Cerebral
Palsy is a condition caused by damage to the brain, usually--but
not always--during pregnancy, birth or shortly after birth. "Cerebral"
refers to part of the brain, the cerebrum, and "palsy"
is a disorder of movement or posture. A person with CP is unable
to fully control the movement of parts of his/her body. (Technically
speaking, "motor function" is impaired.)
The exact nature of the disability and the degree of severity depend
on which part of the brain has been injured and how much of the
other parts of the central nervous system are involved.
The effects of cerebral palsy include decreased muscle tone, spasms,
disturbances in gait and mobility, and/or impairments of sight,
speech and hearing. Not everyone with CP will have all of these.
Each year an estimated 3,000-4,000 babies are born with cerebral
palsy. Some things can be done to prevent CP from developing before
birth, so good medical care during pregnancy is very important.
As of now, there is no cure for CP, but steps can be taken to mitigate
the condition and ensure a high quality of life for people with
CP. Children with CP benefit from early diagnosis and early intervention--they
should begin receiving therapy during infancy. Early treatment brings
more pronounced positive effects that last throughout life.
Living with CP - Support from UCP Chicago
A
comprehensive Resource Guide for living with cerebral palsy and
other disabilities is available from UCP Chicago's
Information
& Resource Service.
The
guide was written for parents and other family members, but is helpful
to anyone. Single copies are free; multiple copies are available
at cost. UCP's Information Specialist also can provide referrals
to other sources of information, support and treatment, and answer
questions about CP and other disabilities. Please call 312-464-1608
ext. 11 or e-mail
ldyer@ucpnet.org.
UCP
Chicago offers a
Respitality
Program,
which links parents and other
care-givers of children with disabilities with Chicago-area hotels
offering a complimentary night away from home. (UCP does not offer or
fund child care services, but will provide a list of agencies, which may
be able to help.) For information and a place on the Respitality waiting
list, contact Lisa Dyer, 312-464-1608, Ext. 11.
Detailed information about CP and research into causes and treatments
can be found at UCPA Inc.'s Web site,
www.ucp.org.
The exact nature of the disability and the degree of severity depend
on which part of the brain has been injured and how much of the
other parts of the central nervous system are involved.