Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Parents' Guide

Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Parents’ Guide provides an excellent overview of every imaginable issue related to raising a child who has cerebral palsy. The book is written in simple, easy-to-understand language for readers who may not have a medical background. The authors also recognize that parents may experience frustration, anger, and shock upon learning that their child has cerebral palsy, and they provide suggestions to navigate these emotions.


The book serves as a roadmap for the parent whose child has just been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Subjects ranging from treatments to emotional adjustments to special education are covered. Each chapter is written by an expert in the area. In addition to a wealth of information, the book provides a glossary, resource directory, reading list and list of equipment providers.


However, as a roadmap, the book only provides the basics. While it provides detailed information about traditional treatment, such as physical therapy, other treatments in which there is tremendous parental interest such as Botox, Baclofen, and Conductive Education, are only described briefly. Further, the book offers too few of the personal stories which can provide hope or insight into treatments or ways to accommodate disability. Even without stories however, this book is an excellent resource for parents whose children have recently been diagnosed with cerebral palsy.


Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Parents’ Guide. Second Edition. Edited by Elaine Geralis. Woodbine House, 1998. $16.95.


Updated: 08/03/2010