Cerebral Palsy Africa (CPA)

Cerebral Palsy Africa (CPA) is a Scottish charity with a mission to help children with cerebral palsy develop and learn the skills to sit, stand, use their hands to be able themselves to make the most of life.
There is more on the CPA website

www.cerebralpalsyafrica.org

Training

Therapy

Training courses are organised to help therapists in Africa to assess and treat the children with different types of cerebral palsy and therefore, different needs.


Equipment

Children learning new skills such as holding their heads, sitting or standing need skilful positioning and the equipment to provide this while at home.

So another aim of CPA is to assist programmes already providing services for families and children with cerebral palsy to make the equipment needed.

Training is given to technicians to make special chairs and standing frames using locally available materials.

Recycling cardboard using Appropriate Paper-based Technology (APT) techniques is cost-effective and the versatility of the methods means that curved backs and other special adaptations can be made.

The small APT chair shown is for measuring children. It shows a removable curved back and footrest. Adaptations such as straps and pelvic support can be added according to needs of each child

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy is for life

Yes for life
Yes for Living

It is different for everyone but as an experienced sage said

'There is no cure; if you have it you have it for life. That's not to say that nothing can be done to help. There are very wide differences in the type and damage caused. In my case I was fortunate that the effects were quite mild, with only slight erratic movements, and some involuntary movements of facial features. This does not affect me, other people yes, but not me'.

So what did he do? He got on with life and overcoming any challenges himself but also went on to help others with cerebral palsy. He was a very good 'overcomer' and helped people make equipment and unique everyday living assistive devices themselves.

He died this year, full of years and experiences.

This blog is simply about experiences in making furniture and assistive equipment for children with cerebral palsy and tying to help others do this in Africa.

So I hope this blog will be a tribute to Pete and all those who overome problems with attitude and with everyday living!

ps. If you are interested to read more about him see Pete's page: http://www.peoplepotential.org.uk/page10.htm