When a child is diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, it can be incredibly hard to come to terms with. The future may seem wildly uncertain but help is always on hand for the journey.

Where questions exist here are just a few answers:

What Cerebral Palsy ISN’T

Cerebral Palsy isn’t a disease
Cerebral Palsy is not contagious. It is not communicable. It is a disorder that (in most cases) is caused by damage to the brain, which cannot be spread by human contact.

Cerebral Palsy isn’t curable
The injury and damage to the brain is permanent, and will never be cured, however symptoms and associative conditions can be managed through treatment and therapy. An individual diagnosed with CP will have the condition their whole life.

Cerebral Palsy isn’t progressive
CP is the result of a one-time brain injury and will not produce further degeneration of the brain. Although brain damage will not worsen, issues with muscles can improve or decline under different circumstances.

Cerebral Palsy doesn’t define who a person is
For the individual with cerebral palsy, the condition is part of what makes them who they are but it doesn’t have to define them There will be daily challenges to face, but many are conquerable. There has been a great challenge in providing awareness and funding for people with this disability, and therefore CP is often met with pity or fear. There’s no denying that Cerebral Palsy is tough however people with CP can achieve great things with the right support behind them.

What Cerebral Palsy IS

Cerebral Palsy is a blanket term
The name Cerebral Palsy isn’t a specific illness and can relate to many different symptoms and disorders. The one thing they all have in common is the damage or abnormal development of the brain that usually occurs due to a birth injury.
Depending on the location or severity of the injury, CP manifests in 3 main ways:
• Spastic Cerebral Palsy – affecting the muscles in the limbs
• Athetoid – resulting in jerky, uncontrolled body movements
• Ataxic – causing poor coordination, unsteadiness on the feet, problems with precise movements.

Cerebral palsy is the most common physical impairment in childhood
It is estimated that Cerebral Palsy affects about one in 400 children in the UK and is up to 10 times more likely if your baby is premature.
Worldwide, around 15,000,000 people have CP.

Cerebral Palsy is a disorder that can be detected from an early age
Most children who have Cerebral Palsy are diagnosed in their first two years, although it can be diagnosed at any age.
You may notice your child is slower in achieving important developmental goals such as crawling, speaking or walking. You may also notice problems with their muscle tone.
Tests, scans and ultrasounds will determine the type and severity of the child’s Cerebral Palsy.

It doesn’t seem so long ago that I was learning to ride a bike. I remember it well my parents had taken me on one of our yearly family holidays to Center Parcs. Renting bikes we would cycle around the village. The lack of cars makes for a perfect place to learn. That is part of the reason I took the family there la few years back for a weekend break. In fitting with tradition it only seemed right that the dear husband and I teach our growing son how to ride. It was a success. Brilliant.

And then the difficulties started. Bringing him back into the outside world he was keen to practice all he had learnt. Of course in the real world there are real roads, you know, with real cars. Suddenly the whole shebang had become a logistical and health and safety nightmare.

I have learnt a lot in these short last 6 months on how to best ensure safety while out riding. I have compiled for your ease a four point checklist for cycling safety.

1. Check bikes before going out and always carry spare tires – A quick once over of the bikes before heading out is the best way to avoid any unwanted accidents. Checking tyre pressure as well as brakes is a good idea. Making sure the tyres roll true is also good. By which I mean when you spin them and look closely they should be perfectly straight with no wobbles. Then if worst comes to worst you will have a spare tyre to repair any punctures.

2. Cycle one up, one down – Confusing lingo (my own I’ve never heard any one else say that) that explains quite a simple idea. Have one responsible adult up the front and one behind. The front person navigates the road the person behind shields from oncoming traffic and keeps an eye on the kids. I tend to let my husband go first, he’s a more proficient cyclist and I like to keep an eye on our sons. This way they feel nice and snug in a big bicycle hug.

3. Wear the right gear – This may seem painfully obvious but please please make sure at least the children are wearing helmets. They really do save lives. I obviously can’t make you wear one but you really should be setting the right example for children. So please wear one. High vis jackets are also a good idea. I don’t personally wear one, I think I might be put on trial for crimes against fashion but I used to make sure the wee one wore one at all times.

4. Fit a bell – There really is nothing quite as distinctive as a bike bell. Everyone on the road will recognise the sound and is sure to acknowledge your presence. My husband doesn’t like bells. He thinks they look tacky. He opts instead at shouting or whistling. But these noises can get lost on a busy road. A bell never will.

And with these I wish you happy (and most importantly) safe cycling. It is a great way to keep fit and get around quickly. Let me know any suggestions you have of keeping safe on the roads.