By libraria on September 19th, 2009

Educational Strategies and Cerebral Palsy

Persons with cerebral palsy can face many social and learning challenges that include communication difficulties, social interaction, difficulties in processing information, and spatial and perceptual difficulties. There are many strategies to hep students maximize and ease the learning process. Here are just a few.

Cerebral palsy describes a group of impairments that affect movement, muscle tone, and posture because of damage or abnormal development of associated parts of the brain that happens before or during birth or during early childhood.

Physical challenges

In general, people with cerebral palsy may suffer challenges in movement control, posture, balance, coordination, walking, speech, swallowing.

Related, specific problems may include mental retardation, although many people with cerebral palsy have normal or above average intelligence. People with cerebral palsy may also suffer from epilepsy, sleep, and breathing problems; learning disabilities, deformities; eating, dental, and digestive problems; bowel and bladder problems; and hearing and vision challenges.

Educational challenges

Assistive Technology

Technology devices for cerebral palsy include equipment that can aid with dexterity and movement. Computers can have special scanning equipment, on-screen keyboards, head-operated pointing devices, and voice recognition software. Electronic wheelchairs with computer boards can enable a student to engage in speech. There are many assistive devices to aid with activities of daily living such as braces for different parts of the body and larger writing tools for easier grasping. Books on tape and written instructions on tape or orally are simple, inexpensive assistive devices that can be use as aids to learning.

Strategies

Speech therapists, psychologists, audiologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists all meet as a team to give a student a special education program that maximizes his or her potential. Teachers’ aides and assistive technology can help with ambulation and activities of daily living during the education process. Classrooms can be arranged to maximize space for the student to move around the room with minimal obstacles. Assistive equipment and educators should modify assignments to enhance and enable the student’s efforts. Positive academic feedback, assisting the student in developing friendships and communicating frequently with parents and therapists can help lead a student to success in education.