In 1964 a group of specialists got together to take a look at what was being done about children with neurological problems. The eminent Robert J. Doman, M.D., a specialist in rehabilitative medicine, Eugene B. Spitz, M.D., a world famous Pediatric Neurosurgeon and John F. Unruh, Ph.D., a specialist in Therapeutic Exercise, Counseling and Developmental Psychology were among the original group.
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It was also apparent that no one offered help or support to parents. Important questions like; "How are you coping? How are your other children doing? Are you getting support from other family members?" were never asked. Something was desperately needed to help.
The result of these meetings was the founding of the CNR. Its original Directors, Robert J. Doman, MD, and John F. Unruh, Ph.D. immediately set out to search for solutions that would provide the best results possible for the children and to find ways that could help families cope more successfully with the many difficulties associated with the raising of a handicapped child. The pursuit of these two objectives has been the sole mission of the CNR. It was in the beginning and it continues to be now.
Until his death many years ago, Dr. Doman contributed his ideas and his leadership to the CNR. His caring person and the ideas he developed will serve as a model to all others who will come to the CNR. His death was an enormous loss to handicapped children throughout the world and his kind, gentle intelligence is gone but not forgotten. Children daily are benefiting from his many contributions and specialists are learning new ways based on the fundamental work this pioneer has provided us.
Dr. Unruh continues his search for newer and better ways and continues to provide leadership that has garnered international acclaim for the work of the CNR. Under his leadership, the CNR has become a place were ideas are nurtured. It is a place where specialists can learn and share their work. It is a place where the original mission is never changed or forgotten. It is a place where parents can come to learn how to cope and how they can help their child. It is a place where the accumulated knowledge of its vast experience with thousands of children and their families as well as the wealth of ideas from the many contributors that have worked, supported or shared ideas with the CNR are brought to bare on the needs of children. Contributors like Berard, Delacato, Upledger, Mandell and Spitz are only a few of those whose ideas have helped so many. It is a place were parents are listened to and believed. A place where families feel comfortable because they are treated with the respect they deserve.
By the year 1998 many of the key staff members of the CNR were either retired or deceased. The job of managing such a large facility fell on Dr. John F. Unruh who was also getting older and trying his best to meet the needs of expanding commitments in Europe and other locations in the United States. He made the decision to close the Centre for Neurological Rehabilitation for good but to continue the work under the new name of Neurological Rehabilitation International Consultants. Although there is no longer a CNR, Dr. Unruh remains committed to its original goals and continues to move forward with his quest to find newer and better ways to help handicapped children and their families. Without the responsibility of the CNR, he now focuses all his energy and attention on the important clinical work that he loves so much, seeing children and helping families.
Send questions and/or comments to
Dr. Unruh at
DrUnruh@aol.com
Text and images on this page are
copyrighted by Dr. Unruh
at The Centre For Neurological Rehabilitation. All rights are reserved.
of West Chester University.