Traditional vs. Special Education for Children with Cerebral Palsy

By John Lehman

Every parent wants their child to have a well-rounded education, and parents of children with cerebral palsy are no different. However, it can be difficult deciding what educational environment will best suit the needs of a child with CP. Some parents find that a special education program, with specially trained instructors, is the best environment for their child. Other children with cerebral palsy benefit more from attending a mainstream school. Of course, every child with cerebral palsy is different, and each option has its advantages and disadvantages.

Mainstream School

This type of school is best suited for children whose cerebral palsy is considered mild, and works best earlier in the child’s education rather than later. Some parents feel that a child with cerebral palsy learns social skills and grows emotionally in a mainstream educational environment. By interacting with non-disabled children, proponents of this option suggest that children with cerebral palsy will learn routine, everyday practices faster. Including children with cerebral palsy in a mainstream school can also be beneficial for non-disabled children, who can learn to develop empathy towards those who are different from them.

Usually, parents and teachers will develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP) to ensure that a child’s needs are attended to. During your child’s schooling years, they may receive physical therapy, speech therapy and special considerations during certain classes. For example, physical educational requirements will likely be different for your child than other children, depending on the severity of their cerebral palsy. These specialized programs can also be beneficial if your child has developed learning disabilities as a result of cerebral palsy.

Special Education

This kind of educational environment is great for children whose cerebral palsy is severe. Unlike mainstream school, a special education system will often have instructors specifically trained to teach a variety of children with disabilities, including those with cerebral palsy. In a special school program, the school’s curriculum is tailored directly to each child’s needs, eliminating the worry that a mainstream school might move too fast for your child.

That is not to say that a child with severe cerebral palsy cannot utilize classes offered by a mainstream program. In fact, many disabled children in a special education program will take art or musical classes at a mainstream school while receiving math, writing and other common classes at their special school program.  Depending on the severity of their condition, some children may receive special education for only specific subjects and use a mainstream school for the majority of their education.

When deciding which educational environment is appropriate for your child, it is important to know that you are not alone. Your child’s teachers, doctors and therapists are all available to assist you and your child as best they can. By working together, you can ensure that your child receives the educational support they need.

Resources:

Education & Society – Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy World – Education

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Finding Justice for Bailey

By Terresa Gaither

Mothers’ Day will always be a mixture of joy and sorrow for me. My son, Bailey, was born on this day, May 9, 1999, and I’ve been blessed by his existence every day for 13 years.
It was also the holiday that my doctors and nurses delayed too long in delivering Bailey, resulting in brain damage.
For a long time I blamed myself and God. I kept asking, “Why me?” Then, a very special person in my life told me that God gives special babies to special people. I feel honored to be the mother of a child with disabilities.
I ended up filing a lawsuit over Bailey’s birth. According to my suit, my doctor and nurses were negligent in continuing to give me larger and larger doses of Pitocin (a drug to induce labor), even though Bailey was showing signs of fetal distress. As a result, Bailey suffered “severe and permanent neurological damage,” by the time he was born, my lawsuit notes.
The doctor used a vacuum extractor to deliver Bailey, who weighed 8 pounds 15 ounces and was 21 inches long. I suffered major blood loss and third degree vaginal tears, which required surgical repairs, my suit documents.
According to my attorneys, the doctor should have come to the hospital sooner and delivered Bailey by C-section.

Normal Pregnancy Turns into Nightmare

Bailey was immediately transferred to the NICU at another hospital nearly 60 miles away. I remember before he left, getting to see him for 5 minutes, long enough to tell him I loved him. I wasn’t even able to touch him. You can’t imagine how hard it is to lay in a hospital bed while your son is in another hospital over an hour away fighting for his life.

Specialist Raises Questions About the Birth

Since that day, my husband, David, and I have had to fight for Bailey, who has mixed spastic dynostic cerebral palsy. He cannot speak, walk, sit up or feed himself.
The diagnosis took a year and a half and came from a specialist at a larger hospital near our small town in Alabama. He looked through Bailey’s medical records and, after telling us Bailey would always need specialized care, asked us if we had thought about getting an attorney.
We discussed his question all the way home and we made a decision together to start pulling Bailey’s medical records. It took me three months just to get the records from the hospital and the medical practice.

Persistence Leads to Janet, Jenner & Suggs

The first law firm we contacted kept our files for two years before saying they weren’t equipped to handle the case and that there wasn’t any negligence. The second law firm concluded the case was too big for them to handle, but advised us to keep pursuing legal action.  
At this time, we felt like giving up. It was my mom who wouldn’t let us, encouraging us to push forward.
While researching a special education class for Bailey on the Web, an advertisement for Janet Jenner and Suggs’ law firm caught my eye. I filled out the short contact form and within two weeks, a nurse called and asked me detailed questions. The firm took the case.
Because of a confidentiality agreement, I can’t disclose what happened with the case. But, I can tell you it was a long, drawn out process. But JJ&S attorneys kept us in the loop and assured us every step of the way.
Ken Suggs wasn’t just our attorney, he became our friend. We could tell he really cared about Bailey and we feel honored to have this remarkable attorney in our son’s corner. He’s the kind of attorney who is passionate about speaking for the kids who can’t speak for themselves.
About our case, Ken said, “It was obvious from looking at the medical records that standards of care weren’t followed. Typical of these cases, it wasn’t a single mistake, but a series of missteps and miscommunications that led to the outcome. The firm connected the dots, using the medical and legal expertise it is known for. Bailey and his family have a special place in my life, and always will.”

Bailey is the Joy of Our Lives

Bailey loves to go to school, play outside and spend summers on the lake. But what he enjoys the most is spending time with his brother, Cody, and his grandpa, Wes. He’s just a regular boy trapped in a body that doesn’t allow him to do the things he wants.
No matter what kind of a day we’ve had, Bailey can always make it better just by smiling. He is the joy of our lives.

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Nations Capital Again Falls Short of Meeting Federal Special Education Goals

For the sixth consecutive year, the District of Columbia has fallen short of meeting federal special education goals, the worst record of any state in the country, according to the latest annual state ratings from the U.S. Department of Education.  If they can't get it right in their own backyard, is there any hope for the rest of us?

http://www.cpfamilynetwork.org/in-the-news/nations-capital-again-falls-short-of-meeting-federal-special-education-goals