The Winter Paralympics is a great opportunity to learn about the many adaptive recreational and competitive sports for individuals with cerebral palsy.
In this new 2022 episode of "Let's Talk CP" host Cynthia Frisina talks with Dr. Tom Novacheck and Dr. Andrew Georgiadis from Gillette Children's about gait, gait analysis, and what makes Gillette Children's such a special place.
![Dr. Georgiadis on left with short dark hair and glass wearing a pink tie, blue shirt and dark jacket, next to Dr. Novachek with dark hair and glassed wearing a blue shirt and maroon tie.](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2023-02/UGA%20Landing%20Page%20%281%29.png?h=57024e64&itok=Z-kiA7gS)
The Cerebral Palsy Foundation has created a checklist to help guide you in living the healthiest life possible. This checklist has been created for adults with cerebral palsy to provide basic guidance surrounding routine and additional screenings that should occur as part of your primary and preventive care.
![Photo of 4 men: From left to right - Black man, smiling wearing a black turleneck and camo pants seated in a wheelchair next to a white man leaning over smiling with dark hair wearing camo, next to an asian man with dark hair standing, smiling in black turtleneck, next to a white man seated wearing a black turtleneck and camo pants seated in a wheelchair.](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2022-02/3.png?h=ea13d641&itok=NhXJgr_T)
Individuals with disabilities have opportunities to work, receive employment training and coaching, benefits counseling and save money without losing means tested benefits. This podcast discusses these options.
![Sarah Storck on left with long blond hair wearing glasses and a brown shirt, David Stoner on right with dark hair in a wheelchair wearing a blue shirt](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2021-10/CPresource%20Listing%20Images.jpeg?h=f575c11c&itok=UqYjPYbt)
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), operated by the Department of Education, can be utilized for their many tools to aid those with disabilities in the preparation for the job search, finding gainful employment, and maintaining this employment.
![VR - Vocational Rehabilitation Logo in blue letters](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2021-10/Screen%20Shot%202021-10-04%20at%201.05.28%20PM.png?h=008f1ab6&itok=wI7cF-gN)
Students with disabilities often need extra support throughout the day to access their environment, the academic materials, and learn alongside their peers. A Personal Care Attendant in the school setting is often utilized to support the students needs.
![Graphic of a teacher in front of a chalk board with a child in a wheelchair observing](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2021-08/Personal%20Care%20Attendant%3A%20TA%20for%20the%20School.jpg?h=fa288499&itok=-OEyKmPL)
Children and teens with cerebral palsy and other disabilities may need the assistance of an individual who has a background in healthcare and the skills to provide the services essential to quality care.
![Photo of two young men in blue shirts sitting next to each other outdoors, one is in a wheelchair wearing a Mardi Gras mask and waving.](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2021-07/PCA%20Illo.jpg?h=d0470b75&itok=W0cRb9Hc)
Personal Care Attendants for adults with cerebral palsy and other disabilities provide a variety of essential functions that ensure safety, health, wellbeing and overall impact quality of life.
![Photo of woman wearing a blue shirt embracing a woman in a wheelchair](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2021-08/PCA%20Temp.jpg?h=10d202d3&itok=anOIpgdq)
An employment agreement spells out the rules, rights and responsibilities for both the Personal Care Attendant (the employee) and the individual with cerebral palsy or family who is hiring the Personal Care Attendant.
![Photo of hands shaking.](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2021-07/IMG_1080.jpeg?h=d318f057&itok=s5vTHWyT)
Author David Stoner provides insight into his experience with Personal Care Attendants through the years as his needs and his family's needs have changed.
![Photograph of a young woman and young man wearing a graduation cap and gown in wheelchairs holding hands with five individuals standing up behind them. One individual is holding an infant.](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2021-07/David%20Stoner%20Family%20Pic.jpg?h=dec22bcf&itok=Bgujty6p)
Wouldn’t it be great if inclusive, accessible playgrounds were in every community for all to enjoy? Although progress is being made in certain areas, there is a lot more work to be done to literally level the playing field and help communities and designers understand what makes an inclusive accessible playground and why they are important for people of all abilities.
![Smiling boy in yellow adaptive swing](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2021-06/adaptive%20playgrounds.jpg?h=4eadde09&itok=3RdqD_UD)
Mental health care should be included at the outset, as part of discussions around physical, occupational, and speech therapies. I’ve seen studies on cerebral palsy’s effect on caregiver mental health — and that is important. Caregivers are part of the cerebral palsy community, too. It’s an interdependent one. There’s not enough about the nuance around how having cerebral palsy affects mental health.”
![Drawing of the profile of a person with a heart in the center of the brain](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2021-06/mental%20wellness%20v1.jpg?h=a24664d4&itok=Kv7Nx6V8)
We rely on assistive technology for everything from holding utensils better to using a complex communication device. Makers Making Change is helping to create both custom and affordable assistive tech for all abilities and needs.
![Photo of Noam Platt wearing a blue sport coat and tie.](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2021-06/noam.jpg?h=2adfecdf&itok=R5lqHkTW)
LittleWins harnesses the power of community to empower people with disabilities with the tools they need to thrive! From buying, selling, and donating medical equipment and supplies, to obtaining needed information and connecting with others – LittleWins is the one-stop community resource for families, parents, caregivers, in-home nurses, and all people with disabilities.
![Purple Logo Little Wins](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2021-06/Screen%20Shot%202021-06-04%20at%2010.53.39%20AM.png?h=14498633&itok=ZoQRZhcF)
Individuals with Cerebral Palsy frequently participate in Adaptive Sports and Therapeutic Recreation programs. Though there are often many similarities in programs and frequently the terms are used interchangeably, there are differences that are highlighted here.
![Individuals in wheelchairs participating in a fitness class](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2021-06/Camp%20Activity.jpg?h=dec22bcf&itok=IIRo83YV)
Don't miss Part 2 of this very special podcast series when podcast host Cynthia Frisina dives deeper with Michael Kutcher into his life growing up with cerebral palsy, his "coming of age" as the twin brother of actor Christopher "Ashton" Kutcher, and what Michael is doing now with his new "diffability" concept and continued advocacy work on behalf of people with disabilities and organ transplants recently featured in Forbes Magazine https://www.forbes.com/sites/karlmoore/2021/07/08/michael-kutcher-on-turning-obstacles-into-opportunities/?sh=6ed0e70f722f
![Michael Kutcher seated wearing a dark blazer with light shirt and dark rimmed glasses](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2022-12/Michael%20Kutcher%20profile%20pic.jpeg?h=3dbd9eac&itok=z9-8nPyR)
Can there be a genetic cause of Cerebral Palsy in some cases? Let's Talk CP host, Cynthia Frisina talks with Dr. Michael Kruer about this topic and his ground-breaking research in Part 2 of a two-part discussion about the possible genetic causes of CP. When Michael Kruer was in medical school, he knew he wanted to work with children. With advancements in gene therapy opening up incredible opportunities in neuroscience, he realized he could be a part of something much bigger than himself and give children affected by movement disorders like cerebral palsy hope that didn’t seem possible just a few years ago.
![Michael Kruer has short brown hair, he is smiling wearing a lab coat with a blue tie](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2023-02/Podcast%20Listing%20Images%20%282%29.png?h=57024e64&itok=bQ1jK9ni)
Frame Running is becoming increasingly popular as a recreational and competitive sport for individuals with cerebral palsy across all GMFCS levels. Tune in to learn more!
![Woman in green shirt and black pants running next to a young boy in an orange shirt in a frame runner](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2021-05/IMG_4234.jpg?h=a1e1a043&itok=NdNuOwuS)
Dating can be scary, all of the questions that go through your head before a first date can often be overwhelming. What do I wear? What do we talk about? Does my breath stink? These are common concerns before any normal date. My brain was wrapping itself around the idea that this was my FIRST DATE EVER.
![Photo of David Stoner, wearing a blue shirt, sitting in his black wheel chair with a tree in the background.](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2021-04/IMG_0004.jpg?h=1116cd87&itok=oboytOTw)
On this episode, I have the honor of talking with Wendy Pierce, MD, a pediatric physiatrist at Colorado Children's Hospital about physiatry, also known as Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. This fantastic field of medicine can be helpful for individuals with cerebral palsy across with lifespan, but it has a confusing name and sometimes a confusing job description. So we set out to help listeners better understand what a physiatrist does.
![Photo of Wendy Pierce wearing a dark tan sweater on a light tan background](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2021-04/Screen%20Shot%202021-04-19%20at%2010.22.26%20AM.png?h=354054f4&itok=AI6_8gox)
On this episode I talk with two of the world’s leading researchers… Dr. Madison Paton and Dr. Iona Novak on stem cell treatment for cerebral palsy. Stem Cells have been a hot topic in Cerebral Palsy for at least 15 years now, with many parents and researchers hoping that at the least, stem cells will lessen the impact of CP and at most hold the key to a cure. Dr. Paton and Dr. Novak will share their insider knowledge into this subject and help us sort through the hype and so we can hold onto our hope.
![Photo of Madison Paton wearing a yellow sweater and Iona Novak wearing a black shirt on a grey background](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2021-04/Feb%20Headshot%20Cropped%202020%20PATON%20copy.jpg?h=f060bebc&itok=7ee1XZiO)
On this episode with Dr. Amy Bailes, we discuss the Gross Motor Functional Classification System (the GMFCS), the Gross Motor Functional Measure (the GMFM), and the corresponding motor curves. The GMFCS is an important classification system that is relatively easy to understand and it helps create a shared language and framework for understanding a person with CP’s physical function. This can be very helpful for patients, families and providers of all sorts, especially as it relates to both and acceptance and understanding of the diagnosis and family-centered shared decision making.
![Photo of Amy Bailes in a black shirt on a black background](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2021-04/DA200841%20resized.jpg?h=be94a382&itok=i78LDOC0)
In this episode, Mary Gannotti, PhD, PT, discusses fitness, health and function across the lifespan for individuals with cerebral palsy.
![Photo of Mary Ganotti in a red shirt with a black sport coat on a grey background](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2021-04/Screen%20Shot%202020-03-23%20at%2010.39.07%20AM.png?h=0a42a262&itok=boqSujDH)
In this first episode, listeners will meet the host, Jen, learn about her background, her son, Bower, and the reason for creating this podcast. Enjoy!
![Photo of Jen Lyman in a green wig and and a mardi gras mask](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2021-04/51563412_10156910399508704_4430144687197650944_n_10156910399503704.jpg?h=93fa4828&itok=mw4vFltj)
Wonder what it's like to grow up as Michael Kutcher? On this episode of "Let's Talk CP" Michael Kutcher and host Cynthia Frisina dive deep into Michael's childhood and journey to adulthood - including the good, the not so good and the very surprising. You won't want to miss what Michael has to say in this very candid and intimate conversation.
![Michael Kutcher seated wearing a dark blazer with light shirt and dark rimmed glasses](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2022-12/Michael%20Kutcher%20profile%20pic.jpeg?h=3dbd9eac&itok=z9-8nPyR)