Category Archives: Cerebral Palsy

Devon Berry wants to become the first differently abled player ever for TCU football. The TCU freshman has cerebral palsy, but still wrestled and played football in high school. In an interview with SB Nations Melissa Triebwasser, Berry said he wants to walk on at TCU this season. My motivation is to become the first differently abled football player, Berry said, and make history showing people that the word of God is true. Berrys story drew national attention last year after he was featured on ESPNs E:60. He first played high school football at Henderson High. When his family moved to Hampton, Ga., he made his high school team there too. From a feature by theAJCs Alexis Stevens: Devon was eager to play football his senior year at Hampton. But with a new coach, Devon had to prove again he could play. So he practiced right along with the other players, showing up at 6:45 a.m. for weight training and giving it his all. Hes one of the most optimistic kids youll ever meet, said Hampton Coach Chad Ashley. Hes done everything everyone else has done. Devon earned the right to wear jersey No. 62. Berry initially signed with Division-II … Continue reading →

INSIDE EDITION - Tim Tebow continues to stun in minor league baseball, but no matter how he performs on the field, he has become a favorite in fans' hearts. In yet another heartfelt moment, the player known for his Christian values joined Jillian Joyce, a fan with cerebral palsy, as she sang God Bless America prior to a game Saturday night. The moment came as Tebows team, the St. Lucie Mets, took on the Tampa Yankees both affiliated with the two New York professional clubs that bear the same names. Jillians mother, Lillian, told InsideEdition.com she was approached to sing at the Florida ballpark by the Yankees but her daughter is a fan of Tebow, and asked if he could join her in song. Since she was singing God Bless America, it was the perfect time to meet him," the proud mom said. "And he is the real deal. I mean, he came and met her before the game, and spent all the time she wanted speaking to her and we got great photos. He was just amazing. When she sang God Bless America, she asked him to come sing with her and he came and sang with her, which … Continue reading →

Insomnia and sleep apnea can lead to premature births, researchers report, a fact thataugments the prevalence of serious health-related issues in preterm babies, including cerebral palsy (CP). The study, Sleep Disorder Diagnosis During Pregnancy and Risk of Preterm Birth,was published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology. Premature births those that occur before the 37thweek of pregnancy are still a major problem worldwide. Pregnant women normally give birth at about 40 weeks. About 15 million premature babies are born in the worldevery year, and they are at increased risk of death from birth-related complications. Beyond cerebral palsy, preterm children can be born with developmental disabilities, hearing impairments, and other health problems, oftenbecause they havent fully developed in the womb. Sleep disorders like insomnia or sleep apnea have been suggested as being linked toanincreased risk of preterm birth. As a result, public health efforts have been working on better therapies for pregnant women with serious sleep disorders, as these could save babies lives while avoiding the use of medication. Now,an analysis of a large pool of three million pregnant women from 2007 to 2012 in California showed that better sleep can indeed minimize the number of premature births. Researchers analyzed anonymous records … Continue reading →

A teen with a disability, who made his own way out ofa homeless shelter and into university, is now up against a new challenge: he can't afford the student life. Benjamin Williamson says he'sshort $5,000 tocover hisremainingtuition andresidence costs at Carleton University, plusthousands more forliving expenses. Williamson, who has cerebral palsy,says the system is failing him, and says hefeels like he's drowning. "[It's like] continuously having tidalwaves that pound you," saidWilliamson. "The system is shattered. It's frustrating, it's exhausting, it's complicated." The university says it's tapped every award and bursary availableto help Williamson, but it's not enough. A concerned staff member is now raising moneyto try tohelp him out. Williamson is in one of the most expensive dorm rooms at Carleton University because he needs an accessible room with 24/7 on-call assistance. (Ashley Burke/CBC News) The 18-year-old's neurological disorder makes it difficult for him to walk, so he relies on an electric wheelchair to get around.He can't write because he lacks the fine motor skills, and he struggleswith chronic pain. Williamson hasno cognitive impairment, and excelledinhigh school. But because he has special needs, he was placedinto a program for students with developmental difficulties. Staying there meant he wouldn't graduate until … Continue reading →

Adam Ward and Mike Arsalides, CTV Barrie Published Monday, August 14, 2017 11:20AM EDT Last Updated Monday, August 14, 2017 6:38PM EDT Police want the publics help in locating a suspect who stole a toy car that belongs to a girl with cerebral palsy. A witness reported seeing a man and a young boy stealing the ride-on toy car from outside a home on Bourbon Circle in Barries southeast end on Saturday night. Barrie police say the boy was seen getting onto the car and driving away, while the man followed from behind. The suspect is described as a white man, 58 with a medium build. He was seen wearing a light blue t-shirt and long shorts. The boy he was with is believed to be between four and five years old. She is not able to walk on her own and requires a power wheelchair and to change it up a bit, we'd bought her an escalade so when her friends are riding their bikes, she can feel like she is doing something as well, says Denise Fogarty, Hilarys mother. For the last two days, she could only sit on her porch while her friends and younger brother played. … Continue reading →

NEWS RELEASE BARRIE POLICE SERVICE *************************UpdateTuesday, August 15, 2017 The Barrie Police Service has received numerous e-mails, direct messages and telephone calls from the residents of Barrie and the Greater Toronto Area, all wishing to purchase the victim a new ride-on toy car. With the assistance of social media and our media partners Toys R Us has offered to purchase a new ride-on toy for the little girl. The family is overwhelmed by the generosity and would like to thank everyone. The investigation is ongoing. Original release The Barrie Police Service is seeking the publics assistance to find and return a ride-on toy car that belongs to a 10-year-old girl with cerebral palsy. The toy car was stolen from outside a home on Bourbon Circle, Sunday night at 11:30 p.m. A witness reported seeing a male and a young boy drag the toy car away from the side of the home and onto the sidewalk. The child was then observed getting into the toy car and driving it away as the male followed. Any theft is unacceptable, and in this particular incident this theft leaves a 10-year-old girl with limited mobility. The car is not just a toy, it has … Continue reading →

In her book The Virginia State Colony For Epileptics And Feebleminded, poet Molly McCully Brown explores themes of disability, eugenics and faith. Kristin Teston/Persea hide caption In her book The Virginia State Colony For Epileptics And Feebleminded, poet Molly McCully Brown explores themes of disability, eugenics and faith. Growing up in southwestern Virginia in recent decades, poet Molly McCully Brown often passed by a state institution in Amherst County that was once known as the "Virginia State Colony for Epileptics and Feebleminded." Since 1983 the facility, which was founded in 1910, has been called the Central Virginia Training Center, and it is now a residential home for people with various intellectual disabilities. But in the early 20th century, the place Brown now refers to as "the colony" was part of the eugenics movement taking hold in the U.S., and a variety of treatments now considered inhumane were practiced there including forced sterilization. Brown, who has cerebral palsy, notes that had she been born in an earlier era, she might have been sent to live at the institution herself. "It is impossible to know that for sure," she says. "I can look at my life and look at my family and … Continue reading →

As the summer closes, our attention turns toward school. School bags, pencils, crayons and other school supplies are at the forefront of parents and students minds. When the student has a disability, however, there are many other aspects to think through and be prepared to handle. If you are a teacher with a student who has a disability, there are many suggestions that you can use not only to make you a successful teacher, but also help your student be more comfortable and ready to learn. The first step on your to-do list is to research the disability of the student. I sat through an entire individualized education plan (IEP) meeting once, and the mainstream teacher continued to say that the student had multiple sclerosis instead of cerebral palsy. Please avoid this embarrassment and do research. As you research, keep in mind that each student is an individual. So, you might know the facts about the disability, but each disability affects the person in unique ways. If your student uses a wheelchair or mobility device, it might be tempting to have him or her sit in the very front of class. Now its your time to be creative. Students who … Continue reading →

AN eight-year-old avid Elvis Presley fan with cerebral palsy was 'all shook up' after having a holiday at the home of his hero. Blackburn's Samuel Hosker has been on an 'absolutely fantastic' weeklong trip to Graceland, the former home of Elvis Presley in Memphis, Tennessee. An anonymous businessman paid for the child and his parents to enjoy the trip, who heard about Samuel's love of Elvis after his parents set up a now completed campaign to raise 30,000 for surgery not available on the NHS. The family even got to enjoy an extra day in America after a flight mix up meant they had an extra days stay paid for. Mother Michelle Hosker, 39, said their stay at the Guest House Hotel, which was located on the Graceland Estate, was 'amazing' for all of them. She said: "It was absolutely fantastic. "Samuel absolutely loved every minute of it. "He was singing along to all the songs. "Memphis is just Elvis mad, there is Elvis everywhere. "It was just perfect for Samuel, it was a dream come true." More than 60,000 has been raised in total for Samuel, who will now undergo an operation in September which will prevent him being … Continue reading →

Tim Tebow had another heartwarming moment Saturday, joining a fan with cerebral palsy as she sang "God Bless America." Tebow, who plays for the St. Lucie Mets, a minor league baseball team affiliated with the New York Mets, joined the fan during a game against the Tampa Yankees. "Moment of the night: fan w/ cerebral palsy sings God Bless America and asked Tebow to join her. This is what it's all about," Jason Woodell tweeted. While Tebow didn't join her in her rendition, his presence beside her was apparently all she needed. Tebow's latest act of kindness comesafter a video went viralshowing the ex-NFL quarterback forsaking practice swings prior to an at-bat to shake an autistic boys hand -- and followed it up with a monster three-run home run. Tebows three-run homer on July 29 lifted the St. Lucie Mets to a 10-3 victory over the Charlotte Stone Crabs. Tebow is hitting .238 with a .305 on-base percentage and five home runs for St. Lucie. He's hit eight home runs with two teams this season. Continued here: Tim Tebow joins fan with cerebral palsy as she sings 'God Bless America' - Fox News … Continue reading →