Cerebral Palsy: Selected Resources

Books

Handling the Young Child with Cerebral Palsy at Home
by Nancie R. Finnie 

This favorite resource has been popular for over three decades. Have a ‘look inside’  and read the customer reviews to see why.

Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Parents' Guide
by Elaine Geralis

This favorite book of many parents now comes as an updated edition, covering topics such as Diagnosis, Medical Issues, Family Life, Early Intervention, Therapies, Advocacy, Special Education, Daily Care. New to this edition is information on current treatments, communication devices and toys, advice on dealing with insurance companies, inclusion during preschool years, and much more, including a glossary, reading list, and resource guide. Available from Barnes and Noble

Teaching Motor Skills to Children with Cerebral Palsy and Similar Movement Disorders: A Guide for Parents and Professionals
by Sieglinde Martin, MS, PT

This practical and easy to read book provides new and comprehensive information about the Gross Motor Function Classification System, motor learning, physical therapy techniques, bracing and spasticity management, and includes easy home instructions for parents to use under the guidance of their child's therapist. This book is available at www.woodbinehouse.com and from Walmart

Websites:

For children

Discuss and educate on the topic of disabilities with children. Here’s a child-centered view on cerebral palsy from the website Kid’s Health.  

For parents

Visit United Cerebral Palsy, one of the largest health charities in America.  The UCP mission is to promote the independence and participation of people with disabilities, and is a leading advocate for the rights of persons with any disability. 

Origins of Cerebral Palsy seeks to be a useful resource for people in search of information on Cerebral Palsy. Besides information about CP, there are links to further websites helpful to children and adults with cerebral palsy, and their families.

Cerebral Palsy Magazine is currently the only publication in the US that is fully dedicated to issues related to cerebral palsy, with useful articles written by and for parents, individuals with CP, therapists, physicians and nurses. Article topics include treatments, the latest equipment, insurance issues, current research, and book reviews.

There’s an excellent resource, Medical Guide: Cerebral Palsy on the website Medical Transcription that offers links to excellent online resources on the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of cerebral palsy.

Reaching for the Stars is an international advocacy, research and education organization started by and for parents of children with Cerebral Palsy.

Danielle's Foundation has a good collection of links and free educational resources, as well as a grants program, for families touched by cerebral palsy.

The Cerebral Palsy Research Registry is an online database of persons with cerebral palsy, ages 2-70 years, and their families who are interested in participating in research studies. The Cerebral Palsy Research Registry links participants with researchers by notifying them of current studies for which they qualify.

For professionals

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, a leader in biomedical research, offers a comprehensive site that includes informative definitions, links to resources, press releases and on-line publications. A wide range of disorders are thoroughly explored. Here is their site on the subject of cerebral palsy.

The American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine is a multidisciplinary scientific society devoted to the study of cerebral palsy and other childhood onset disabilities, to promoting professional education for the treatment and management of these conditions, and to improving the quality of life for people with these disabilities.

Search MEDLINE/PubMed for recent research articles on Cerebral Palsy.

The CP Institute is dedicated to prevention research, education and information that targets optimal interventions and services for people with disabilities. The CP Institute will conduct high quality research to reduce the prevalence and severity of cerebral palsy and enhance the health and well-being of people with cerebral palsy.

The Cerebral Palsy International Research Foundation (CPIRF) is a not for profit 501(c)3 organization that funds research and educational activities relevant to discovering the cause, cure and evidence based care for those with cerebral palsy and related developmental disabilities.