s mindset! 

If you have cerebral palsy or prematurity in your caseload, or you’re seeking breakthroughs in your treatment, having an opportunity to see through the perspective of MAES therapy is definitely an eye-opener in your therapist career.”

Yi-Chun Yang, Physiotherapist

 

“It reframed my thinking about CP from symptom focus to understanding the underlying brain skills involved. I really enjoyed the variety of patients and the guided workshops.

I found the M.A.E.S. Framework to be fresh and very relevant. The course will allow you to have a very holistic view of CP and not just be discipline focused.”

Asila Alia D/O K O Noordin, Physiotherapist

 

“I enjoyed the practical sessions especially when JP, other mentors came around with practical advice and demonstrations. I appreciated that the workshop demos gave me a macro-view of what’s happening. JP’s many analogies and trove of video examples really helped to provide more clarify to some of the abstract concepts and ideas.

I like how ‘bare’ the framework is – it reflects the nature of MAES therapy – to allow for variation and dynamic-ness. The four pillars allow for some structure while allowing flexibility. It helps me frame my thoughts and guides the decision-making process when identifying a child’s difficulties, strengths etc. It also helps me to appreciate the interplay of all the variables amongst the four pillars.

I would highly recommend this course. I think a hallmark of a great course is when the learning is extended beyond the walls of the classroom! And is applicable to our own lives too!”

Tamlyn Tan, Physiotherapist

 

「從最開始參加的家長暨專業人員說明會中，第一次聽到MAES Therapy的核心概念與看到個案實例影片時，由於自己過去的一些疑惑被解答，一些想法被支持，而深感驚喜，也相當認同MAES Therapy的理念；到參加2天簡介課程，進一步瞭解MAES Therapy framework之後，有了想更進一步瞭解其中細節的渴望；再到參與4週基礎課程時，每天都被新的震撼洗禮，並親眼見證患有腦性麻痺的孩子在MAES Therapy的治療下，所呈現出的正向改變。

很慶幸自己開始了這趟MAES journey！而這趟MAES journey至今，讓自己轉換了分析個案動作障礙的方式與思維邏輯，MAES Therapy提供了一個具統整性的思考結構，為治療師在臨床實務上制定個別化治療策略，奠定了堅實的基礎。MAES Therapy的介入方式強調針對不同個案的非典型發展狀況，協助他們建構並增進不足的腦部技能，並避免他們使用代償的腦部技能；因此，介入是要發展或改變腦部技能，而不是在處理症狀。這樣的轉變，賦予治療介入更有價值、更永續的意義。反思過去有些治療模式在處理症狀的重複練習下，某種程度可能強化了個案的代償策略，甚至可能僵化了個案的腦部發展，而不自知。MAES Therapy打破了這樣的限制，使介入由動作、感覺、認知、行為、環境等不同的面向，去潛移默化個案，讓個案逐漸發展出應有的多樣性，學會運用適合的腦部技能去解決所面臨的問題，以發展出更理想的適應性。

MAES Therapy針對非典型發展的發展問題，提供了具體有效的介入方法，使得架構中的概念或理論在臨床實務中得以落實。真的非常喜歡MAES Therapy引導個案探索，並逐步帶領個案進入主動、自立模式的動態治療方式！多麼希望自己能更早知道MAES Therapy、更早參加MAES課程！」

李惠敏 物理治療師

“From my very first experience attending the evening seminar of MAES Therapy, where I was introduced to the core concepts of MAES Therapy and shown case study videos, I felt a profound sense of excitement and recognition. Some of my previous uncertainties were resolved, and my own thoughts validated. This encounter instilled in me a deep appreciation for the philosophy behind MAES Therapy. Progressing to the two-day introductory course, I gained further insights into the MAES Therapy framework, which only deepened my desire to explore its intricate details. Then, during the four-week foundational course, I was profoundly moved daily by new insights, witnessing firsthand the positive transformations in children with cerebral palsy undergoing MAES Therapy.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have embarked on this MAES journey! This journey has transformed the way I analyse movement disorders and approach clinical reasoning. MAES Therapy provides an integrative framework, establishing a solid foundation for therapists to develop specified and personalised treatment strategies in clinical practice. The MAES approach emphasises addressing the unique developmental challenges of each individual, aiming to construct and enhance essential brain skills while preventing reliance on compensatory mechanisms. Consequently, the aim is to foster the development or modification of brain skills, rather than merely managing symptoms. This shift endows therapeutic intervention with a more profound, sustainable purpose. Reflecting on traditional therapies that often emphasised repetitive practice to address symptoms, I realise that some of these approaches may inadvertently reinforce compensatory strategies, potentially restricting neurological development without practitioners’ awareness.

MAES Therapy transcends these limitations by integrating aspects of movement, sensory, cognition, behaviour, and environment, guiding each individual in subtle ways towards developing variability. This allows children with neurodevelopmental conditions to develop specific brain skills for problem solving, fostering more effective adaptability in daily lives.

In many respects, I find the MAES Therapy offers a concrete and effective approach to addressing neurodevelopmental conditions, bringing its theoretical concepts to holistic real-life practice. I am deeply inspired by how MAES Therapy gently guides children to explore and gradually transition towards an active, self-reliant direction! I wish I could have known MAES Therapy and attend the course years earlier”

Hui-Min Lee, Physiotherapist

 

 

 

___________________________________________________________________________

M.A.E.S. Therapy is a pioneering evidence-based approach, grounded in  practice evidence, patient evidence and contextual evidence from 35 years of expert clinical and teaching experience world-wide.
It places strong emphasis on high-quality treatment skills and on understanding how each child’s brain organises, adapts and learns.

__________________________________________________________________________

 

M.A.E.S.  ‘ Movement Analysis & Education Strategies’  Therapy

 

 

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M.A.E.S. Therapy is the new gold standard for treating children with Cerebral Palsy and similar neuro-developmental conditions and movement disorders;  with more effective long-term outcomes compared to other therapeutic approaches such as Bobath-NDT, Vojta, Medek, DMI.