Hello, My name is Anthony and I'm from North Dakota.  I'm 25 with
Cerebral Palsy, and use a power chair and a communication device with
voice output to communicate with.  I have to agree with Kenneth, I find
it hard to believe that they don't diagnose a lot sooner, so you can
begin the right therapies and educational planning instead of going in
the dark with everything you do.  I was diagnosed right around my 1st
birthday (give or take a few months), but however my parents started
noticing motor problems with me around 8 months old, so they began
consulting doctors and other specialists.  One of the things I think
made my diagnosing process so successful (according to me), is I have
parents who have always cooperated fully with my doctors, therapists and
other specialists.  Sure, there have been some disagreements over the
years on somethings, but you don't want to call WAR on everything you
disagree on, or nothing would get done effectively in the rehabilitation
part.  After they learned that my parents would cooperate with them but
still wanted the very best for me, I think they tried harder, which in
the end made a very independent adult, because I work and live
independently with limited supports, which has surprised everybody.  The
first step I would suggest doing is taking the child to the doctor to
get a referral to a rehabilitation specialist.  There's nothing wrong
with going to 2 or 3 doctors to get a diagnosis.  Again, the keyword is
"cooperation" and another is "respect", and your child will go a long
way.

Thanks,
Anthony

Visit me at http://www.ara1.net/

-----Original Message-----
From: St. John's University Cerebral Palsy List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Barber, Kenneth L.
Sent: Friday, August 23, 2002 9:39 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Sites About CP

One thing, I think usually a diagnosis for cp is normally made early in
a
child's life. For a 8 year old not to have a diagnosis is quite unusual.
Anyway these sites will have good information and might be very useful.

-----Original Message-----
From: Kathy Salkin [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, August 23, 2002 9:53 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Sites About CP

A list of links with information about CP.  If you need any
clarification
about information on a particular site, I suggest you email the site's
author
or its webmaster.

SCOPE:
http://www.scope.org.uk/

UCP:
http://www.ucpa.org/

OFCP (Ontario Foundation for CP):
http://www.ofcp.on.ca/

Bobath Centre (for CP):
http://www.bobath.org.uk/

All of these can, and do, give you general information on CP, and how
the
diagnois is made.

A few caveats:

1) These are starting points.  You need to be talking to your child's
doctor
as well as reading up as much as you can.

2) CP is NOT a disease, it's a condition resulting from injury to the
part
of
the brain that controls muscles.  CP in itself doesn't get worse but it
can
affect the aging process (as we older CPs on this list know all too
well).

3) The affects of CP are very individualistic;  no two CPs are affected
exactly the same way.  Yes, there are general types that you will learn
of,
and many CPs have multiple disabilities, but it can affect two persons
in
completely different ways.

4) CP seems to be getting diagnosed later these days; it used to be that
it
was diagnosed at the time of birth or very early in childhood.  This is
likekly the result of more advanced neurological diagnostic tools such
as
MRI's.

Keep on asking questions if need be.  I'll try to answer as much as I
can
with
my work and time restraints.

Kat