Cerebral Palsy: Social and Educational Issues - early intervention, rights, evaluations, special ed, IFSP, IEP, IHP and transitions to adulthood.

Cerebral Palsy: Society & Education

The United Cerebral Palsy Associations estimate that more than 500,000 Americans have cerebral palsy. While this is only a mere .002 % of the overall U.S. population, there are many organizations, both governmental and private, that have been established to help people with cerebral palsy live a successful and fruitful life. One of the biggest problems that arises with cerebral palsy is the transition to school, and then to adulthood. As a child with cerebral palsy, it can be much easier to get the medical help you require to develop at a more normal rate. As an adult, while you may not need developmental assistance, you will still require money, medical attention, and, while perhaps not necessary but still quite important, someone to share your life with.

All of these aspects of living with cerebral palsy, from your first day of school to your first day on the job, can be quite stressful. Before your first day of school, you have to be evaluated, have and Individual Education Plan drawn up for you, and it must be decided whether or not you will attend a special education school or a mainstream school. And beyond that, these decisions must be re-visited at least every year. Once you have completed your educational career, your wishes, as with most other adults, disabled or not, will likely be to be able to live independently and get a job, regardless of whether or not you have government funds. Once you have gone through the process of finding a way to live on your own (at least with minimal assistance), and once you have found a job, it is likely that you will desire companionship on a deeper level. Sexuality can be hard for people with cerebral palsy to express, mainly because of the societal taboo of people with disabilities being sexual, but it doesn’t have to be.

This website will explore some of the issues surrounding cerebral palsy, from school and the education system, including: parent’s rights, evaluations, early interventions, whether you should attend regular or special education schools and training plans (the IFSP, IEP and IHP), to transitions to adulthood, such as adulthood and occupations and sex and adulthood. Each section has links to organizations and websites that may be of interest to you.

Cerebral Palsy • Cerebral Palsy Directory • Cerebral Palsy info

Cerebral Palsy: Social and Educational Issues - early intervention, rights,
evaluations, special education, IFSP, IEP, IHP and transitions to adulthood.