The impact of geographic relocation on a married couple and their son with cerebral palsy is discussed. Counseling helped the family to adjust to their new community and resolve such problems as lack of family or friends nearby and the boy's acceptance in a more competitive school where he initially had no friends. (JDD)

The comparison of listeners' evaluations of nonspeech characteristics of eight dysarthric (due to cerebral palsy) and eight normal speaking children (ages 6-11) found that dysarthric speech adversely affected listeners' perceptions of the dysarthric speakers' personality and physical appearance characteristics. (Author/DB)

The mother of two boys, one with residual cerebral palsy and one nondisabled, discusses her single parent experiences. She outlines her initial refusal to accept help from family and friends, her original role as a "martyr-Mom," and the difficulties in making decisions alone and balancing attention between disabled and nondisabled siblings. (JDD)

Describes a successful project in Philadelphia that paired students from Germantown Friends School with children at the Home of the Merciful Savior School for Children with Cerebral Palsy. States that the arts staff at both schools composed a musical which the two schools performed together. Concludes that performing the musical taught acceptance…

This study examined the effectiveness of treatment on the development of communicative intent in four young (ages 11 to 13 months) children with cerebral palsy. Treatment sessions included structured communication opportunities and physically facilitated exploration of toys. Results indicated significantly greater use of communicative signals…

This study investigated the effects of a hand positioning device on aspects of upper extremity movement control and muscular activity and visual motor performance in 10 children with cerebral palsy. Although no significant results were found, individual subject data revealed a trend toward increased numbers of movement units, slower movements, and…

Basic behavioral neuroscience research with monkeys has given rise to an efficacious new approach to the rehabilitation of movement after stroke, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, and other types of neurological injury in humans termed Constraint-Induced Movement therapy or CI therapy. For the upper extremity, the treatment involves…

Findings from two studies of 42 children with profound developmental delays (26 males and 15 females) using systematic and intense response-contingent learning opportunities interventions are reported. Response-contingent learning games were used to promote the participants' use of behavior that either produced environmental consequences or…

With the implementation of the inclusion concept in public school classes, the ability of the general physical educator to effectively teach all of his or her students has been tested. This is particularly true with some students who have a receptive language disability (e.g., deaf, traumatic brain injury), an expressive language disability (e.g.,…

The effects of proper positioning and prosthetic equipment on the acquisition of selected self-feeding skills were studied in a young cerebral palsy child, with an eye toward developing evaluation strategies and procedures that could be easily employed by a teacher or parent in a classroom or home setting. (Author/DLS)

A multimodal intervention program designed for a nine-year-old with severe communication problems (secondary to cerebral palsy, receptive dysphasia, and auditory agnosia) combined manual signs and graphic symbols to help her communicate. The intensive, highly structured program had significant positive results. (Author/CB)

A parent recounts the process leading to placement of her severely retarded and cerebral palsied son in a residential situation using Community Training Homes, a foster home program in Connecticut. (DB)

The article recounts the difficulties presented by the deep seated prejudices manifested in the Australian and English school systems to a cerebral palsied and hearing impaired child. Her eventual success is seen as a personal victory for herself and her persistent mother. (Author/DB)

Although it once seemed simple to say that a single event such as birth trauma or asphyxia caused brain disorders like cerebral palsy, mental retardation, and epilepsy, a recent study showed that it is nearly impossible to pinpoint a single cause and its effects. Recommendations for further research are made. (BB)

The article offers management strategies to help teachers of elementary students with cerebral palsy. Suggestions address aspects of neuro-developmental and sensorimotor integration and describe such activities as sandbox writing, feel-it boxes, and painting. (CL)