When the ABC sitcom Speechless premiers September 21, 2016, viewers will see a different kind of sitcom family. Minnie Driver plays Maya, the mother of three kids, one of which is a special needs child confined to a wheelchair and unable to...
MoreCerebral Palsy — An Adoption Story
“I hope to adopt someday.” The sentiment was real, yet my idea of adoption was romanticized and I lacked a real understanding of adoption. I pictured bringing a shy, malnourished, lonely child to my home who would transform into a...
MoreIs There a New Drug for Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is a lifelong disorder caused by damage to a child’s brain before, during, or shortly after birth. Symptoms vary in severity and include stiff muscles, involuntary movements, or cognitive deficits. Some children are...
MoreOn Being a Military Wife and Mother
My name is Xiomara Montes, I am 35 years old, born on the island of Puerto Rico. I have 5 years of marriage, and my husband served in the U.S. Armed Forces. We have 3 beautiful children, two girls and one boy. Our first daughter is 10 years, a...
MoreRobotic-Assited Therapy for Cerebral Palsy
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in Toronto is planning the first ever clinical trial of robot-assisted therapy for children with cerebral palsy.
MoreUnderwater Treadmill Gives Paraplegics Hope
In a study by Middle Tennessee State University’s (MTSU) Department of Health and Human Performance, a treadmill at the bottom of a tank filled with 270 gallons of water has been helping paraplegics make great strides. This same technique has...
More13-Year-Old Singer Has a Special Needs Cause
Not every 13-year-old girl with a powerful singing voice gets the opportunity to record it on an album. It is even less likely that she would have a single written for her by a noted producer. Rarer than that is when that girl wants to give a...
MoreSymptoms of Cerebral Palsy
It is not uncommon for parents to welcome home their adorable, newborn baby and finding out a year later that their child has cerebral palsy. New parents are not to blame. Cerebral palsy is very difficult to diagnose until the infant...
MoreWhat is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is a disorder that affects as many as 500,000 children and adults each year. What is cerebral palsy? Cerebral palsy is the term used to describe the many disorders caused by abnormal development or damage to the brain...
MoreWhat is Angelman Syndrome?
Angelman Syndrome is a neuro-genetic disorder that is often misdiagnosed as autism or cerebral palsy. Symptoms include developmental delay, seizures, lack of speech, and motor disorders. Named after Dr. Harry Angelman, who first noted...
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