‘Clearing the Air’ about cerebral palsy
Dave Jones
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
A COMMON misconception about cerebral palsy is that it is a “disease.” Actually it is considered to be a “condition,” since there is no active disease process occurring. Cerebral palsy generally is not progressive and it certainly isn’t contagious. Cerebral palsy simply means that a person has experienced some type of damage to the brain; damage that is not curable in the accepted sense of the term. It is, however, manageable through a variety of techniques that can alleviate many of the symptoms of cerebral palsy such as spasticity, contractures or involuntary movements. These interventions can include therapeutic techniques, medication, surgical procedures and, in many instance,s specialized equipment.
Cerebral palsy can be associated with other problems, such as seizures, speech difficulty and deficits in vision or hearing. Another misconception about persons with cerebral palsy is that they are mentally retarded. Many folks with cerebral palsy (despite being quite severely involved) have normal or above average intellectual ability.
United Cerebral Palsy of Kansas (a United Way member agency) is committed to helping folks with cerebral palsy live as normal a life as possible — in the least restrictive an environment possible. To this end, the organization has developed programs in housing, employment, rehabilitation engineering and advocacy. United Cerebral palsy of Kansas also helps people acquire various kinds of assistive technology such as wheelchairs, lifts and communication devices.
Another misconception about United Cerebral Palsy is that the organization helps only people with cerebral palsy. In fact, the organization helps folks with a variety of disabilities such as multiuple sclerosis, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, head injuries and more.
In the Emporia area, United Cerebral Palsy of Kansas assists 40 to 50 people a year. This assistance includes financial aid toward the purchase of equipment and the provision of custom-built seating systems for wheelchairs. These systems help prevent pressure sores and contractures. United Cerebral Palsy of Kansas also helps fund a camping program near El Dorado for people with disabilities.
More information on Cerebral Palsy and the services offered through United Cerebral palsy of Kansas is available by contacting United Cerebral Palsy of Kansas, P.O. Box 8217, 5111 E. 21st Street, Wichita, KS 67208 or by e-mailing davej@cprf.org.
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Posted by Gollum (anonymous) on October 18, 2007 at 5:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Has the percentage of births resulting in CP been increasing/decreasing?
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