Cerebral Palsy
What is cerebral palsy (CP)?
Just as autism covers a spectrum of symptoms and conditions, so too does cerebral palsy. CP is the overarching name for a group of non-progressive disorders of movement and posture caused by damage to the developing brain. It is the most common form of childhood disability.
Cerebral Palsy occurs during pregnancy or shortly after birth and disorders are manifest early in life. The severity and symptoms vary with every individual, including the parts or areas of the body affected. While one person may have a weakness in one hand, for example, another may have no control over their hand movements.
In addition to the movement being affected, associated disabilities can also include impaired vision, hearing or speech, epilepsy, and intellectual and learning challenges.
Support from the NDIS
Careful management means many people with cerebral palsy can and do live independent lives, participating in meaningful studies, hobbies and employment.
The NDIS offers a range of support for cerebral palsy clients designed around the objectives of maximising independence, controlling pain, fostering self-care, and optimising mobility and communication.
For adults to qualify for support from the NDIS, one of the following disability pieces of evidence will be required:
- Gross motor functional classification scale (GMFCS)
- Other: Manual ability classification scale (MACS)
- Other: Communication function classification system (CFCS)
At home with Forsight
If you are looking to make the move to a Forsight home, there are many ways we can support your transition. First is matching your abilities to the appropriate home and considering, for example, whether wheelchair accessibility is needed. Some homes also offer assisted walkways around the backyard.
Whichever home is right for you, we are working hard to support easier communication with support workers through the use of assistive technology. All support staff are trained in manual handling so they know how to safely and comfortably provide every assistance to clients in wheelchairs – from repositioning to transportation, dressing to assisted sitting.