Receiving the painful diagnosis of cerebral palsy for their child after a birth injury is a devastating, overwhelming, and heartbreaking experience for parents.
Most people feel a deep sense of grief and distress, knowing that their child will face lifelong complications because of an unjust injury caused during their birth.
As their child grows, many parents become concerned about finding an inclusive school environment for their child with cerebral palsy.
At the Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Alliance, our network of lawyers can help you and your loved ones navigate this challenging time. Contact the Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Alliance today at (888) 894-9067. Let us connect you with a skilled and compassionate cerebral palsy lawyer in your area to help you get the care and justice you deserve.
How Can Parents Promote Inclusion in Schools for Children With Cerebral Palsy?
Parents can foster inclusion by advocating for accessible classrooms, open educator communication, assistive resources, and supportive communities. Collaboration with teachers and engaging in anti-bullying initiatives enhances the school experience for children with cerebral palsy.
What Is Cerebral Palsy?
The National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke defines cerebral palsy as a term that encompasses a group of neurological disorders that affect a person’s body movement and muscle coordination.
Cerebral palsy develops during infancy or early childhood and has a lifelong effect on a person’s ability to control their movement, maintain balance, and maintain posture.
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cites cerebral palsy as the most common motor disability in childhood.
The effects of cerebral palsy on a person's ability to function can range from a slight difficulty in walking correctly on their own to requiring the use of special equipment to aid in walking to not being able to walk at all.
While there is currently no known cure for cerebral palsy, the condition does not progress over time. However, the symptoms that a person experiences can change over their lifetime.
If a birth injury caused your child to develop cerebral palsy, contact the Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Alliance today, and we will connect you with a trusted cerebral palsy lawyer.
What Causes Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is caused by an injury or abnormal development of the brain before, during, or after birth.
Congenital cerebral palsy is caused by an abnormality or issue arising in the womb, meaning the person is born with the neurological disorder.
Acquired cerebral palsy is caused by an issue that arose either during or after birth.
Common causes of acquired cerebral palsy include
- Lack of oxygen to the brain, also known as asphyxia, that occurs during delivery
- A mother delivering multiple births, commonly in the form of twins or triples, and losing one in the womb during delivery increases the risk of a birthed child developing cerebral palsy
- Babies delivered prematurely or at a low birth weight
- Untreated jaundice at birth
- Improper use of tools or poor treatment of the baby during birth that causes head trauma
- Medical staff not properly treating infections, such as meningitis or encephalitis
Contact the Cerebral Palsy Lawyers Alliance if a birth injury caused your baby to develop cerebral palsy. Let us connect you with a local lawyer to help your family get the care and justice you deserve.
Can I Receive Compensation if a Birth Injury Caused My Child to Develop Cerebral Palsy?
Parents frequently feel heartbroken, frustrated, and distressed after discovering that a birth injury caused their child to develop cerebral palsy. They are often unsure of their options and how to seek assistance in pursuing justice for their challenging circumstances.
If a birth injury resulted in your child developing cerebral palsy, your family may be entitled to compensation for your losses, including
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Inability to use a body part
- Partial or permanent disability
- Medical expenses for both current and future treatments
- Any resulting medical complications or health issues
- Loss of wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Loss of quality of life
Working with a dependable and compassionate cerebral palsy lawyer will help you and your family maximize your compensation while protecting your rights in your fight for justice.
Contact the Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Alliance today, and let us connect you with a local cerebral palsy lawyer.
What Are the Common Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy?
Learning that a birth injury led to their child's cerebral palsy often leaves parents feeling devastated, overwhelmed, and frustrated.
Many individuals are not fully aware of how cerebral palsy will affect their child's daily life and independence.
While the symptoms of cerebral palsy a person experiences will vary on the severity of their neurological disorder, the NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke identifies common symptoms of cerebral palsy:
- Ataxia, or the lack of muscle coordination
- Spasticity, such as the person experiencing stiff or tight muscles, as well as exaggerated reflexes
- Weakness in at least one limb
- Walking with a scissored gait, crouched gait, or on their toes
- Muscle tone variation, whether too floppy or too stiff
- Tremors, shaking, and random involuntary movements
- Motor skill milestones either reached late or not at all
- Challenges in making precise movements, like buttoning a shirt or writing
The NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke also notes common conditions a person may experience related to their cerebral palsy, including
- Seizures are experienced by approximately half of all children diagnosed with cerebral palsy
- An estimated 30-50 percent of all people with cerebral palsy experience a form of an intellectual disability
- Delayed growth or development of muscles and limbs
- Osteoarthritis and spinal deformities, such as scoliosis, lordosis, and kyphosis, are common conditions associated with cerebral palsy due to the pressure on and misalignment of a person's joints
- Impaired vision, commonly in the form of strabismus, poor vision, or blindness
- Partial or complete hearing loss
- Speech and language disorders
- Excessive drooling due to the inability to control the muscles in their throat, mouth, and tongue
- Incontinence
- Challenges with perceptions and sensations
- Difficulty learning and processing certain types of auditory and spatial information
- Experiencing a higher risk of contracting infections and long-term illnesses, such as pneumonia, heart disease, and lung disease
- Muscle contractures
- Malnutrition as the result of feeding difficulties
- Dental problems, commonly in the form of cavities and gum disease
- Inability to maintain strength and fitness, leading to a decrease in overall well-being and health
- Reduced bone mineral density and increased risk of broken or fractured bones
- Higher risk of developing psychological issues, such as depression, anxiety, social issues, and emotional issues
If a birth injury caused your child to develop cerebral palsy, call the Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Alliance today and let us connect you with a trusted and diligent cerebral palsy lawyer.
What Are Common Signs That My Infant Has Cerebral Palsy?
Most parents find it challenging to identify if their infant has cerebral palsy after suffering a birth injury.
The CDC identifies common signs of cerebral palsy for parents to be aware of with their infants, including
- Developmental delays, such as having difficulty learning to roll over, sit, crawl, or walk
- Decreased muscle tone that creates an appearance of being relaxed or floppy
- Increased muscle tone that makes them appear rigid or stiff
- Unusual posture of favoring one side of their body when they crawl or reach
According to the NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, there are specific age-related signs for parents to monitor for cerebral palsy in their child:
- Under six months of age
- The child’s head lags when picked up or while lying on their back
- Their body appears stiff
- The child’s body feels floppy
- When picked up, the baby’s legs stiffen and either cross or scissor
- Over six months of age
- The child cannot roll over in either direction
- The child is unable to bring their hands together or to their mouth
- The infant favors one hand while keeping the other hand in a fist
- Over ten months of age
- The child pushes with one hand and leg while crawling, leaving the other side of the body to drag
- Inability to stand, even with support
Contact the Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Alliance today if your baby was diagnosed with cerebral palsy after suffering a birth injury. Let us connect you with a trusted cerebral palsy lawyer to get the justice your family deserves.
Why Choose a Cerebral Palsy Lawyer
Learning that a tragic birth injury caused your infant to develop cerebral palsy is a profoundly distressing and emotional ordeal for parents. Many find themselves searching for ways to seek justice for the unfair lifelong challenges their child will face.
Having the help of a dedicated and experienced cerebral palsy lawyer will make this painful and complicated situation more manageable for you and your loved ones to navigate.
At the Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Alliance, our network of lawyers can help you and your loved ones attain justice for your child’s traumatic birth injury.
Your local lawyer will listen to you closely in order to thoroughly understand your painful and challenging situation. They will investigate all aspects of your birth injury case and gather all the necessary evidence. Your dedicated legal team will passionately advocate on your family’s behalf to attain the justice and compensation you deserve.
Contact the Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Alliance today. Let us connect you with a dependable and well-respected cerebral palsy lawyer.
Promoting Inclusion in School Environments for Children With Cerebral Palsy
Sending their child to school for the first time is often an emotional experience for most parents.
Parents of children with cerebral palsy commonly feel added stress from not knowing how inclusive the school environment will be for their child.
You can take steps as a parent to promote inclusion in your child's school environment for cerebral palsy.
Speak Openly With the Educators
Maintaining an open and regular dialogue with your child’s educators is crucial in promoting an inclusive school environment.
Make sure everyone is on the same page about the unique needs your child with cerebral palsy will have at school and the best practices for creating an inclusive environment.
If the educators have no prior experience with cerebral palsy, provide them with the resources needed to help them educate themselves.
There are a number of resources available online, including
- Cerebral Palsy Research Network
- Center for Parent Information and Resources
- My Child at cerebalpalsy.org
Create an Inclusive Classroom
The majority of your child’s time at school will be spent in the classroom. By working together with your child’s teacher, you can foster an inclusive environment for their cerebral palsy in the classroom and with their classmates.
Steps to take to make the classroom environment more inclusive include
- Assign seating to intentionally place a child with cerebral palsy next to a more outgoing and empathetic student
- Make the classroom physically accessible by providing ample space for a walker, wheelchair, or other assistive device to be easily navigated
- Create a bully-free environment so that no child is picked on or singled out for their perceived differences
- Provide a variety of options for recreational activities that are accessible for children with cerebral palsy to participate in
- Vary teaching strategies to reach more learning styles
Provide Assistive Resources
Finding a school that can provide assistive resources to a child with cerebral palsy will help create a more inclusive school environment for the child.
Assistive resources include ramps, adaptive keyboards, tablet devices, and writing aids.
Build a Supportive Community
Building a supportive community at your child’s school will help enhance your child’s experience and promote inclusivity in their school environment.
Find a community among your child’s teachers, other parents at the school, and your child’s classmates to reduce the isolation your child and your family may feel while also creating a network of encouragement, advice, and camaraderie.
Be an Advocate for Your Child
Promoting inclusion in your child’s school environment will require ongoing advocacy for policies that support inclusive education.
Many organizations and advocacy groups strive to influence public policy, raise awareness, and secure funding for inclusive programs. Engaging with these groups and with your child's school on your own will amplify the voice for change.
Work With a Compassionate Cerebral Palsy Attorney
Learning of the distressing diagnosis of cerebral palsy for their child following a birth injury is an incredibly challenging, overwhelming, and heartbreaking experience for parents. Many experience profound grief and anguish, realizing their child will encounter lifelong challenges due to an unfair injury during childbirth.
As their child matures, most parents grow increasingly worried about finding an inclusive school environment for their child with cerebral palsy.
Our network of compassionate lawyers at the Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Alliance can help you and your loved ones navigate this challenging time.
Contact the Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Alliance today at (888) 894-9067. Let us connect you with a skilled and compassionate cerebral palsy lawyer in your area to help you get the care and justice you deserve.