As with many disabilities, the general public is often unaware and uninformed about the causes, symptoms and lives of those who suffer from Cerebral Palsy. Here are four facts about CP that may surprise you.

1. Cerebral palsy is not a disease. CP is a group of disabilities that typically result due to an injury to the brain that occurs before, during, and sometimes after birth. An infection such as meningitis can also cause this disability to develop in children. CP can affect people differently and not all sufferers will have the same impairments. CP can affect muscle coordination and control, balance, reflexes and may result in visual impairment as well.
2. Cerebral palsy is not contagious or progressive. Because it is a disability and not a disease, CP is not transmitted from mother to child or from person to person and it does not progress or worsen over time. While it is permanent, CP can be dealt with through physical therapy and regular exercise, which can help strengthen muscles and help sufferers deal with their impairments.
3. Cerebral palsy is not necessarily painful. Sufferers of CP are not in constant pain although their impairment can lead to arthritis and many of the therapeutic exercise they perform can make muscles and joints sore.
4. Cerebral palsy does not prevent one from living a normal life. While CP certainly presents many challenges to those inflicted with it, it does not prevent people from leaving happy fulfilled lives, getting married, working and raising children.

For children born with cerebral palsy there are many challenges they will have to overcome. Physically, the child with CP may have difficulties with simple motor skills. The child may have trouble with speech, mobility, holding utensils — even feeding themselves may present obstacles for them on a daily basis. Cerebral palsy is a condition the develops either before or at birth and results from damage to the brain. While some mental impairment is not uncommon, many children are fully aware of their disability. They know that they are different from other children and this can become more pronounced as the child grows older and comes into contact with the outside world. It is important then that these children are made to feel accepted and loved by parents, teachers, caregivers and other children. This acceptance will better equip them for the challenges they have been presented with in life.

When a child with cerebral palsy feels that they are just a regular kid, this will boost their confidence and self-esteem and better prepare them for the future. Though they may get frustrated by not being able to perform the same physical activities as other children, they are as capable in many other ways, and they can achieve anything they set their minds to. Encouragement, support and love will make this possible.

Service animals have been helping people with disabilities for many decades. From guide dogs that assist the visually impaired to companion animals that provide emotional support, this service has helped people with both physical and intellectual disabilities and impairments cope with the challenges of everyday life. Children especially can benefit from the help of service animals and children born with cerebral palsy are no exception.

Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder which affects muscle coordination and body movement. Many sufferers have difficulty walking, talking, writing or feeding themselves. Mental impairment often times accompanies these physical challenges which creates even more difficulties for these children. Using a canine companion to assist a child can help them become more independent, which will help improve their self-esteem. With a little help from their four-legged friends, kids with CP can better deal with everyday tasks. A dog can assist a child with mobility — they can literally lean on their canine companion to steady themselves — and these animals can be trained to help children regain their balance. Canine companions can also be trained to bark and alert family members when the child is having a seizure during the night.

As any pet owner can attest, their animals often have a calming effect on them. This can help with anxiety or panic attacks and canine companions do the same. One parent of a child with CP has used crowdfunding as a way to raise money for the training of these animals so that more families have access to the services of canine companions.

While many large corporations contribute millions of dollars to charities and take their social responsibilities very seriously, there are other ways they can make contributions to the good of society that will make them quite a nice profit in return. This win-win proposition has to do with a huge, yet untapped market in technology.

There are over 54 million American citizens affected with some form of disability. This number, which includes people with cerebral palsy, is expected to double in size over the course of the next decade and a half. This represents an enormous opportunity for tech companies to capitalize on the needs of these individuals. On a global scale the opportunities to provide disabled students, workers and other professionals with direct access to technology is even greater in number. With millions of disabled people in need of accessible tech products, the opportunity to increase profits for tech companies is huge.

This subject was recently explored by Anthony Tusler in his book, How to Create Disability Access to Technology: Best Practices in Electronic and Information Technology Companies, published by the World Institute on Disability. Tulser’s book is a guide for tech companies on how to take advantage of this increasing demand, and to profit from it while serving an often overlooked market segment. The book features the advice of tech experts who share their experiences in the creation of accessible products, from phones to computers. It is also cautions corporations of the downside of not providing accessibility and violating the Americans with Disabilities Act which prohibits discrimination based on disability. Corporations who can serve this growing market, will certainly see their bottom line grow as well.

Tikvah Layeled helps children afflicted with cerebral palsy, not just function, but thrive in their everyday lives. Through education, therapy and loving care, the trained staff at Israel’s foremost educational and treatment center recognize that each child is different. They tailor their care to meet the very specific needs of each individual child. Tikvah Layeled therapists treat over 400 children each year and help them overcome the challenges presented by their disability so they can participate in everyday activities.

Tikvah Layeled provides care in a loving and supportive environment that helps children improve mobility and language functioning. Children with CP do not have the same motor skills or intellectual abilities as other children, so they are presented with more challenges in life. Teachers with no training in working with children with cerebral palsy may not be equipped to educate or help them function. Many children have difficulties with speech and hearing that require special attention.

The care workers at Tikvah Layeled are trained in dealing with these issues. Through physical therapy, as well as speech and language therapy, treatment specialists can work with children so that they can improve their daily interactions with others. Teaching children to write well, helping improve mobility and speech, will help children throughout their lives. Activities that seem so simple to abled children can be frustrating for a child with a disability. Through care and therapy, these children can learn how to compensate for things they may not be able to do as well. Tikvah Layeled helps them function and participate in routine activities and live productive and fulfilling lives.

Children with cerebral palsy experience pain and discomfort caused by muscle spasms and the abnormal posture of their bodies. This can put extra pressure on muscles, joints and organs. As a result, in addition to the challenges presented by CP, many children also develop sleeping disorders that are brought on by muscle spasms that occur during the night. This can lead to back pain and prevent the child from getting much needed rest. Certain medications may also make it difficult for children with CP to sleep through the night.

Good sleep is essential for the health of everyone, but it is especially important for children suffering from cerebral palsy. There are a number of things caregivers and parents can do to help their children sleep better. A calming routine implemented right before bedtime can help relax children. As for all children, brushing teeth and story time are an effective part of the routine. Aa warm bath can also help relax and prep them for sleep.

Stiffness due to poor posture can make finding a comfortable position difficult. Once in an uncomfortable position, the child may find it hard to move into a more comfortable one. Finding the best sleeping position may not be easy but therapists can help determine which position is best. That is why it is important to find a position that works and one that can help reduce the occurrence of spasms during the night. A good diet and exercise also helps promote healthy sleep cycles.

Good sleep can go a long way in the how a child copes with their disability during the day. Being overly tired can make the effects of stiffness and pain even more difficult. Regardless of our abilities, we all experience the negative effects of not getting enough sleep, this is only compounded in children with CP.

Children born with disabilities face many challenges in their young lives. Being born with physical or cognitive impairments puts them at a great disadvantage in terms of mobility, development and learning. Through loving care and physical therapy, however, these children will not only function in their everyday lives, but thrive as happy kids who will grow and mature into independent adults.

There are many types of therapy available to children with disabilities. Physical therapy is an important aspect of treatment. This form of treatment is designed to help the child develop movement and increase motor skills. It can help with posture and balance and help strengthen muscles. It can improve the child’s coordination which is a big challenge. Speech and language therapy helps the child communicate with others, which is important for development. Play therapy helps the child develop skills while participating in fun activities and occupational therapy helps the child perform everyday tasks so they can function to the best of their abilities.

As important as these types therapy are for children with disabilities, there is no substitute for the loving attention of parents, educators and caregivers. Emotional development is as important as physical development and a combination of therapy and loving care vastly improves the child’s chances at becoming a happy, independent person.

For children with cerebral palsy, handwriting can present a challenge. The decreased level of coordination they experience can make it difficult for them to form letters, and weakness of hand muscles makes writing tools harder. As frustrating as this can be, with the help of parents, educators and caregivers, handwriting can be accomplished in a fun and educational way.

Strengthening exercises can help with the child’s grip. Encouraging proper posture will also assist with control and special larger writing tools will allow for better grip. Adults can also help the child learn to write well by placing their hand over the child’s while they write, guiding them through the process. As they make progress, this guiding hand can be reduced back to the wrist, then the elbow until the child is able to write the letters independently.

Visual motor skills can be developed by having the child form letters out of clay or other materials so they will be better able repeat the patterns in writing. Tracing existing patterns has also proven effective in helping children learn the shapes of individual letters. Many children with cerebral palsy experience visual impairment as well and may need to be given extra time to practice with smaller writing tasks.