Cerebral Palsy

CP is often caused by brain damage that happens before or during a baby's birth, or during the first 3-to-5 years of a child's life. Brain damage also can lead to other issues, like difficulties with sight, hearing, and learning.

People with cerebral palsy often have multiple impairments:

• a physical impairment, such as difficulty walking, grasping, holding or carrying.

• a speech impairment: difficulty with speaking and expressing themselves

A big attitudinal barrier that people with cerebral palsy face is that people think they have an intellectual impairment (because of their speech problem) or people think they are drunk.

There are also different levels of Cerebral Palsy (mild, moderate, severe). Some people with Cerebral Palsy can walk without assistive devices, but some may need to use a wheelchair.

Early detection and intervention of Cerebral Palsy is very important. Cerebral Palsy cannot be cured, but physiotherapy and speech therapy early in life are very important for the development of a child with cerebral palsy.

• Allow time for the person to speak. He or she may speak slower than you are used to.

• Avoid the urge to interrupt or complete the sentence for the person.

• Do not take over the conversation.

• If you do not understand what the person said, ask for repetition.

• Do not pretend you have understood if you haven’t.

• Ask if there is somebody close by who may be able to interpret.

• If despite all you are unsuccessful, ask if the message is urgent.

Most importantly, ask someone themselves how they want to be addressed, and how they want to be supported.