Children with severe cerebral palsy (CP) often develop progressive scoliosis, or abnormal spinal curvature. Scoliosis causes a variety of health issues, such as problems with balance while sitting, pain, and complications affecting function of the lungs, heart, and gastrointestinal system. Spinal fusion surgery has been considered standard of care for children whose scoliosis cannot be…
We are excited to introduce a new regular column: Disability Non-Profit of the Month. There are many fantastic non-profits serving those with disabilities, and these organizations often do not get the recognition they deserve. Moreover, the people who could benefit most from their services may not even know they exist. We hope that this series…
Until recently, wearable robotic devices that could enhance a user’s physical abilities were largely the stuff of science fiction. Real-life prototypes existed, but were too costly, cumbersome, and uncomfortable for “practical,” everyday use. However, new research hints at an imminent revolution in the design of robotic exoskeletons and other devices. Here, we review two studies…
The GLAAD “Where We Are on TV” Report for 2016-2017 offered a report on the inclusion of characters with disabilities on primetime television. In 2016, the percentage of series regulars with disabilities on primetime television rose to 1.7%, which is the highest percentage it has been since GLAAD began the count of characters with disabilities…
At ABC Law Centers, we’re always on the lookout for opportunities to get out in the community and see how individual programs for kids with disabilities are run. We like to recommend local programs to our clients, and, this past October, we had the opportunity to help volunteer at the Miracle League of Michigan. It’s…
A 2013 Australian study found that grey matter injury was the second most common in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) patterns for children with cerebral palsy. The severity and location of grey matter injury correlated with a classification system of cerebral palsy known as the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). In this study, severe grey…
According to the Journal of Patient Safety, preventable medical errors cause at least 210,000 deaths per year. Medical errors are the third leading cause of death in America, behind heart disease and cancer. Unfortunately, mistakes made in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) represent a significant part of those numbers. The Archives of Disease in…
Cerebral palsy treatment: Little boy has Achilles lengthening surgery to help contractures caused by spastic cerebral palsy and takes his first steps.
