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CMSS - Skills Development Centre For People with Disabilities

Cerebal Palsy

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Initially called Little's Disease, after the English surgeon William Little who first wrote about it in the mid 19th century, Cerebral Palsy is a blanket term for a number of disorders which affect muscles and movement.

If that part of the brain which controls movement is injured or fails to develop properly, a child may be born with or develop CP.  At present there appears to be no single cause for CP, but medical research indicates that damage to the developing foetus from a viral infection, certain drugs, poor nutrition or prematurity may be a strong factor, or, to a lesser degree, low birth weight, lack of oxygen or injury to the brain, before, during or just after birth, or cerebral bleed, may also be attributable.  Meningitis or encephalitis in early childhood can also be a cause.  It is thought that approximately two people per 1000 of the population in the UK have CP.

Spactic Cerebral Palsy

This is the most common form of CP. The person will have very stiff muscles and a decreased range of jerky movements making the most basic of activities extremely hard work.

If it affects just half of the body it is described as hemiplegic.  If both legs are affected (but not the arms) it is diplegic. If both legs and arms are affected, it is quadriplegic.

Athetoid or Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy

The person will have frequent involuntary muscle movements; muscle tone too loose or tight;
Difficulties controlling the tongue; unintentional movements of the face, arms and upper body; diaphragm (breathing) and vocal cords and hearing problems may also be present.  Because of these problems, their speech may be difficult to understand until you get to know them well.  This type of CP by itself is quite rare.

Ataxia Cerebral Palsy

This affects the whole body: the person will probably be unsteady when walking, their balance will be affected and they will be generally uncoordinated.  They will experience extreme shakiness and have jerky hand movements and speech.

Many people with CP will have a combination of the three types.  As with many neurodevelopmental disorders, CP can affect people in widely different degrees of severity.  No two people will be the same but as always, try to see the person and not the condition.

Physical and mental characteristics

A child who has CP may have or develop some - not all - of the following, to some degree:

Treatment

A child born with cerebral palsy will always have cerebral palsy.  It is not an illness, it is not contagious, it does not get worse, but on the other hand neither does it diminish with age.  There are treatments and therapies which will help alleviate some of the symptoms of CP, and much can be done to help children manage their lives better.  This includes your patience, understanding and willingness to look beyond the disorder - your efforts to do so will be well rewarded.   

As always with a neurological disorder, a multi-disciplinary approach is advised.  Children may need help from a range of professionals, including physiotherapy, Occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and educational psychologists.  Some children will need walkers, wheelchairs or protective headwear. Others may need help with their activities of daily living such as dressing and bathing, some will need specially adapted knives, forks, spoons and writing equipment, an Occupational therapist will be able to help with these activities. For those whose speech is very difficult to understand it will be easier for them to use a communication aid, whether this is a set of simple cards with works / pictures, or a sophisticated electronic speaking device.

Teachers should be aware that learning difficulties may be present, but this is not the rule: many children with CP have average intelligence and some may have above average intelligence.  If there are learning difficulties present, these may range - as in any population - from mild through moderate to specific or severe.  Perceptual or spatial difficulties are not always picked up.

CMSS Latest News



Updated June 2010

 Jamboree 2010

Would you like to be involved in a fun packed day for all the family? If your answer is yes then your in luck. CMSS's Jamboree is only three weeks away. On Saturday 3rd July we will be hosting our anual event, with activities ranging from live music, Tombola, horse racing, raffles, food, bbq, Bar and much much more. So come on down and have some fun in the name of a good cause. If you would like to make a contribution or sponsor any part of this event then please contact Naheed on 0208 8663711 or naheedjudge@hotmail.com

  

CMSS Lease

 We are pleased to announce that our CMSS lease has been renewed for another 5 years until September 2014. This will enable us to further develop and utilise our independent living skills area and our computer suite.

 

PLEASE HELP!

 We are currently looking for a community based building in Central Harrow for our Harrow Community Links Project. This will need to be accessible with accessible, disabled toilets, and be available Monday to Friday 9am-3pm. If you know of any building or large hall, which is available, or is likely to become available in the near future, please contact Betty Morris or Naheed Judge on 02088663711 for further details.

 

Can you help?

 Have you been attending CMSS for 50 years? Has your family been involved with CMSS for many years? We are currently in the process of publishing a book about the history of CMSS and we need any old newspaper cuttings, photographs, letters, or anyting related to the history of CMSS. Please could you forward these to Betty Morris and we will photocopy them with your permission, and give the originals back to you.

 

Northwood Project Piloted Sept 09

 

 We have implemented our 5th Community Based Northwood Service to provide a service to those clients who require a programme of less physically demanding activities.