What is The United Cerebral Palsy Association

If you are a parent with a child who has cerebral palsy, then you should know all that you can about the disorder. If you would like to learn more about joining a cerebral palsy association in your area, read on. Associations focused on aiding kids with cerebral palsy are not-for-profit organizations that reach out to both parents and children. One such agency is the United Cerebral Palsy Association.  

United Cerebral Palsy organization was founded in 1949 to help advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with disabilities with the help of a strong network of businesses and everyday people. In the nineteen forties, there were very few available resources to help cerebral palsy children. The UCP's Washington D.C. headquarters concentrates on marketing, fundraising, policy recommendations and family support.

Scooters, wheelchairs and hand controls can increase the mobility and improve the quality of activities of daily living for the child with cerebral palsy. Exercise machines and easels can also improve the quality of life for these children; allowing them to explore their interests in a more meaningful way. There are products and services available to assist caregivers as well. Whether it's grab bars near the toilet, an automatic lift for the bathtub or computer software that aids in communication, technology is changing the way parents and their afflicted children interact in wonderful ways.

UCP also has a research foundation that seeks new treatment options and preventative methods. For more than fifty years, the foundation has looked at how German measles and maternal-child blood type incompatibility (Rh factor) have contributed to the cause of this disability. Currently, there is research going on regarding the role that low birth weight, premature birth and maternal infections affect the brain of a fetus. Through scientific research, they hope to discover ways to replace brain cells that have been lost in fetuses and allow for a more normal development through early treatment.

Don't forget that joining the United Cerebral Palsy Association or any other cerebral palsy organization for that matter is voluntary. There should be no pressure about whether you should join or not. If you believe you can cope with your child's illness on your own financially as well as emotionally, then there is no real need to join UCP. However, if you do need the financial and psychological cerebral palsy support in dealing with an afflicted child, then you can always turn to UCP. They are happy to give you the extra hand you need.

Related topics about united cerebral palsy
Child With Cerebral Palsy
When you first came across the term cerebral palsy, as a parent of a child with cerebral palsy, confusion about the varying definitions can be overwhelming. The field of medicine seems particularly good at throwing out technical explanations of the sort that lack clarity, are complex and sometimes ambiguous. This kind of cerebral palsy information, because of the technical jargon, often leaves parents worried.

Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is a form of brain damage that affects the motor skills of children. It is a result of damage that occurs during pregnancy, at birth or within three years of age and there is no cure. This means that those suffering this debilitating condition will suffer its ill effects their entire lives.

Of Cerebral Palsy
Athetoid cerebral palsy makes up about ten percent of the entire cerebral palsy cases in the world. It is generally caused by damage to the cerebellum or basal ganglia section of the midbrain. The basal ganglia are responsible for maintaining coordinated and smooth movements and posture for the whole body.