subject: The Best Resources For Cerebral Palsy Patients [print this page] Cerebral palsy, also known as CP, is a disorder of movement and posture that is not progressive in nature. It is caused by an injury or a defect or lesion in the developing brain of a fetus, newborn of infant. Cerebral palsy affects an estimated 500,000 people in the United States. With the vast number of cases it is not too difficult to find resources. The thing to do is find the resources that are available to your case and in your area.
There are several associations, centers, and organizations across the United States and in other areas, such as Canada, New Zealand and the UK, that are available to patients with cerebral palsy, their parents, families, and friends. The trick is finding the ones that meet your needs. Your doctor will probably recommend the best hospital or institute for your childs treatment. In addition to this, your hospital will probably have some sort of coordinator. This person will have information on support groups in the area. From there you can find what other resources are available in and around your community. You can also search online for resources in your area.
BlazeSports America, formerly the National Disability Sports Alliance (NDSA) and the United States Cerebral Palsy Athletic Association (USCPAA) provides individualized sports training and competitive opportunities for athletes with cerebral palsy or other related challenges. Some sports have competition, coordination and technical support year found. This may be something that you and your family feel is a good fit for your needs and your cerebral palsy family members needs.
There is also a cerebral palsy magazine. In June 2003 Richard Koscielny and his wife Izabela started Cerebral Palsy Magazine. In addition to holding Masters degrees in Physical Therapy they also have a daughter who is 14 years old and has cerebral palsy. The magazine is published quarterly and reflects the wide array of cerebral palsy problems. These are written by and for physicians, parents, patients, therapists, and nurses. The article topics vary, including new treatments and equipment, book reviews, insurances issues, and social or daily living issues. The magazine is published in June, September, December, and March. It is available in print, as a printable file on CD, or as downloadable file through the magazines website.
There are also many places to research toys and scholarships for cerebral palsy patients. Also, there are residential homes for cerebral palsy. This is important to look into as your cerebral palsy family member may outlive their parents. It is important to attain guardianship once the patient turns eighteen as they are most likely unable to care for themselves. In addition to this, you should look into residential homes for cerebral palsy patients in the event that you are unable to take care of them yourself.
