Cerebral Palsy

by Yuvi - January 20, 2021

Cerebral palsy is a disorder that causes problems with movement and balance. It results from damage to the brain or mal-development of the developing brain, resulting in varying degrees of physical disability.

The physical disabilities may co-exist with other associated problems of hearing, vision, language and communication, intellectual disabilities, autism, and specific learning disabilities such as dyslexia. Some children with cerebral palsy also suffer from epilepsy.

Cerebral Palsy is not hereditary, it is not a disease nor is it infectious. It is non-progressive there is no cure but with early diagnosis and suitable intervention, there is scope for improvement, regardless of the severity of the condition (Training Module on Cerebral Palsy and Locomotor impairment, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan).

Special Education

Education is one of the most fundamental aspects of development for children with cerebral palsy. Public school and private school are just a few options for children with Cerebral Palsy.

Options for Educating A Child With Cerebral Palsy:-

Parents play a vital role in their children’s education. It is critical that educational services and support begin as early as toddlerhood to allow for proper development of important life skills.

As a result of the Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2004, all children with disabilities are entitled to Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).

FAPE ensures that children with disabilities receive appropriate instruction based on their individual needs. This provides children with access to mainstream education as well as the ability to develop self-sufficiency and social skills.

The four general types of education available for children with disabilities are:

Public school
Private school
Home school
Tutoring

Things such as learning disabilities, limited mobility and the family’s financial situation must all be considered when determining which program is the best fit for a child with Cerebral Palsy.

Options for Public Schooling

Public schools are the largest provider of both general and special education services and they supply a multitude of benefits for children with all types of cerebral palsy.

Public school may be the best option for parents who are looking for a cost-free education, as there are no out-of-pocket charges. Public school allows students with disabilities to be in a setting with their peers to prepare them for personal independence and aid in the development of social skills.

A notable disadvantage to choosing public school for a child with cerebral palsy is the unreliability in services available across school districts. If the child changes locations or transfers schools, he or she may fall behind if the curriculum or disability services offered aren’t the same.

Also, there tends to be a lack of information made readily available to parents about the services and support provided for students with disabilities. This can result in a less than ideal educational environment for a child with cerebral palsy.

Within public education, there are 2 choices parents have in regards to how much inclusion in the classroom is best for their children:

Full Inclusion
Special Education or Self-Contained Classrooms

Full Inclusion in Public School

Students should be mainstreamed within the education system as often as possible. This allows them to be in an environment where other students are exhibiting age-appropriate behaviors and learning from each other.

Full inclusion gives all children a chance to participate in a normal classroom setting. A child with cerebral palsy would be accompanied by a teacher’s aide or counselor instead of being taken out of the classroom and excluded from the group. Children would still have access to self-contained classrooms and one-on-one help when needed for specific lessons or testing.

However, the one major disadvantage to full inclusion within public schooling is that a student with CP may not receive the help or attention they need in the classroom due to teachers being insufficiently trained or preoccupied with other students. Also, this may not be the best option if a child is dealing with a severe physical restriction or mental ability, as they could become overwhelmed or disruptive in a typical classroom setting.

Special Education or Self-Contained Classrooms

If full inclusion may not be the best option, the child can be enrolled in a special education or self-contained classroom program. This type of schooling is available to those who meet the criteria of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

What Teachers Should Know

Cerebral palsy (CP) affects muscle tone, movement, and motor skills (the ability to move in a coordinated and purposeful way). Cerebral palsy is usually caused by brain damage that occurs before or during a child’s birth, or during the first few years of life.

How Cerebral palsy affects each person depends on which part or parts of the brain are involved. Some people have only mild impairment, while others are severely affected. For example, brain damage can be limited, affecting only the part of the brain that controls walking, or it can be more extensive, affecting muscle control of the entire body. Although Cerebral palsy doesn’t get progressively worse, how it affects a person’s body can change as children grow and develop.

About 500,000 people in the United States have Cerebral Palsy, making it one of the most common congenital childhood disorders.

Because bullies often target students who seem “different,” certain health conditions, including Cerebral Palsy, can put kids and teens at higher risk of being bullied.

Kids and teens with Cerebral Palsy may:

have learning disabilities, visual impairments, hearing problems, speech problems, drooling issues, and behavior problems
need braces, crutches, or a wheelchair to get around
need help moving around in class or reaching things
need assistive devices for writing and speaking
have difficulty sitting still and have uncontrolled movements
have difficulty with bladder and bowel control and may need to use a bathroom frequently
have seizures
need occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), and speech therapy during the school day

What Teachers Can Do

Many students with Cerebral palsy can do the same kinds of things that other kids and teens like to do, such as extracurricular activities, phys-ed, playing or listening to music, hanging out with friends, etc. Students with Cerebral palsy, however, may need a little more time to travel between classes and complete activities and tasks.

Make sure your classroom is easy to get around and free of obstacles.

Students with Cerebral palsy may need to miss class time for doctor visits or to see the school nurse to take medication. Make sure to give special consideration regarding missed instruction, assignments, and testing. In some cases, arranging for verbal responses in assignments and testing can be a good way to measure learning.

Educators, parents, doctors, therapists, and the students with Cerebral palsy should work together to develop and maintain the best treatment and education plans.

Be prepared for possible medical emergencies by planning ahead with parents in case your students with Cerebral palsy need advanced assistance.