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I recently watched the movie, “Music Within”, which is based on the true story of Richard Pimentel, a man whose work plays an integral part in the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. In the movie, Richard becomes friends with a man who has cerebral palsy. Within the movie, Art, the man with cerebral palsy, has to overcome some significant barriers as a result of his disabilities and the lack of accommodations for handicapped people prior to the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
It was a great movie and it inspired me to research cerebral palsy and the types of assistive technology that are available to help people with cerebral palsy today.
Like many other types of disabilities, CP can be mild, moderate or severe, resulting in physical disabilities that range in severity from clumsiness to the inability to walk and feed one self. Sometimes people with CP also have learning problems, problems with hearing, speaking, or mental retardation.
When it comes to school, students with CP face many challenges. Seizures, mental disabilities, auditory problems, visual problems, communication problems, and possible impairments of other senses are all issues that may need to be addressed on a daily basis. Students may also need help with walking and eating as well. Luckily there are many services available to these students. Services can include placement on an IEP, physical therapy, occupational therapy, a one on one assistant and speech and language support. Along with these services there are many types of assistive technology that can help a student with cerebral palsy be successful within their school setting.
The following is a list of common assistive technology applications:
“Positioning – In the classroom, individuals with physical disabilities may need assistance with their positions for seating so that they can participate effectively in school work. Generally, therapists try to achieve an upright, forward facing position by using padding, structured chairs, straps, supports, or restraints to hold the body in a stable and comfortable manner. Also considered is the student’s position in relation to peers and the teacher. Often, it is necessary to design positioning systems for a variety of settings so that the student can participate in multiple activities at school. Examples of equipment used for positioning are side lying frames, walkers, crawling assists, floor sitters, chair inserts, wheelchairs, straps, trays, standing aids, bean bag chairs, sand bags and so forth (http://www.pluk.org/AT1.html).”
