Raising Awareness for Adults with Cerebral Palsy
Have you ever been mindlessly scrolling through social media and came across an image or graphic that instantly gave you a negative vibe? It happened to me a few weeks ago. The graphic I saw said something to affect Cerebral Palsy Lives Matter. I thought, to myself, oh boy here we go with some political banter. I just rolled my eyes and kept scrolling. Normally, these things instantly leave my brain, This one … man it set up shop in my head like a nagging shoulder nudge.
I ended up going down a rabbit hole in my head. Yup, that’s always fun… haunted house fun!
March is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month. Therefore, considering my physical health these past 2 years. I felt it was a great soap box opportunity to address a significant issue concerning cerebral palsy, particularly here in Georgia: the lack of adequate expert medical care for adults who live with cerebral palsy (CP).
As an older adult with CP, I’m now experiencing changes to my physical abilities. This raises questions about whether these changes are due to simply aging, impact of CP on my body, or other factors. It’s challenging to distinguish between typical age-related issues and CP-related symptoms without proper medical guidance. Unfortunately, finding a doctor with this expertise is like finding a needle in a haystack.
Many assume that individuals with cerebral palsy have access to specialized doctors. Unfortunately, in Georgia, this is far from the truth for adults. Once someone with CP turns 18 or “ages out” at 22, finding doctors who understand the inner workings of the physical aspects of cerebral palsy becomes a significant challenge. Contrary to popular belief, the Cerebral Palsy Association for Georgia primarily focuses on children, not adults. If my 54 years serve me correctly, children who have cerebral palsy grow up to become adults. It’s similar to a parent raising their child and on their 18th birthday telling him/her to pack up their stuff and get out!
My recent personal experience, which I wrote about last month, has put a spotlight on this gap. It’s important to remember that cerebral palsy, by definition, involves an injury to the brain. “Cerebral” refers to the brain, and “palsy” refers to paralysis. Yet, CP is not classified as a brain injury, which limits access to many services available to individuals who have traumatic brain injuries.
We need to raise awareness and advocate for better care for adults with cerebral palsy. I’d like to invite you to join this important conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.
