Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition that affects the individual, family, and immediate community. Therefore, the goal of allowing the individual with cerebral palsy to live life with the least impact of the disability requires c- plex attention to the individual and the family. Furthermore, society needs to be sensitive and to accommodate individuals with disabilities by limiting architectural impediments and providing accessible public transportation and communication. The educational system provides the key means for helping the individual prepare to function in society to his or her maximum ability. In many ways, the medical care system probably has the least sign- icant role in preparing the child with cerebral palsy to function optimally in society. However, the medical care system is the place where parents first learn that their child has developmental issues outside the expected norm. It is almost universally the place where parents also expect the child to be made normal in our modern society. In earlier times, the parents would expect healing to possibly come from the doctor, but also they would place hope for healing in religion. As this belief in spiritual or miraculous healing has - creased, a significant font of hope has decreased for parents of young ch- dren with disabilities.


Freeman Miller, MD Co-Director Cerebral Palsy ProgramAI DuPont Hospital for ChildrenWilmington, DE Steven Bachrach, MD Co-Director Cerebral Palsy ProgramAI DuPont Hospital for ChildrenWilmington, DENancy Lennon, PT Cerebral Palsy Program Manager AI DuPont Hospital for ChildrenWilmington, DE Margaret E. O’Neil, PT, PhD, MPHProfessorColumbia University Medical CenterDepartment of Rehabilitation and Regenerative MedcinePrograms in Physical TherapyNew York, NYDr. Freeman Miller is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon with special expertise in neuro-orthopedics. He’s past president of North American Society of Gait & Clinical Movement Analysis; past editor-in-chief, Gait and Posture; guest lecturer at hundreds of national and international events; and author of 145 articles in peer-reviewed journals.