How to Help a Child With Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is the common term for a number of neurological disorders that result in permanent deficits of body movement and muscle control. These disorders affect roughly three of every 1,000 children in the U.S., and typically strike between infancy and the age of 3. While receiving a diagnosis of cerebral palsy can be frightening, there are actually a great number of things you can do to help your child cope with its effects.

Self-Education and Emotional Outlook

• Before you can effectively help your child cope with cerebral palsy, you will need to educate yourself about the disorder and its long-term outlook. First, it is important to understand that while cerebral palsy cannot be cured, it is not a progressively worsening condition. The symptoms of the disorder are wide-ranging, and their effects can vary from mild to severe, but once they manifest in your child they will usually remain quite stable. Be aware that mental retardation or seizure disorders sometimes also occur in children with cerebral palsy, but these are separate conditions, and children with cerebral palsy typically have mental abilities equal to their non-affected peers.

  You must also be aware that your outlook on your child's condition will have enormous impact on how your child views herself. If you treat your child as "defective" or "broken," these attitudes will likely permeate your child's self-perception, potentially leading to psychological stresses that will only worsen her chances of living a productive, fulfilling life. Viewing your child's situation as positive and open-ended can help tremendously in creating positive outcomes.

Accessing Treatment Resources

• Another essential way to help your child is to educate yourself on programs that can provide assistance in dealing with cerebral palsy. The federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandates state-provided services for children with disabilities, including cerebral palsy, from infancy to the age of 21. The same act requires parents to participate in planning and implementing a comprehensive approach to their children's development. Agencies with responsibility for these programs vary from state to state, and may include your state departments of health, education or social services. Consult the appropriate agencies in your state to learn your responsibilities and to access the resources available to you.

Advocating for Your Child

• Above and beyond mandated participation, become a proactive advocate for your child's welfare. Learn the realities of dealing with cerebral palsy, and make sure your child's needs are being met. Be aware that this may require close questioning of credentialed authorities like doctors, teachers or therapists. Remember that your goal is to provide your child with the best possible life opportunities.

  You can also help achieve this goal by encouraging your child to act independently whenever possible. Whether the subject is school, physical therapy, housework or extracurricular activities, work to instill an attitude of possibility gained through self-reliance and hard work.

Taking Care of Yourself

• Remember, however, not to neglect your own needs in this process. Having a child with cerebral palsy will inevitably add significantly to your psychological stress. Seek out one of the many support groups for parents in a similar situation, and work to cultivate family ties that can also increase your ability to cope and flourish.