World Cerebral Palsy Day – Awareness

World Cerebral Palsy Day is celebrated annually on October 6. Cerebral palsy: what is it? Can it be cured? What distinguishes kids with cerebral palsy from other kids? What daily challenges do people with cerebral palsy confront on the social, physical, and emotional fronts? Answers are provided by Manjusha Singh, special educator and coordinator, Cerebral Palsy Association of India, Mumbai.

World Cerebral Palsy Day

India’s Cerebral Palsy Association

Since 1968, the Cerebral Palsy Association of India (CPAI) has advocated for those who have the condition. Along with persons with cerebral palsy, they also serve those who are intellectually and physically challenged, have autism, are partially sighted, or have hearing loss.

Manjusha Singh is a special educator and the director of the Mumbai-based Cerebral Palsy Association of India.

Manjusha stated in regards to the same, “We have folks at our centre ranging in age from 9 months to 72 years. Throughout the year, we provide corrective training, treatments, and pre-vocational activities including teaching people how to make jewellery, envelopes, paper bags, chocolates, diyas, and rangolis. On special occasions like Diwali and others, we host displays of their handmade goods. In addition, we provide adult yoga treatment, music therapy, and dance therapy.

Describe cerebral palsy

“Cerebral palsy is a birth defect. This insufficient oxygenation of the developing child’s brain during pregnancy or birth has a fundamental cause. The special educator who has worked in this field for the past 28 years said that it can also result from high dose medications and possibly if the mother is really old, like over 45.
“Cerebral palsy cannot be permanently cured. They can only live a normal life with training, counselling, and special schooling, she added.

Any form of handicap is sometimes stigmatised and treated differently in our society by being referred to as “paagal” (crazy). Children with cerebral palsy frequently experience bullying from typical classmates in schools that do not accept them, and sadly, some teachers also show bias toward them. No matter how hard the government works to accept and integrate them into society, this is merely a verbal commitment. They don’t need sympathy; we should treat them equally. They need respect, not sympathy. They are extremely sensitive and wounded when discrimination occurs, despite not having any mental disabilities. They comprehend everything and are as common as we are. Mind-body coordination is the one thing that keeps them back.

Any form of handicap is sometimes stigmatised and treated differently in our society by being referred to as “paagal” (crazy). Children with cerebral palsy frequently experience bullying from typical classmates in schools that do not accept them, and sadly, some teachers also show bias toward them. No matter how hard the government works to accept and integrate them into society, this is merely a verbal commitment. They don’t need sympathy; we should treat them equally. They need respect, not sympathy. They are extremely sensitive and wounded when discrimination occurs, despite not having any mental disabilities. They comprehend everything and are as common as we are. Mind-body coordination is the one thing that keeps them back.