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In Memoriam: Christine A. Nelson, PhD., OTR

It is with much sadness that we report the recent passing of one of NDTA’s Pediatric Coordinator Instructors.

Christine A. Nelson, Ph.D., OTR, received her B.S. from Virginia Commonwealth University, her M.S. in child development at the University of Wisconsin, and her Ph.D. in human development from the University of Maryland. She then worked as an assistant professor in the physical therapy curriculum at the University of Maryland for 12 years. During that time, she also maintained a private practice and was a developmental consultant to the Federal Project for High Risk Follow-up.

In 1973, Christine was approved as an NDT Coordinator Instructor by Berta Bobath. She began teaching courses in the United States in 1975. To this date, she remains the only NDTA-approved Pediatric Coordinator Instructor who is an occupational therapist.

An invitation to present a seminar on normal and abnormal development led Christine to Mexico in 1977. Two years later she returned to Mexico to start therapy and educational programs with her colleague, Raquel Benabib, creating “El Centro de Aprendizaje,” the Center for Learning in Cuernavaca, Mexico where she continued to treat and teach until her retirement.

As her reputation for excellence in teaching and appropriate therapy intervention spread, Christine was asked to teach in many other Latin countries, Haiti, Greece, Cyprus, and Puerto Rico, as well as in the United States. In Haiti, a building is named “Kia Christina” where she designed a home to accommodate orphans with physical disabilities.

As time went on, Christine became interested in the influence of vision on posture and movement. Dr. William Padula, O.D., states that “Dr. Nelson has bridged the gap between therapy professions, including optometry. This collaboration led to the formation of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA) and the promotion of NDT by qualified therapists in conjunction with neuro-optometric rehabilitation.”

With her colleague, Raquel Benabib, Christine shared her knowledge by teaching courses on vision, posture, and movement to help therapists understand the inter-relationship, both neurologically and developmentally, of vision and movement. Christine was awarded the Advancement of Sciences Award from the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association.

Christine was instrumental in the development of Clinician’s View, an audio-visual continuing-education business, actively consulting and developing continuing-education products. Her book, A Clinical Manual for Improving Coordination and Functional Movement was published in 2004/2005.

Christine had the opportunity to work with Mary Quinton, one of the early instructors and leaders in Neuro-Developmental Treatment. Christine was instrumental in bringing Ms. Quinton to Cuernavaca, Mexico to teach baby courses. Christine was awarded NDTA’s highest award and honor, the Award of Excellence in 2004.

She will be remembered by many, forgotten by none. Her life was a testament to the betterment of individuals with disabilities – through treatment, education, and heart.

“Chris is my Don Quixote. She has spent a lifetime chasing her impossible dream and has made reaching that dream more possible for families, children, and therapists. She has, with courage, wisdom, and tenacity, taken her search to the limit and beyond.”

—Linda Caldwell, M.S., PT, NDTA Pediatric Coordinator Instructor

“Christine is a wonderful, caring woman, demonstrating great dedication, commitment, and strength, and providing a model of care to all clients and their families.”

—Merry Meek, MS, CCC-SLP, NDTA Speech Instructor

“Christine has unselfishly dedicated her life to the therapeutic betterment of her clients and colleagues and has constantly striven for excellence in her practice and her teaching”

—Isabelle Bohman, M.S., PT, NDTA Coordinator Instructor