Teachers can be great allies in keeping your child with cerebral palsy safe and successful in school, but you'll need to make sure they have all the knowledge they need to help. Use these suggestions to create a information packet to bring educators up to speed.
Five Things Teachers Need to Know
1. Please be mindful of things in your classroom or school that present mobility problems for my child. Remove or rearrange anything that might keep her from getting around safely and easily.
2. Assistive technology can make a big difference for my child. If there is something he needs that you're having trouble obtaining, let me know so that I can help you get it.
3. It's okay to let my child's classmates know about her condition as long as it is done in an appropriate way; I'd be happy to help prepare a program.
4. My child has a serious health condition, but he is still a child with ordinary interests and hope and dreams. Please help us keep his life as normal as possible.
5. Please keep the lines of communication open between our home and the school. My child needs all the adults in her life working together.
Printouts to Share with Teachers
Cerebral Palsy: What the Teacher Should Know
Source: Government of British Columbia Ministry of Education
Cerebral Palsy - A Guide for Teachers (download)
Source: SCOPE
Tips for Gym Teachers
Source: Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance
Assistive Technology Checklist
Source: United Cerebral Palsy
Accommodating Students with Cerebral Palsy (download)
Source: Job Accommodation Network
