Tag: Cerebral Palsy

CP-NET Community Profile: Amanda St. Dennis

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Amanda St. Dennis

Last spring, Bloom posted on Facebook about an upcoming CP-NET webinar on mental health in adolescents and young adults. Happy to see such an important topic being discussed and investigated, Amanda St. Dennis commented on the Facebook post to reiterate how important conversations around mental health are for young people. She wished more research had been done when she was younger and struggling with her mental health. 

Thinking that Amanda may have some useful insights, Bloom’s editor put her in contact with CP-NET. Not long after becoming a participant in the MyStory project, Amanda became a member of the CP-NET Stakeholder Advisory Committee and the Transition Hub. More recently, she became a co-investigator on the Youth Engagement in Research project. While she had not expected all of this to come from one comment on that Bloom Facebook post, Amanda is thrilled to be engaged in research, using her education, background, and experience to help others, particularly during the pandemic.

In June, Amanda graduated from Carleton University with a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Child Studies with a minor in Disability Studies. She also has over ten years of experience working with youth with disabilities as a personal support worker and camp counsellor at Easter Seal Ontario’s Merrywood Camp.

This is all in addition to being a woman with disabilities, including mild to moderate Spastic Right-side Hemiplegic CP, Non-verbal Learning Disorder, ADHD-combined type, and General Anxiety. As her father was a part of the military, Amanda grew up navigating the healthcare systems and services available in multiple locations throughout Manitoba, Ontario and the North West Territories, often struggling to access the care she needed and deserved.

As can be seen, Amanda has a wealth of knowledge and experience that can inform CP-NET research priorities and projects. In joining the network, she has enjoyed having her voice heard, putting her education to use, and improving the lives of younger generations with an organization that listens to and works closely with all key stakeholders, such as herself. “They are actually listening to their stakeholders, to the people that this research affects directly, and they want to do better.” Amanda also appreciates the CP-NET approach to research. She says it’s more than data and written work; it’s also discussion and collaboration based on everyday experience and practice from multiple perspectives.

Put simply, engaging in research with CP-NET has given Amanda a greater sense of purpose and connection. “I matter, I matter because I have a disability, I matter because I have navigated the healthcare system,” she says. “I think that’s the biggest impact. And I think this could be one of the biggest impacts for other youth and young adults with disabilities.”

With this in mind, Amanda’s advice for other youth and young adults with disabilities who are thinking about engaging in research is just to try it. She explains that parents, clinicians, and peers can tell youths about the importance and benefits of research engagement, but they won’t know if it’s for them until they try it for themselves. And even if it turns out not to be for them, they still have a voice and made a difference. “A small action can shape a big result.”

This article was originally written and published as a part of CP-NET’s Community Profiles.

Michelle and Adam Shales’ experiences with the Trexo study at CHEO

Jessica Geboers
Michelle and Adam Shales with their son, Griffin

CP-NET Community Profile: Michelle and Adam Shales

The Trexo study at CHEO has been an innovative game-changer for Michelle and Adam Shales when it comes to physical therapy for their son, Griffin. Six months into using the Trexo, not only has Griffin’s gait and mobility improved, but it has also led to increased independence and curiosity about his surroundings.

The Shales originally discovered the Trexo gait trainer about three years ago through their research, looking for interventions that could improve Griffin’s gait and mobility. Then in 2018, they heard from another family that Trexo was developing a home model. When they contacted Trexo to inquire about purchasing a device for their own home, Trexo informed the Shales that they would be coming to CHEO, where Griffin is a client, to demo the new device. During this demonstration, Dr. Anna McCormick told the Shales of her plans to study the benefits of the Trexo for children with CP.

By the end of 2019, CHEO was ready to begin a 6-week study. While the initial Trexo session took place at the CHEO school, where Griffin was a student, the study has continued at home beyond that initial 6-week period.  

Though this was the family’s first time participating in a research study, they were keen to participate. “We had dreamt of an intervention that would allow him to learn to walk with a healthy gait pattern without spasticity and allow him to repeat those movement patterns thousands and thousands of times­,” says Michelle Shales. “And, the world gave us the Trexo!”

Not only is the Trexo a dream come true for Griffin and his parents but, as Michelle says, this study is an opportunity to prove the value of and continue to expand on these types of interventions. There is often a gap between the amount of physical therapy a child with CP needs and the resources available, whether that be appointment availability, treatment costs, public funding that limits the type and number of treatments per week, or just the number of hours in a day. While not replacing hands-on therapies, the Trexo helps fill that gap, both in rehab centres and at home.

Griffin Shales in his Trexo.
Griffin Shales.

With school shut down in the spring, Griffin and his dad, Adam Shales, had more time to fit the Trexo into their day whenever it suited them. Adam says, in the beginning, they were running through a bit of a boot camp. The goal was to spend about 30 minutes in the Trexo every day or two, followed by some time in his walker. With the Trexo, Griffin can get the repetition he needs to build the muscle memory and the strength to improve his walking; a level of consistent repetition, Adam points out, that could rarely, if ever, be achieved without this valuable robotic technology.

Another silver lining to having a Trexo at home was the ability to get Griffin in it when he was happy and well-rested. They may only get one shot at the centre, Adam points out, but if Griffin’s not feeling up for it at home, they can easily change gears and try again later. It’s a lot less stressful for the whole family.

After receiving training from the team at Trexo, the device was easy to operate and understand. “You don’t have to understand what it takes for a person to walk, what muscles need to be engaged in every phase of the gait pattern,” says Michelle. “All you need to learn is how to get your kid in the device.” Operated with a tablet app, Adam and Michelle can set the gait pattern and all other necessary adjustments for Griffin. All data is recorded and stored on the Trexo servers. And the Trexo team is always available as a resource.  In turn, the data on Griffin’s usage can be pulled by the Trexo team and fed back to Dr. McCormick and her team to inform the study.

Participating in this study, using the Trexo regularly has begun to change Griffin’s perception of his surroundings. Since March, he has progressed from struggling to take a single step in his Crocodile walker (a commercial off the shelf device), to being able to move around of his own free will on various types of terrain, both indoors and on more challenging terrain outdoors. “He’s starting to realize little by little that he has the ability to choose where he wants to go,” says Michelle. “­That’s new for him.”

Michelle looks forward to doing simple things with Griffin, like taking him shopping and letting him freely explore the aisles. Where he was once confined to his wagon, he now can walk the isles of a store, explore and choose a toy for himself. She also looks forward to the possibilities for Griffin when he returns to school: “He could walk up to a friend. He could walk up to his teacher. He could walk down the hall. He could walk or run in the classroom.” With the Covid-19 pandemic still upon us, for now, the Shales family is continuing to benefit from their Trexo at home and are enjoying watching Griffin gain more and more independence.

Originally published by CP-NET.

Podcast: #Two3rds Happy CP Day Part 1 (and a Webinar)

Jessica Geboers1 Comment

Scott & I are back! In this episode we discuss their experiences with Cerebral Palsy and try to figure out when C.P. Awareness Month actually is. We debate the potential need and reasons for a figurative holiday celebrating individuals with the diagnosis. Give it a listen here.

I’m also participating in a free CP-NET webinar on Friday April 21 from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Growing Up with CP: Mental Health and Well-being. Please register, save the date and share with your network. See the event poster here.

Some new, positive F-words to keep in mind

Jessica GeboersLeave a comment

Cerebral Palsy: The Six F-Words for CP.
Cerebral Palsy: The Six F-Words for CP.

Twice in the past couple of weeks––once at a CP-Net Stakeholders meeting and at the OFCP Annual General Meeting–my attention has been drawn to “The Six F-words for CP:” function, family, fitness, fun and future.

At first, I admit, that these sounded like a too obvious and overly simplified solution in the struggle to find a realistic and helpful approach to life with CP. But I was nonetheless intrigued, and aware that I may be too cynical towards such things.

The review article, “The F-words in childhood disability: I swear this is how we should think!” written by Peter Rosenbaum, from the CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research at MacMaster University, and Jan Willem Gorter, from NetChild Network for Childhood Disability Research in the Netherlands, was provided in my OFCP AGM package. I thought why not give it a read?

And I was pleasantly surprised. While I still believe this approach is a bit obvious, I appreciate that it, although published in September 2011, is gaining traction within the research and treatment community.

While I invite you to read this article for yourself, there are some key, exciting, points of revelation worth mentioning:

First, the traditional medical model of diagnosing and “fixing” doesn’t work with CP.  Put simply, CP is too complex and affects each of us differently, even, for example, two people who technically have the same type of CP. Thus, there is no shortlist of go-to treatments, no cure-all. Not to mention that results are often only small and gradual after persistent, sometimes lifelong, treatment. Our quality of life can be improved but we cannot be fixed. At this point, such an absolute goal will only lead to frustration and disappointment.

Second, one does not need to do something, such as walk or talk, normally in order to be functional. Conventional development is a reasonable guide but by no means the only way of doing things. I often explain, to people who inquire about my limitations, that I can do everything an able-bodied person can do, just maybe in a different way. Just as someone else may wear glasses to see, I use canes to walk. What’s important is that children with CP be given the opportunity, and assisted as necessary, to learn how to function to the best of their ability in a way that works for them. Fine-tuning their performance of these functions will naturally over time.

Third, treatment and counselling should include not only the child with a disability but their family as well. Explaining the child’s condition and treatments––and making sure they understand––can help parents, grandparents and/or siblings make peace with this new reality and move forward to a happy and fulfilling life for all. This could mean helping with exercises, finding accessible activities for the whole family to do together, or learning how and when to advocate for the child.throughout their lives. When complicated on my ingenuity in accommodating a task, I often point out that others could probably do the same if it was necessary.

Fourth, fitness and fun can be grouped together in that it is important for a person with CP to be given the opportunity to discover activities they enjoy, just like anyone else. Then, similar to function, figure out how it may need to be accommodated to their abilities.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, people with disabilities have a future, just like you. Service providers should make this clear right from the start, and keep it in mind throughout their relationship with the child and their family. This could be a future full of friends, education, goals, dreams, and even romance.

 

What do you say about your disability in an interview?

Jessica GeboersLeave a comment

I'm spending the summer working as a counsellor at the best place in the world, Easter Seals' Merrywood Camp––for children and youth with disabilities––in Perth, ON.
I’m spending the summer working as a counsellor at the best place in the world, Easter Seals’ Merrywood Camp––for children and youth with disabilities––in Perth, ON.
I got my first paid writing gig with this very publication in March 2015. I had finished classes and was visiting my grandparents in California. When I got the email, I couldn’t wait to call home to tell dad that someone was going to pay me to write. I knew that he worried about me finding work.

That’s not to say that I wasn’t worried, but it’s different knowing your parents are concerned about your future. With a college diploma and university degree—both in journalism—I didn’t want to disappoint my parents after spending so much time and money in school.

I graduated from Ryerson University with a Bachelor of Journalism on June 7, 2015 and I’ve been looking for work ever since.

That’s not to say that I haven’t been writing. I’ve been writing and published pretty regularly over the past year on the topic of disability. I’m using my talent and love for writing to spread awareness on what I know best. It’s the dream. But I’m not sure I have the makings to be the kind of freelance writer who can juggle enough work to pay the bills.

So I’ve been on the hunt for a day job—full- or part-time. It’s a tough job market for anyone right now, especially recent grads. Gone are the days when a college diploma or university degree guaranteed our parents a job for life.

That’s difficult when people are this educated. It’s even more challenging when I have to consider my physical and learning disabilities. Unlike a lot of people my age, I can’t really work retail or as a waitress or any other job that requires me to stand for long periods and carry heavy objects.

I can’t hide my cerebral palsy. I can only hope that employers aren’t blinded by assumptions about what I can and can’t do, and give me a chance based on my qualifications. So far, no one has come right out and said anything about my physical disability. But I can sometimes tell they’re surprised or uncomfortable when they first meet me.

My learning disability has been more of an issue at job interviews.

In school, a learning disability is challenging but manageable. We have rights to accommodation—for me this often meant copies of notes and extra time on tests. There are policies and people in place to help level the playing field. You just have to know who and what to ask for. However, at no point during my post-secondary education did anyone explain how to advocate for what you need in the workforce.

Thanks to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, many employers state that they are equal opportunity employers who don’t discriminate against those with disabilities. Some, including the City of Toronto, have explicit policies and procedures for those who need accommodation during the hiring process. I appreciate and wish that all employers had clear policies for accommodation during job assessments.

Recently I’ve sat a few.

In two cases I was told I was just having an interview, but when I arrived, the employer asked me to take a test. The first time, because I hadn’t been given a heads-up, I felt unsure, uncomfortable and annoyed.

Usually, I need a bit of extra time, a computer, spell check and a calculator. Without them, I knew the test wouldn’t be a fair evaluation of my abilities. But I wasn’t sure I should tell the employer about my learning disability. Should I or shouldn’t I? I didn’t want to be taken out of the running. So I didn’t.

The second time I was invited by email to a job interview for an administrative assistant, but when I got there it was an exam. In fact, there was no interview!

I was a bit thrown, but I figured I’d make the best of it. Then I eyed the math section on the test and my “can-do” attitude evaporated.

I’m terrible at math, thanks to my learning disability. My learning disability affects my comprehension, spelling, grammar and math skills. I’ve been able to find ways to manage the first three issues, but I’ve never found a way to wrap my mind around math.

In high school, I only took locally-developed and workplace level math. As a result, there was math on that job test that I’d never seen before. When I got home and told my roommate about the letters and brackets, she told me that was called algebra!

I did ask if I could use a calculator. When they said no, I asked if I’d be able to use a calculator on the job. Oddly, they said that would be fine. Throwing caution to the wind, I came clean and told them about my learning disability. They looked uncomfortable and told me to do my best. Not surprisingly, I didn’t get called back for an interview.

So while my search for a day-job continues, I’ve realized that I have nothing to lose, or be ashamed of, in being upfront about my learning disability. In future, if invited to an interview, I’ll ask if it includes an assessment. If it does, I’ll let people know about my disability before we meet.

From here on out I’ll look for, inquire about and follow any procedures necessary for accommodation during the hiring process.

If an employer has a problem with my disabilities and doesn’t wasn’t to accommodate me, I probably don’t want to work for them anyway.

Originally published by BLOOM.