Common Disabilities

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy is a term used to describe a group of chronic conditions affecting body movement and muscle coordination. It is caused by damage to one or more specific areas of the brain, usually occurring during fetal development: before, during or shortly following birth or during infancy.

"Cerebral" refers to the brain and “palsy” to muscle weakness or poor coordination which is often but not always a symptom.

Cerebral palsy can be severe, such as total inability to control body movements or mild, such as a slight speech impairment. One or more of the following may occur, depending on the area of the brain affected: muscle tightness or spasm, involuntary movement, disturbance in gait and mobility. In addition, the following may occur: abnormal sensation and perception, impairment of sight, hearing or speech: seizures and mental retardation.

Cerebral palsy is NOT a disease and should never be referred to as such. It is NOT hereditary, communicable, progressive or a primary cause of death.

Teaching Strategies:

1. Work on muscle stretching
   
   
2. Gross motor skills
   
   
3. Modify equipment:
   • use ball sacks, balloons or beach balls
   • modify rules of games
   • enlarge targets
   • use large scooters
   • extensions for tag games
     
     
4. Always consider safety issues, make sure the class understands the rules and modifications of activities. ALWAYS include a student with any disability in the class, do not leave them standing on the sideline.
   
   
5. Students with cerebral palsy do not always have the reflexes, especially the protective reflexes that people normally have.