What things are important to bear in mind when working with people with cerebral palsy?

Question

What things are important to bear in mind when working with people with cerebral palsy?

Answer 1

You can not be a person who judges. Showing a sign of acknowledgment, in a bad way, of a spasm can be hard to avoid. what you need to keep in mind is that a person with cerebral palsy spasms uncontrollably, so think of it as a cough. A cough just happens and it is known to everybody as normal. Treat a spasm like a cough. Keep in mind that they are not strange they are only different like everyone else.  If I did not help you out then I am sorry but I am hoping this helps

Answer 2

There is no cure for CP, but various forms of therapy can help a person with the disorder to function and live more effectively. In general, the earlier treatment begins the better chance children have of overcoming developmental disabilities or learning new ways to accomplish the tasks that challenge them. The earliest proven intervention occurs during the infant's recovery in the neonatal intensive care unit. Treatment may include one or more of the following: physical therapy; occupational therapy; speech therapy; drugs to control seizures, alleviate pain, or relax muscle spasms (e.g. benzodiazepienes, baclofen and intrathecal phenol/baclofen); hyperbaric oxygen; the use of Botox to relax contracting muscles; surgery to correct anatomical abnormalities or release tight muscles; braces and other orthotic devices; wheelchairs and rolling walkers; and communication aids such as computers with attached voice synthesizers. For instance, the use of a standing frame can help reduce spasticity and improve range of motion for people with CP who use wheelchairs. Nevertheless, there is only some benefit from therapy. Treatment is usually symptomatic and focuses on helping the person to develop as many motor skills as possible or to learn how to compensate for the lack of them. Non-speaking people with CP are often successful availing themselves of augmentative and alternative communication systems such as Blissymbols.

Answer 3

OK, after all the technical answers I'd like to put up a bit of advice about how to communicate with people with cerebral palsy.

First off, the huge majority of people with cerebral palsy have all the cognitive functions, they can see, hear, feel, smell and taste. they can make valued judgements, they can appreciate beauty, kindness and love.

THEY ARE HUMAN BEINGS!

So dealing with folks with CP is like dealing with anybody else on a personal basis, don't do everything for them, make sure your body language is appropriate, get on their level if they're in a wheelchair, establish they're level of humour, tell them a bit about you, be normal.

With this however there will be some challenges. the person's speech might be difficult to understand -  but hey, that's a good challenge, it's your job to learn his/her speech pattern. The other slight problem might be they're level of mobility, learning when to help and when to stand back is the art of good caring. Nobody wants to be treated like a baby and patronised if they have a perfectly good brain and just need half a hand to hop into a wheelchair.

Just remember people with CP are humans, folks, people, sons and daughters. Foster their independence. Respect their right to independence. Be honoured to help.