Educating Children With Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) in children is a neurological disorderdevelopment. In special schools, the curriculum is so
caused due to damage to those parts of the brainplanned that each child gets individual attention. All this
controlling motor skills. It cannot be completely cured.helps in child's all-round development.
However, through specialized care and trainingMost importantly, teachers who are teaching children
children with CP may develop skills required to lead awith CP should be able to usher a great deal of
normal life.emotional support and patience. A teacher dealing
Intelligence determines the physical progress that iswith such a child may not require to change the
required in a child with CP. Intelligence may bewhole curriculum, but the child would need to be dealt
determined in a child accurately with CP as young aswith, a little differently. However, they should not be
18 months of age. Facilities for emotional guidancegiven a very different treatment. They are not to be
must be available in schools of such children and forjudged only by their physical disability, but should be
parents too. Lest, some children may not be able toencouraged to participate in the activities with other
achieve the expected physical and mental progress.children of the class. Observations suggest that
Many children who have CP do not have mentalchildren with CP who attend regular schools show
difficulties, and many are highly intelligent, which helpsgreat deal of improvement.
them to attend general school. There are manyThough teachers of children with special needs may
cases, wherein, a child with CP enjoys a near normalhave different approaches when dealing with them,
life in later stage. Although possible, but is not anthe basic quality of a good teacher must include:
easy task. To achieve this, it is necessary that they--ability to encourage and motivate all children with
undergo several therapies and also get specialdisabilities,
attention in school. Physical therapists help children--patience and flexibility to students who need
with CP in developing simple motor skills such asmodified or specific classroom accommodations.
walking with their braces, to stand and to move--caring yet strict approach when working with special
around without help, etc. Speech therapists wouldchildren.
help improving their communication skills. In addition to--the ability to inspire students with special needs in
this, enrolling in special schools will also help in theirachieving their goals and progress in school and life.