April 19, 2017

by: Emily Hastings

Disability Spotlight: Cerebral Palsy

Each month we will feature a different disability represented at UCP of Greater Cleveland. This month we are featuring cerebral palsy.

• Cerebral palsy (CP) is not a disease; it is a condition that is caused by a brain injury or abnormal development of the brain before birth, during birth or immediately after birth. CP affects a person’s motor function, i.e. the muscles and his or her ability to control them.
• According to the Cerebral Palsy Foundation, over 17 million people in the world have CP and 1 in 500 babies is diagnosed with CP.
• In addition to fine/gross motor delays, people who have CP often have other impairments such as vision, hearing, speech & language, cognitive and/or epilepsy.
• Because CP is a brain injury, the disability can present in different ways depending on where the brain is injured and how severe the damage is. For example, one person may walk with a slight limp, whereas another person may use adaptive devices such as a wheelchair to move and an augmentative communication device to speak. To see more on the different types of CP, click here: https://www.cerebralpalsy.org.au/what-is-cerebral-palsy/types-of-cerebral-palsy.
• CP can affect a person’s physical abilities and/or cognitive abilities. It is important to keep in mind that just because a person has a physical disability does not mean that they are cognitively impaired.
• There is no known cure for CP, but early intervention and therapy can help improve motor function.
• Our agency name, United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Cleveland, is misleading because only 25% of our clients have a primary diagnosis of CP.
• At LeafBridge, a Center of Excellence for Children at UCP of Greater Cleveland, licensed physical, occupational and speech-language therapists, as well as Case Managers work with family members to design programs that enhance the physical, mental and emotional development of the child and family as a whole. We also assist families in collaborating with pediatricians, orthopedic doctors, neurologists, surgeons, physiatrists, orthotists and equipment vendors.

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