Cerebral Palsy
Definition:
"Cerebral palsy (CP) refers to a group of disorders that result from injury to the developing brain, and can affect movement and muscle coordination. Depending on which areas of the brain are damaged, CP can cause one or more of the following: muscle tightness or spasms, involuntary movement, difficulty with gross motor skills such as walking or running, difficulty with fine motor skills such as writing or doing up buttons, and difficulty with perception and sensation. Individuals with CP may have cognitive, speech and language disorders, visual and hearing impairments and/or learning disabilities. The parts of the body that are affected and the severity of impairment can vary widely. CP is not progressive, but can seem to change as the child grows." (Learn Alberta, 2016) Code 44 |
The three types of CP are:
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Characteristics/Behaviours:
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What can I do in the classroom?
- Encourage support for the student from classmates.
- Consider physical access issues such as ramps, toilets, lifts and classroom layout.
- Incorporate advice from the occupational therapist in the student’s programme.
- Use computers and audio-visual aids in the student’s learning and teaching programme.
- Specialised equipment may also be necessary such as adapted keyboards, page turners, word boards or special desks.
- If writing is difficult consider using a tape recorders, etc.
- Allow students extra time to complete tasks.
- If teaching Physical Education, note that slower-paced activities are better than those requiring a fast response. Students will do better catching a bounced ball than a thrown one; kicking a stationary ball than a moving one.
- Students may have a low self-image, therefore it is important to ensure that the student feels included and is encouraged and praised.
- As students tend to become distracted quite easily minimise distractions in the classroom environment.
- If students use wheelchairs, where possible place yourself at their eyelevel when talking to them.
- Table-type desks with adequate leg space will need to be considered if the student has a wheelchair.
- The board in the classroom may have to be lowered if the student is in a wheelchair.
- To facilitate students’ reading, use easels, portable reading racks or adjustable desks.
Resources/Links:
http://cerebralpalsy.org/information/acceptance/tips-for-teachers/
http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/inmdict/html/cerebral_palsy.html
http://cerebralpalsy.org/information/acceptance/tips-for-teachers/
http://www.teachspeced.ca/cerebral-palsy
http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/brain/cerebral_palsy.html#
http://cerebralpalsy.org/information/acceptance/tips-for-teachers/
http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/inmdict/html/cerebral_palsy.html
http://cerebralpalsy.org/information/acceptance/tips-for-teachers/
http://www.teachspeced.ca/cerebral-palsy
http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/brain/cerebral_palsy.html#