When a parent learns their child has cerebral palsy they begin to
define and understand the condition. They may have many questions.
What does this mean? Is my child impaired? Disabled? Handicapped?
Is my child considered a special needs child?
Is cerebral palsy a disease or is cerebral palsy a disability?
What does cerebral palsy mean?
Words such as disability, impairment, special needs, and handicap are
helpful when used correctly. However, the same words, when
misunderstood and misused, can be hurtful, offensive and harmful.
Words such as disability, impairment, special needs, and handicap are
helpful when used correctly. However, the same words, when
misunderstood and misused, can be hurtful, offensive and harmful.
Is Cerebral Palsy an Impairment?
Yes. Impairment is the loss or limitation of function. Impairment is a condition that limits a person to some degree.
Those with cerebral palsy have a neurological condition which
primarily causes physical impairment involving limitation or loss of
function and mobility. They experience difficulty with muscle
coordination, muscle control, muscle tone, reflexes, balance or posture.
They may have difficulty with fine or gross motor skills. Their facial
muscles may be affected.
Those with cerebral palsy often have associative and co-mitigating
conditions that also impose additional challenges, such as a learning
impairment, seizures, and vision or hearing loss.
A person can have impairment without having a disability.
Those with cerebral palsy have a neurological condition which primarily causes physical impairment involving limitation or loss of function and mobility. They experience difficulty with muscle coordination, muscle control, muscle tone, reflexes, balance or posture. They may have difficulty with fine or gross motor skills. Their facial muscles may be affected.
Those with cerebral palsy often have associative and co-mitigating conditions that also impose additional challenges, such as a learning impairment, seizures, and vision or hearing loss.
A person can have impairment without having a disability.
Is Cerebral Palsy a Disability?
Sometimes. A disability is an impairment that substantially limits a
person’s ability to perform life activities within a range comparable to
someone the same age and circumstance. A disability may include
impairments that limit mobility, hearing, sight, and communication.
The term “disability” is primarily used to qualify a person fairly
for government benefits, access to healthcare, special education
programs, worker’s compensation, workplace accommodations, travel
accommodations, or health insurance.
All individuals with disability have impairment. However, a person
can have impairment without disability. In other words, their impairment
does not restrict them from performing a life activity. For example, a
person who wears glasses or contact lenses to correct nearsightedness
has impairment, but does not have a disability; the impairment
— nearsightedness — is correctable and therefore does not restrict
performance. However, a person declared legally blind is unable to
perform certain functions, such as driving, and hence is said to have a
disability that restricts performance.
The term “disability” is primarily used to qualify a person fairly for government benefits, access to healthcare, special education programs, worker’s compensation, workplace accommodations, travel accommodations, or health insurance.
All individuals with disability have impairment. However, a person can have impairment without disability. In other words, their impairment does not restrict them from performing a life activity. For example, a person who wears glasses or contact lenses to correct nearsightedness has impairment, but does not have a disability; the impairment — nearsightedness — is correctable and therefore does not restrict performance. However, a person declared legally blind is unable to perform certain functions, such as driving, and hence is said to have a disability that restricts performance.
Is Cerebral Palsy a Disease?
No. Cerebral palsy is not a disease, it is actually a term used to
describe a range of conditions that typically cause physical impairment.
Is Cerebral Palsy Considered a Handicap?
A handicap is a situational barrier or obstacle that limits activity
or restricts participation, often temporarily. The World Health
Organization (WHO) defines two types of handicaps:
- Activity limitations – are difficulties an individual may have in executing a task or action
- Participation restrictions – are problems an individual may have in involvement in life situations
A handicap is apparent only when the barrier or obstacle exists. For a
person who uses a wheelchair for mobility, stairs and narrow hallways
may present a handicap. Ramps, elevators, and alternate hallways remove
the handicap.
Today, much is being done to remove barriers and obstacles for those
with impairment. WHO and U.S. government agencies guided by the
Americans with Disabilities Act, collaborate with employers, retailers,
transportation sources and private groups on a mission to identify
obstacles and barriers. They also work to reduce or eliminate handicaps.
These organizations promote inclusion, accessibility, and accommodation
standards.
- Activity limitations – are difficulties an individual may have in executing a task or action
- Participation restrictions – are problems an individual may have in involvement in life situations
Today, much is being done to remove barriers and obstacles for those with impairment. WHO and U.S. government agencies guided by the Americans with Disabilities Act, collaborate with employers, retailers, transportation sources and private groups on a mission to identify obstacles and barriers. They also work to reduce or eliminate handicaps. These organizations promote inclusion, accessibility, and accommodation standards.
Do Individuals with Cerebral Palsy Have Special Needs?
Those with conditions that may require additional assistance, help,
or technology are generally considered to have special needs. The term
“special needs” generally refers to the actual need a child has,
particularly in situations where accessibility is required, such as
access to education, transportation, work settings, government programs,
public venues, and housing, to name a few.
Those with conditions that may require additional assistance, help, or technology are generally considered to have special needs. The term “special needs” generally refers to the actual need a child has, particularly in situations where accessibility is required, such as access to education, transportation, work settings, government programs, public venues, and housing, to name a few.
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