By Lee Vander Loop CP Family Network Editor When you read the words “Patient-Centered Care,” what comes to your mind? When I first encountered the phrase, I was confused. Shouldn’t all medicine be ‘patient-centered’ since it is about the patient and, if this is new, what was the approach before? CP Research Study Seeks Parents... Read More

By John Lehman Sometimes, depending on the severity of the disorder, children with cerebral palsy have difficulties feeding themselves. In these cases, a feeding tube may be necessary for your child to meet his or her dietary and nutritional requirements. Feeding tubes could also be used to allow your child an easier way to take... Read More

By Lee Vander Loop CP Family Network Editor Some children with severe cerebral palsy have feeding disorders which require tube feeding. Children who are unable to fulfill their nutritional needs using traditional feeding methods, those with oral motor skill dysfunction or children at risk for aspiration are typically candidates for tube feeding. Often, doctors prescribe... Read More

By Lee Vander Loop Some children with cerebral palsy require physical therapy. Some don’t. Once the diagnosis is made, and the type of cerebral palsy is determined, a team of health care professionals will work to identify specific impairments and needs, and then develop an appropriate plan to address the core disabilities that affect the... Read More

By Lee Vander Loop CP Family Network Editor We’re all aware of the physical and psychological health benefits of keeping children physically active, but for parents and caregivers of children with cerebral palsy, this can often be a challenge. Medical research and personal experience show that people with disabilities benefit greatly when they participate in... Read More

By Lee Vander Loop CP Family Network Editor When my first daughter was born, she exhibited a total absence of any type of oral motor skill and necessitated a feeding tube from birth. Her birth injuries occurred as a result of “cord complications of unknown origin.” When our second child was born with cord complications,... Read More

Many, if not most, treatment plans for children with CP are centered exclusively on the child. While a child’s interests must always be considered, the narrow focus of such plans can overlook crucial factors, like “living environment” and “family dynamic.” Read More

Technically speaking, adaptive seating is defined as “modifications to seating devices to improve sitting posture and/or postural control in mobility-impaired individuals.” In layman’s terms, this means your child may use a special desk or wheelchair that has been personalized to meet their needs. Read More

Doctor appointments are all too frequent in the lives of families with special needs children. The appointments themselves and the issues addressed, however, are seldom routine. Given that you will have 15-30 minutes at most with the doctor, making the most of this time is critical. Read More

You may have read this blog post in which Giles Manley urges parents and expectant women: Call a doctor if you feel like you should, even and especially over the holidays! This advice rings equally true for the families of children with special needs Read More