Cerebral palsy refers to a group of disorders that affect muscle movement and coordination. In many cases, vision, hearing, and sensation are also affected. The word “cerebral” means having to do with the brain.
Cerebral Palsy is the most common motor disability in childhood. In Singapore, as said by CPAS’ chairman, Dr Kevin Lim, there is no official database of people with cerebral palsy for researchers or welfare groups to draw on. Researchers or welfare organisations can only estimate the number of people with cerebral palsy in Singapore (Sen, 2017). Based on international estimates and not empirical data, 3 out of every thousand people have cerebral palsy (Sen, 2017). CPAS, which is known as the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore, was established to provide early intervention, special education, rehabilitation services, day activity centre programmes, vocational training and gainful employment to persons with Cerebral Palsy and multiple disabilities in Singapore. As of now, CPAS currently serves 700 clients aged between a few months and 55 years.
According to estimates from CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, approximately 1 in 323 children has been identified with Cerebral Palsy. Population-based studies from around the world report prevalence estimates of CP ranging from 1.5 to more than 4 per 1000 live births or children of a defined age range.
Advocacy is vital for persons with cerebral palsy as the well-being of the child and family will be kept at the forefront. Not only that, advocacy highlights services that are available to the public and enhances the impact of individual efforts (Emerson, Houtrow, Sholas, & Adams).
Characteristics, Issues and Challenges faced by Children with Cerebral Palsy 