Category Archives: Cerebral Palsy

Two schoolboys - including one with cerebral palsy in a wheelchair - have been left fighting for their lives in hospital after a horrific blaze tore through a bungalow. The brothers, aged 10 and 13, were carried out of the burning building by firefighters . The younger boy with cerebral palsy was rescued in his wheelchair - while the older brother was trapped in the bathroom screaming according to witnesses before being given CPR by the fire crew. Neighbours say their mum managed to escape from the inferno - holding a baby and covered in ash - before telling onlookers: "I've got kids stuck in the house". The boys both suffered severe burns and are critically ill in Great Ormond Street Hospital, London. Witness Wayne Regan said: I saw the whole thing, I saw children being carried out, it was horrible. The fire was raging and the mum was out on the street in her dressing gown. I just heard screaming from the back and went out, smoke and flames were pouring out the front door. We smashed the window and the older one was shouting and screaming, he was just hiding in the toilet. The firemen pulled him out … Continue reading →

UNIVERSAL DESIGN: Design students were charged with weaving the theme of fashion and innovation into their pieces for the Cerebral Palsy Foundations Design for Disability Gala. The event, scheduled for May 16, has Derek Lam serving as the evenings official host and honorary chair. Lam also served as mentor to students from the Fashion Institute of Technology, The New SchoolsParsons School of Design and School of Visual Arts for a fashion show component to the evening. Honorees at the gala include ABC Networks Speechless for the Goldenson-Arbus Vanguard Media Award, Microsoft for the Global Empowerment Award and Nike for fashion innovation specifically for its FlyEase shoe. Dereks involvement has been wonderful, both enlightening andinspiring, said Cerebral Palsy Foundation chief executive officer Richard Ellenson. As students have wrestled with complex functional issues, he has not only shown an appreciation for their insights as to making fashion accessible, he has been unerring in helping guide them toward the creation of cohesive and affecting collections. Its been a treat for all of us to experience firsthand his thoughts on fabric selection, workmanship and the power of fashion. Lam became acquainted with the organizations Design for Disability program through Domenico de Sole, chairman at … Continue reading →

ST. PETERSBURG Greg Simony finished the sprint division of the St. Anthony's Triathlon in 1 hour, 42 minutes, 38 seconds Sunday, but throughout the race he was "attached." In each of the swimming, biking and running phases, Simony was either pulling or pushing a participant from the Sarasota area with cerebral palsy. In the 750-meter swim, Simony pulled along Kelly Marsh in a specifically designed raft. In the 20-kilometer bike ride, Simony pulled Nadia McKinnon in an oversized stroller hooked to his bike. And on the 10K run, he pushed Jeff Park in the same stroller that easily transitioned in the transition area. For Simony, 38, this was nothing new. Since 2010, he has helped dozens of people with disabilities experience races through the organization he founded, Care2Tri ( care2tri.org). "I wanted to do something that challenged me and that was bigger than me," Simony said. "In this case, when you take the focus off yourself, you end up helping others." Simony plans to push and pull many others through more races, but he also hopes to host a race featuring only entrants with disabilities or runners attached to people with disabilities. "It's in the works," he said. Wind whips … Continue reading →

West Michigan Under Armour ad Gordon Beedle, WZZM 11:21 PM. EDT April 28, 2017 The ad, shows him working out and preparing for races, and at the same time, it also show Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps training. (Photo: Custom) GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. - He's known for his battle against cerebral palsy and now he is teamed up with Under Armour hoping to inspire more. Johnny Agar from West Michigan and his father Jeff compete in marathons and Ironman competitions. Friday, during the firstinning of the Tigers game on Fox Sports Detroit a commercial aired that featured Johnny. The ad, shows him working out and preparing for races, and at the same time, it also shows Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps training. Johnny was inspired by an older Under Armour ad that stared Phelps; and Johnny's mom created a version of the ad to motivate Johnny with footage of him training at Aquinas College. Under Armour saw this and decided to make the ad for Johnny and air it. The family surprised Johnny with the news Friday night at the Knickerbocker and a watch party was held for Johnny. Makeit easy to keep up to date with more stories like this.Download theWZZM13 … Continue reading →

A Toronto man with cerebral palsy is accusing Passport Canada of failing to accommodate him afteran attendant refused to help him fill in his renewal form. Andrew Gurza, a disability awareness consultant and wheelchair user, saidhe asked an agent Wednesday at the passport office on Victoria Street to assist him with the form. Gurzasaidhe cannot write on his ownanddoesn't own a printerbecause he lacks the physical ability to use one, sohebooked a 45-minute Wheel-Trans ride to the downtown office. "I assumed that an agent there would assist me When it came to my turn, I rolled up and just said, 'Hi, I'd like to renew my passport and I'm going to need some assistance with doing that,'" said Gurza. That's when he learned Passport Canada staff don't provide that kind of service. "He goes, 'Well you're going to need to find someone to help you.' And I looked around and I thought, 'Who am I going to ask? A stranger in the passport office?'" Gurza said he was handed a paper form and took it home another 45-minute ride. Passport Canada did not respond to CBC Toronto's inquiries about Gurza's story. Hiscase comes just weeks after another Ontario resident's experience … Continue reading →

Young N. Idaho inventors adapt car for child with cerebral palsy Taylor Viydo , KREM 7:44 PM. PDT April 26, 2017 COEUR DALENE, Idaho -- A group of Coeur dAlene young inventors are being honored for a project they created to help a friend with special needs. They modified a small battery powered car so that a boy with cerebral palsy could ride in it. The children are between the ages of eight and 12. After weeks of work, Barrett Limtiaco received a set of custom power wheels. The ride is thanks to some young inventors like Jonathan Stowe. Barrett has cerebral palsy and trying to drive the car is not easy. We were trying to design it to where he can control it with other parts of his body that he has more control over," said Stowe. A dozen home schooled students, who take a class at Gizmo CDA, stepped up. They contacted Barrett's family with an idea: a custom, Star Wars themed ride. The Gizmo CDA team changed the car so that it could be remote controlled. They made other changes, like adding magnets to the steering wheel to help Barrett hang on. The team also added a … Continue reading →

A football coach who has cerebral palsy has crossed the finish line of the London Marathon after five days walking. Patrick Barden, 24, took on the challenge, which started on Sunday, April 23, for a charity which helped him when he was a youngster. Patrick, pictured here, tackled the 26-mile route using his walking frame, walking between five and six miles each day. Patrick should finish the 26 mile course this afternoon. He wanted to raise money for a charity which, he says, taught him everything. He went to conductive education sessions at the former, Cerebral Palsy Care (CPC) charity which used to be based in Cliffe Woods. The charity closed down several years ago but its founder Rod Black set up a new charity to help children and adults with cerebral palsy and other motor difficulties, Step and Learn, based in Frindsbury. Patrick Barden, who has cerebral palsy, training for the London Marathon Mr Barden, who lives with his parents, Lisa and Colin in Shorne, decided he should give something back to the cause. He said: The CPC charity taught me to do everything. It gave me every opportunity to succeed and achieve things I never thought possible. I … Continue reading →

Young N. Idaho inventors adapt car for child with cerebral palsy Taylor Viydo , KREM 6:48 AM. MDT April 27, 2017 COEUR DALENE, Idaho -- A group of Coeur dAlene young inventors are being honored for a project they created to help a friend with special needs. They modified a small battery powered car so that a boy with cerebral palsy could ride in it. The children are between the ages of eight and 12. After weeks of work, Barrett Limtiaco received a set of custom power wheels. The ride is thanks to some young inventors like Jonathan Stowe. Barrett has cerebral palsy and trying to drive the car is not easy. We were trying to design it to where he can control it with other parts of his body that he has more control over," said Stowe. A dozen home schooled students, who take a class at Gizmo CDA, stepped up. They contacted Barrett's family with an idea: a custom, Star Wars themed ride. The Gizmo CDA team changed the car so that it could be remote controlled. They made other changes, like adding magnets to the steering wheel to help Barrett hang on. The team also added a … Continue reading →

Pat has raised over 3,000 Picture: Twitter/@PaddyB08) An man with cerebral palsy still walking the London marathon has been hailed an inspiration. Patrick Barden, 24, has been steadily walking the course since he started on Sunday, doing around five miles each day with the help of a frame. Covering 26.2 miles is enough of a challenge without a disability, but its even harder when you have problems with mobility and balance. Slowly but surely I am making my way around, Pat said, posting photos on Twitter. I know it will be tough and because of my CP its important for me to continue walking so that my muscles dont seize up, Pat said on his fundraising page. Also, my energy stores deplete quicker, so lots of cake is needed! But at the end of the day its a marathon, everyone finds them tough and Im not one to give in easily! Hehad some company on the route from another competitor still going, Tom Harrison AKA Mr Gorilla who described meeting him as yesterdays highlight. Pat, from Shorne in Kent, has been working with a personal trainer since November to prepare for the challenge. He passed his driving test first time, … Continue reading →

On bad days, Kara Zartler slams her fist into her face 3,000 times. Over and over, uncontrollably inflicting pain on herself. Three. Thousand. Times. Kara, 17, suffers from cerebral palsy, and autism. By the age of 4, she exhibitedself-injurious behavior and by the time she reached 6, the self-abuse became a daily occurrence. Her parents, Mark and Christy Zartler,tried everything to provide relief for their daughter, a twin whose sister is healthy. They tried antipsychotics. enzymes and sleep aids nothing the doctors prescribed failed to put an end to the misery. Until one day, Marks beer-drinking neighbor buddy threw out the idea: Why not try medical marijuana? We were truly at a crossroads, Mark told The Fresh Toast. We live in Richardson, Texas (a suburb north of Dallas) and we knew it was illegal. But we felt there was no other choice. For Mark and Christy, desperate times called for desperate measures. My neighbor gave me a pot brownie to give to Kara. I am not really a regular user of marijuana, but I had tried it a little in college. Still, giving it to my child was something Christy and I debated. But it worked instantly. Karastopped hitting herself.She … Continue reading →