March 25th : Cerebral Palsy Awareness
Blog Post by: Karen Pleasant
Although Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the most common developmental motor condition and dates back as early as the 1840s, for some odd reason, it doesn’t get as much attention as autism or down syndrome. Historically considered a “pediatric” condition without giving much thought to the lifespan, mindsets are slowly evolving thanks to the work of the Cerebral Palsy Research Network (CPRN), the Weinberg Family Cerebral Palsy Center (WFCC), the Cerebral Palsy Foundation (CPF) & others.
There are several types of CP and each has varying degrees of involvement (severity). All of which affect movement & muscle control which, in turn, impacts a person’s activities of daily living (ADLs). However, that’s where the similarities end. No two cases are exactly the same.
Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month is the ideal time to:
1) Shed light on the need for lifespan maintenance care. Common sense tells us that consistent
physical therapy will alleviate extensive rehab/cost of a surgery(s) that results from a body being
forced to function differently than it was built for. The fact that CP causes individuals to move
differently leads to stress on hips, feet, back, etc
2) Dispel myths associated with CP:
-Cerebral Palsy is a disease- per the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), is a group of disorders that
affect a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture
-Living with CP equates to cognitive challenges-individuals with CP are attorneys, doctors,
accountants, educators, etc.
-Everyone uses a wheelchair or other mobility device-many people are independently ambulatory
with an awkward gait
-An independent and fulfilling life is possible-the community includes homeowners, parents,
comedians, inventors, business owners & professional athletes.
Hopefully this information will start informative conversation. Education is KEY!