Cerebral Palsy Law Blog : Cerebral Palsy Lawyer & Attorney : Burke & Eisner Law Firm : Medical Malpractice Lawyers & Attorneys

Cerebral palsy is a disability that affects an estimated 8,000 babies each year. This neurological condition can have a lifelong impact on the movement and coordination of the body. Due to the nature of this disability and its affect on the brain and muscles, many children who live with cerebral palsy require a wheelchair or walker to move around. Not only is this technology helping kids move in a more normal fashion, but according to researchers it’s also helping kids with cerebral palsy feel more confident.

Little Girl Benefits From Technology

Jenna Culleeney was born with bleeding in her brain, which caused her to be born with the disability, cerebral palsy. At sixteen weeks she reportedly weighed a mere pound and a half. After having surgery to break and re-set her legs, she was still having trouble to walk says her mother, Nannette.
To help Jenna walk the therapists at Shriners’ Hospital for Children strapped her into a robotic machine that has recently been shown to help children with the disability balance and find a way to walk that works for them. The legs of the machine have been specially designed for children’s legs.
 

Therapy Details
 

The machine enables children to repeat the same motion on a consistent basis. This helps their muscles become stronger and even increases their endurance. There are currently six centers across the United States that are using this type of robotic therapy for children with the cerebral palsy disability.


 

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D.J. Gregory born 10 weeks premature with underdeveloped lungs. During the time he spent in the neonatal intensive care unit, he was given too much oxygen, and as a result he developed cerebral palsy. The final diagnoses of the disability was given to his parents at the age of two. At this time, he and his parents were told he would not be able to walk for the rest of his life.
 

However, a now 30-year-old Gregory proved doctors and doubters wrong when he walked all 3, 256 holes of the 2008 PGA Tour. He also proved them wrong just last Monday when he was seen at the Turtle Run Golf Course walking nine holes while playing his favorite sport of golf. Throughout the years, Gregory has proved to others, and himself, that whether you have a disability or not, you can redefine the odds.
 

Cerebral Palsy Victim Speaks to Students About Courage
 

During his recent visit to Savannah, Georgia, Gregory, who recently wrote the book “Walking with Friends”, was asked to speak to young adults about courage and the power that is within us all. Throughout his life he has inspired those around him with his many speeches, appearances, and round of golf (amongst other sports), so to Gregory the speech to the large audience was literally just “a walk in the park.”
 

Gregory spoke to the youth of the Danville Public School Foundation to share his triumphant story and encourage them to also overcome obstacles and set goals within their own lives. After his speech to the youth he was the guest of honor at the Turtle Run Golf Course and spoke there, before hitting the green for a round of golf.
 

Golf Inspires Gregory to Work Toward Goals Despite CP
 

Gregory reportedly learned to play golf at the age of nine despite his disability and his father, struck by his fascination of the sport, took him to his first professional tournament when he was twelve. Since this time it became his lifelong dream to become one of the professionals who walked from hole to hole.
 

Gregory earned his master's degree in sports management and quickly discovered a way he could make his dream a reality. He received permission from CBS golf commentator Jim Nantz and the PGA commissioner and walked every hole of the 2008 PGA tour in
 

"When you set goals, it's not always easy. There will be bumps in the road. I did fall," Gregory told reporters. But he added that he confidently made his goal to fall only one time or less per week.
During his journey, Gregory gained respect from many professional golfers and has even formed lasting friendships with some, including Kenny Perry. His story of overcoming one of America’s most infamous disabilities, cerebral palsy also prompted attention from local and national media outlets.

 

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Making crafts has long been used by occupational therapists to help patients with mental and physical disabilities. Well what better way to create various objects through therapy than with various recycled goods? At the recycling therapist you can find different ways to be creative with your patients with the use of recycled materials.

Oftentimes patients aren’t willing to talk openly about a disability they may have. Or they can be in denial and be not willing to share any information about the challenges they face and in some cases, they may be unable to verbally communicate their problem. But through crafts their physical therapist is able to detect any disabilities or any issues that could be hindering their ability to lead a normal life.

The movements an individual makes when creating something can show a great deal about their neurological and sensory capabilities. Arts and crafts can also give clues about a person’s motor skills.

As a physical therapist when you use recycled goods to work with patients it not only helps with a disability but it can also do a great deal of good for the environment. The materials that are best to use are easily collected, free, and can be used in many unique and versatile ways to create a wide range of things. Not only can you create almost anything with recycled goods, but the products can be used over and over so your patients will have fun while working with them and feel rewarded in the end. The activities talked about throughout the blog are catered more towards adults with disabilities, but overall these crafts can be put together by those of all ages to help improve their fine and gross motor skills. There’s no need to waste money and materials to create with, use recycled goods and treat your patients and the environment well!

For more information on fun activities for those with disabilities, please visit www.kinderart.com


 

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At the Brain Science Institute Toyota Collaboration Center (BTCC) in Japan, researchers have developed a cutting-edge technology that uses brain waves to control wheelchair motion. The technology relies on what’s called a brain machine interface (BMI), and this allows individuals with certain disabilities (including some types of cerebral palsy) to interact with their world by way of brain signals.

To control the wheelchair, users must wear a specialized EEG cap which transmits brain waves to the wheelchair for analysis. The wheelchair processes the signals every 125 milliseconds and the analysis is displayed on a screen so the user can make the necessary adjustments for effective operation.
 

The technology and its applications are still being researched, but a video of the high-tech wheelchair in action can be seen here on YouTube.

 

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It has been several months since President Barack Obama took office, and there have been a number of changes in disability policy since that time. Perhaps one of the most significant changes has been the repeal of Bush Administration restrictions on stem cell research. However, there are others including:
 

*The signing of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, which is aimed at improving the lives of Americans living with paralysis
 

*The signing of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which provides funding for state Medicaid programs, vocational rehabilitation services, IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and the Social Security Administration (specifically to help reduce its disability application backlog)
 

*The appointment of Kareem Dale as the first Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy

Disability policy in the United States affects the more than 50 million people who are currently living with disabilities such as cerebral palsy (watch our what is cerebral palsy video), multiple sclerosis, autism, Down syndrome and paraplegia. If you are interested in learning more about Obama’s disability policy, check out the new White House website.  

 

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The recent nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the United States Supreme Court has been met with some optimism by the disability community, which has long lacked a consistent advocate for their right in the nation’s highest court.

In a statement by the American Association of People with Disabilities, President and CEO Andrew J. Imparato said:
 

The disability community has learned the hard way the importance of Supreme Court nominations…Based on our preliminary analysis of Judge Sotomayor’s extensive record on the bench, we are encouraged that she may be the champion we have been looking for.

Supreme Court decisions have the power to impact people with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, paralysis, and countless other disabilities in areas such as:

• Education
• Employment
• Healthcare
• Housing
• Long-term services and support
• Technology
• Transportation
• Voting

To read more about what the disability community is saying about Judge Sotomayor’s nomination, visit the AAPD website.

 

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From June 4th through June 7th, people from all across the country will converge on Miami, Florida to participate in the No Barriers Festival – an event that seeks to inspire individuals to overcome their personal challenges.

Who’s Invited?

Everyone is welcome to participate in the festival. In fact, one of the main goals of the event to encourage interaction between athletes, manufacturers, individuals with disability (including those struggling with cerebral palsy symptoms) and anyone who wants to live a more active life.

Where?

The No Barriers Festival will be held at Shake-A-Leg Miami, an inclusive community-based center where children and adults with physical, developmental and financial challenges can go to participate in aquatic sports and activities.

Learn More

To learn more about the No Barriers Festival, visit  No Barriers USA or  Shake-A-Leg Miami.

 

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There has been an uproar surrounding the “Baby Shaker” application on the new Apple iPhone and rightfully so. The 99 cent application, which was removed from Apple’s online store amid the controversy, allowed users to virtually shake a crying baby into silence – and death.

Unfortunately for Apple, shaking babies is no joking matter. In fact, Shaken Baby Syndrome affects more than 1,000 babies each year in the United States and is the result of violent shaking, usually by an exasperated parent or caregiver. Infants are particularly vulnerable to shaking, and this kind of violence can cause severe brain damage, cerebral palsy symptoms and other lifelong disabilities.

Child abuse is a matter that should always be taken seriously, and though Apple has offered an apology for the application, we can only hope that the company has also learned an important lesson.


 

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Shortly after Barack Obama was sworn in as President, he signed into law the State Children’s Health Insurance Program – commonly referred to as SCHIP. The bill, which was first enacted in 1997, ensures that children receive the healthcare coverage they need when their families:

• Don’t make enough money to afford private insurance, but
• Make too much to qualify for Medicaid.

The bill is now authorized for another 10 years and will help to cover millions of currently uninsured children – including those with disabilities like cerebral palsy. To learn more about the program, visit  Insure Kids Now! 




 

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New technologies improve lives and enhance functioning in kids and adults with disabilities such as cerebral palsy. The founders of Project: Possibility understand this and have made it their mission to empower those in the disability community by making the world more accessible with innovative software solutions.

All of the software developed by the organization is open source and free to anyone who wishes to use it.  Some of the group’s projects have involved software development in areas such as:
 

• Education
• Mobility
• Video gaming
• Music and Web access

Project: Possibility encourages the sharing of ideas and participants in the various projects include engineers, artists, educators, university students and people with disabilities. If you have an idea or would like to contribute to a project, visit the group’s website and learn more.
 

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The disability community will usher in the new president on January 18, 2009 with the Disability Power & Pride Inaugural Ball. A first-ever event for the disability community, the ball will feature special guests, great food, live music, dancing — and you’re invited!

Joining the celebration will be disability leaders and advocates from across the country, as well as federal legislators and government officials from the new administration.

To learn more about attending this historic event, download the invitation package on the Disability Power & Pride website. Assistive listening devices and sign language interpreters will be available at the event.

 

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The Siskin Children’s Institute, headquartered in Tennessee, offers various kinds of support to families of children with disability, including research help, information on community resources, and workshops and education classes – all free of charge.
If you are a parent of a child with cerebral palsy, you may wish to check out Siskin’s:

• Free Online Library: The Institute features an online library where parents can go to find over 5,000 resources on disability topics such as cerebral palsy and autism.
• Education Programs: Through the Institute’s Center for Outreach and Adult Education, parents and families can attend free workshops led by therapists, special educators and other professionals. The Center also hosts free education series on topics ranging from disability awareness and parent advocacy to early childhood education and autism.
• Community Resources: Families can contact the Institute’s family support and resource coordinator to find assistance in their local communities.

Visit the Siskin website to learn more about how the Institute’s team of professionals can help you.

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