Understanding cerebral palsy as disability

NAGPUR: Though not completely attainable, prevention still remains the best solution in tackling the increasing incidence of cerebral palsy (CP), a disability that is fast affecting almost 3% of the population. Identifying only the preventable reasons of the disease and thus eliminating them can reduce the agony of parents of CP children and the affected individuals.
The best step in this direction, experts feel, is women empowerment and a completely stress-free pregnancy. Stress and societal pressure of having a male child has emerged as one of the major causes of the disease in recent times. But this is a long drawn process which would be possible with attitudinal change in society in general and parents in particular. "Anti-natal care, stress free pregnancy and change in society's line of thinking, all put together can act as tools for a positive transformation that can minimize CP prevalence," opined Dr G Shashikala, the national general secretary of Indian Academy of Cerebral Palsy from city and a mother of a CP son who proved to be a successful person in life. The academy is organizing a three-day event for CP children beginning on Saturday. The event will conclude on CP day on October 3.
Dr Shashikala said, "Stress is the biggest damaging factor to the brain of an unborn child. Parents as well the in-laws need to look after their daughters well. But this care goes much beyond the medical solutions. Issues like forced pregnancies, unwanted pregnancies and insistence of having a male child by mothers themselves and society at large are some factors which too need to be addressed. Most women today are under huge stress thanks to the competitive environment at work place, peer pressure, social pressure which increases the risk of a baby suffering from CP."
However, Dr Shashikala looks at disability with a different angle. "Disability is as much a fact of life as ability. So why not take disability in its stride. Parents should not assume that right to education and job guarantee could solve all problems associated with this disability. Parents need to understand the limited ability of such individuals and help them cope up with it. Every parent has a right to dream best for the ward. But they need to differentiate between disability and disease."
Demanding optimality and not normality by parents also can reduce the physical and mental trauma that comes with the CP disability, Dr Shashikala insisted. Falling in line, Modern School, Koradi branch, principal Neeru Kapai said, "Schools do have a role to play in supporting such individuals. But it requires expert medical guidance and training to teachers. The abilities of CP children vary widely from child to child depending on their comprehension and adaptability levels. But they definitely require attention and care."