The term cerebral palsy refers to any one of a number of neurological disorders that appear in infancy or early childhood and permanently affect body movement and muscle coordination but don’t worsen over time. Even though cerebral palsy affects muscle movement, it isn’t caused by problems in the muscles or nerves.  It is caused by abnormalities in parts of the brain that control muscle movements.  The majority of children with cerebral palsy are born with it, although it may not be detected until months or years later. The early signs of cerebral palsy usually appear before a child reaches 3 years of age.  The most common are a lack of muscle coordination when performing voluntary movements (ataxia); stiff or tight muscles and exaggerated reflexes (spasticity); walking with one foot or leg dragging; walking on the toes, a crouched gait, or a “scissored” gait; and muscle tone that is either too stiff or too floppy.  A small number of children have cerebral palsy as the result of brain damage in the first few months or years of life, brain infections such as bacterial meningitis or viral encephalitis, or head injury from a motor vehicle accident, a fall, or child abuse. Cerebral palsy can’t be cured, but treatment will often improve a child's capabilities.   Many children go on to enjoy near-normal adult lives if their disabilities are properly managed. In general, the earlier treatment begins the better chance children have of overcoming developmental disabilities or learning new ways to accomplish the tasks that challenge them.   Treatment may include physical and occupational therapy, speech therapy, drugs to control seizures, relax muscle spasms, and alleviate pain; surgery to correct anatomical abnormalities or release tight muscles; braces and other orthotic devices; wheelchairs and rolling walkers; and communication aids such as computers with attached voice synthesizers.  Cerebral palsy doesn’t always cause profound disabilities.   While one child with severe cerebral palsy might be unable to walk and need extensive, lifelong care, another with mild cerebral palsy might be only slightly awkward and require no special assistance. Supportive treatments, medications, and surgery can help many individuals improve their motor skills and ability to communicate with the world. Researchers are investigating the roles of mishaps early in brain development, including genetic defects, which are sometimes responsible for the brain malformations and abnormalities that result in cerebral palsy. Scientists are also looking at traumatic events in newborn babies’ brains, such as bleeding, epileptic seizures, and breathing and circulation problems, which can cause the abnormal release of chemicals that trigger the kind of damage that causes cerebral palsy.  To make sure children are getting the right kinds of therapies, studies are also being done that evaluate both experimental treatments and treatments already in use so that physicians and parents have valid information to help them choose the best therapy. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=search&term=cerebral+palsy[majr]+AND+human[mh]+AND+english[la]+AND+(review[ptyp]+OR+review+literature[mh]+OR+practice+guideline[ptyp]+OR+guideline[ptyp]+OR+clinical+trials[mh]+OR+clinical+trial[ptyp]+OR+consumerj[sb])&db=PubMed&orig_db=PubMed&filters=on&pmfilter_EDatLimit=2+Years http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cerebralpalsy.html 1 http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term= /disorders/cerebral_palsy/pubs_cerebral_palsy.htm /disorders/cerebral_palsy/xml_cerebral_palsy.xml xml_cerebral_palsy.xml V57 United Cerebral Palsy (UCP)

1660 L Street, NW

Suite 700 Washington DC 20036 info@ucp.org http://www.ucp.org 202-776-0406 800-USA-5UCP (872-5827) 202-776-0414 Educates, advocates and provides support services to ensure a life without limits for people with a spectrum of disabilities. V125 Pathways Awareness

150 N. Michigan Avenue

Suite 2100 Chicago IL 60601 friends@pathwaysawareness.org http://www.pathwaysawareness.org 800-955-CHILD (2445) 312-893-6621 National non-profit organization trusted to assure the best for all babies' physical development by raising awareness about the gift of early detection, the promise of early therapy, and the benefits of tummy time. Trusted to assure the best for all babies physical development. V41 March of Dimes

1275 Mamaroneck Avenue

White Plains NY 10605 askus@marchofdimes.com http://www.marchofdimes.com 914-997-4488 888-MODIMES (663-4637) 914-428-8203 Works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality through programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy. V105 Easter Seals

233 South Wacker Drive

Suite 2400 Chicago IL 60606 info@easterseals.com http://www.easterseals.com 312-726-6200 800-221-6827 312-726-1494 Provides services to help children and adults with disabilities and/or special needs as well as support to their families. Supports the National AgrAbility Project, a program for farmers, ranchers, and farm workers with disabilities. V776 Children's Neurobiological Solutions (CNS) Foundation

1726 Franceschi Road

Santa Barbara CA 93103 info@cnsfoundation.org http://www.cnsfoundation.org 866-CNS-5580 (267-5580) 562- 331-0642 National, non-profit organization whose mission is to accelerate the development of brain repair therapies and cures by supporting cutting-edge collaborative research on brain damage due to childhood illness, injury, or any other cause. Provides information and resources for families and health care providers. V715 Children's Hemiplegia and Stroke Assocn. (CHASA)

4101 West Green Oaks Blvd., Ste. 305

PMB 149 Arlington TX 76016 info437@chasa.org http://www.chasa.org 817-492-4325 CHASA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and families affected by pediatric stroke and other causes of hemiplegia. Offers national family retreat, local family events and seminars, online support group, websites, fact sheets, clinical study information, and pediatric stroke awareness campaigns. V716 Cerebral Palsy International Research Foundation

186 Princeton Hightstown Road

Building 4, 2nd Floor Princeton Junction NJ 08550 cpirf@cpirf.org http://www.cpirf.org 609-452-1200 Dedicated to funding research and educational activities relevant to discovering cause, cure, and evidence based care for individuals with CP and related developmental disabilities. V55 Pedal-with-Pete Foundation [for Research on Cerebral Palsy]

P.O. Box 1233

Worthington OH 43085 pwp@pedal-with-pete.org http://www.pedal-with-pete.org 614-527-0202 330-673-1240 Nonprofit organization dedicated to raising money for research to improve the quality of life for those with cerebral palsy. Aim is to help in the fight for the prevention, treatment and cure of cerebral palsy.