The Winter Paralympics is a great opportunity to learn about the many adaptive recreational and competitive sports for individuals with cerebral palsy.
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
This podcast is a place for conversations with experts about issues related to cerebral palsy that affect health, fitness, function and participation. We will cover a range of topics including: treatments and therapies, nutrition, neuroplasticity, genetics, exercise and fitness, adaptive sports, accessibility, and new trends.
![Photo of Jennifer Lyman and her son with the copy Cerebral Palsy Health by Jennifer Lyman across to the top of the image](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2020-07/episode-1-KQ8uIrgoxeZ-VDh0pQr5J2H.300x300.jpg?h=6c83441f&itok=_Scj1p5L)
Cerebral palsy refers to a group of conditions that are caused by problems in brain development and that affect how movement and motor control happen in children. Problems with walking and talking are often the way people start a conversation about cerebral palsy.
![Text says Cerebral Palsy is the most common lifelong motor disability caused by damage to the developing brain](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2020-06/CpResource_ExpertVideo_Asset.jpg?h=b515aba9&itok=1Y4kwHpc)
Neuroplasticity is the ability that the brain has to form new connections between different cells or between different areas of the brain.
![Representation of a magnifying glass magnifying the neurons in the brain](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2020-06/Neuroplasticity.png?h=19da4de0&itok=n1MAeeWi)
As a parent, when it comes to different types of interventions for infants with cerebral palsy, how do you know what you have, what you don't, and what you could get?
![Zach (age 4) smiling in therapy playing a game with PT](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2019-10/tips_earlyintervention.png?h=951dc57a&itok=8rx3yWBG)
Exploration for an infant means discovering anything about that environment. If that infant needs an opportunity to be brought to them, that's okay. Let an infant explore through their senses, whether it's touch, or smell, or taste, or sight, or hearing.
![Tylynn (2 years old) using her walker](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2019-10/experts_activityininfancy.jpg?h=5199961b&itok=aERpOL0W)
One of the things that we typically forget when we look at kids who have conditions like CP, is that they're first and foremost, children.
![Drawing of tooth and ear with the words "toothaches, earaches, sore throats, and bellyaches"](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2019-10/experts_reasonforpain.png?h=951dc57a&itok=gDNBdOlQ)
When you're looking at setting goals for kids with complex communication needs, don't forget about setting goals that are about them interacting in the classroom. It's not just about punching buttons. It's not just about saying vocabulary words. It's about talking with people and showing who you are. Some specific goals that you can look at are in four areas. Educational goals, social goals, inclusion goals, and goals and independence.
![An image of Kelly Fonner and educational specialist](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2019-10/Screen%20Shot%202019-10-06%20at%204.53.46%20PM.png?h=f054bdc0&itok=iCYQ9XQI)
My name is Nathalie Maitre, I work at Nationwide Children's Hospital. I'm a physician and a researcher
![Owen sitting up smiling in crib at the hospital with neonatal baby monitor on his head](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2019-10/expert_ealrydeteciton.jpg?h=5199961b&itok=WdtHs2Wz)
The World Health Organization has developed the ‘International Classification of Function’. This gives us a way to think about any health condition. Here we can see many ideas that we need to think about with CP. We can also see how these many ideas are connected to one another.
![Image of International Classification of Function](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2019-10/ICF.png?h=319b3f54&itok=k_SPhqEA)
Diagnosing cerebral palsy (CP) at an early age is important for the long-term outcome of children and their families.
![Owen (Age 2) sitting outside under a tree in a white shirt and brown shorts looking up and smiling into the distance](/sites/www/files/styles/small_landscape_12x7/public/2019-10/Screen%20Shot%202019-10-01%20at%201.34.41%20PM.png?h=ff4d8ca8&itok=UgtnGjg8)