Debra,

As a 5th grade teacher myself, with spastic cp, I can echo what everyone
else has already said.  I'd like to also add to the other comments that you
may need to tell teachers that they are going to have to push these cp kids
a bit to get out of their comfort zone and try things they would often be
told they "can't do" by others.  I so wish that I had been pushed to
participate in sports in gym class so I could at least understand the game,
if not play well.  Sometimes because CP kids (or other disabled kids, too)
are overprotected or babied at home, they need to learn how to take risks -
physically, socially, academically.

Hope this helps your inservice.  I'd imagine people won't be too open about
their thoughts on the topic.  Good luck!

Linda
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dufour, Deb RQHR (by way of Deri James
<[log in to unmask]>)" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, January 24, 2005 9:08 PM
Subject: School Inservice


> Hi there,
> I am an occupational therapist doing an inservice next week for school
> staff
> (teachers and assistants) on working with children with Cerebral Palsy.
> One
> of the discussion points will be myths or misconceptions about children
> with
> Cerebral Palsy.  I have heard of a few from co-workers that school staff
> have had about children with CP (ie. they can't go outside because the
> cold
> air will make them more 'spastic').
>
> I was wondering if you have ever experienced difficulties with school
> staff
> having misconceptions about your child (ren) with Cerebral Palsy?  Could
> you
> share?  I would love some more ideas to go with for the inservice, without
> having to pull teeth to get them to admit what they believe or think about
> the children I work with.
>
> Thanks for any and all information shared!
> DEb
> Debra Dufour
> Occupational Therapist
> WRC - Children's Program
>