Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy Facts
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a neurological disorder that affects body movement, postural control, and muscle coordination and tension.
CP is caused by improper brain development or brain damage before or after birth. Cerebral refers to the brain and Palsy refers to difficulty with muscle use.
CP exists on a very wide spectrum, and many areas of development may or may not be affected (i.e. small and large motor skills, speech, vision, sensation, intellectual skills, self-care skills). The brain injury does not progress, and regular, early intervention can help prevent secondary problems from developing.
We love getting to see children with CP grow and flourish! Assistive technology supports, such as speech generating devices, walkers/wheelchairs or adapted feeding/writing utensils may be beneficial as children develop and work toward meeting goals and milestones. Special education strategies and opportunities will maximize learning and socializing with friends!
Children with CP overcome challenges daily! Early intervention is key as the brain is most easily influenced and redirected by therapy and educational services during the first three years of life.
“Kids with CP are just that- kids! They just need a little extra boost in learning to move about in their world, to communicate effectively, to be as independent as possible in play and self-care, to learn about their world, and have lots of fun with their friends!”
- Julie Wilson, PT
Resources & Stories
Read about our students stories and the solutions we’ve found to help them.
| Image | Title | Summary | Date | wpdmcategory_hfilter | tags_hfilter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| How to Make a Slant Board | Slant boards provide an alternative surface on which a child can practice … | June 23, 2020 | occupational-therapy | assistive-technology | |
 | How to Make Picture Prompts | Sometimes children have difficulty following routine verbal directions because they need extra time to auditorily process what you are asking them to do. Using a picture prompt can greatly increase a child’s level of success in following through with your … | June 16, 2020 | down-syndrome diagnosis | |
 | DIY Sensory Play Wall | Sensory walls are an easy thing to set up for anyone working with a visually impaired little one. With just a few items found around the house, your little one can explore and have hours of … | June 9, 2020 | sensory-processing diagnosis | |
| How to Introduce Objects to Children with CVI | Opportunities to use vision should be incorporated into your child’s everyday life. Here are some ways to place opportunities for your child to see throughout their daily … | June 2, 2020 | cortical-vision-impairment diagnosis | ||
| Communicating with a Non-Verbal Child | Here you will find some tips on how to communicate with a non-verbal child adapted from Friendship Circle. The following content was contributed by parents of children and adults with special … | May 26, 2020 | speech-therapy | ||
| Preparing Little Hands to Write | If you are working with a child who is uninterested in writing or coloring, my advice is this: Stop worrying about coloring and start by engaging them in what they are interested in! Here are some ideas for creating opportunities to learn writing … | May 19, 2020 | occupational-therapy |