Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-05-05
Letters to The Star
The Cerebral Palsy Group

~ W
The Cerebral Palsy Group
To the Editor Of The Star:
Recent articles appearing in The Evening
Star regarding the District OF Columbia Society
for Crippled Children are of particular interest
to me as my boy is in his second year of at
tendance ut this society's school, I was not
aware OF any serious friction within the in
stitution until shortly before this publicity
appeared. However, feel sure that my son
has not suffered from such difficulties. On the
contrary, the society has rendered him q serv-
ice which is not purchasable ut any other estab-
hshment, either public or private. The i'm
provement which he has made during his at
tendance has been phenomenal. =
Apropos to this publicity, however there can
be no overemphasis Of the Importance of an
informed public regarding the society-its pur-
pose and objectives.
Just what is purchased when one purchases
Easter Seals? In answer to this question, I
submit the following:
The D. C. Society for Crippled Children Is
primarily concerned with the care and treat
ment OF children who have developed cerebral
palsy. Cerebral palsy is essentially the result
OF brain injury. Such injury may affect any
part or many parts OF the physical body Out
wardly, 1t Is manifested by incomplete control
OF the muscles of the body, such IS the muscles
OF the leg or arm or face. Usually mentality
1t not directly affected but environmental stig-
mas may cause serious retardation The cere-
bral palsy group has its allotment of geniuses.
In fact, many excel because of their handicaps
and the proportion of useful citizens among
them Is probably rs large, If not larger than
among normal children because handicapped
children feel they must succeed for their own
security.
Compared With Polio Victims.
Quoting from Exploring the Unknown" in
Science Illustrated: Between 200 900 and $780,
600 Americans are afflicted with cerebral palsy,
The rayages of this afliction, like those of in
fantile paralysis, are visited mainly on chill
dren. It is almost as prevalent as paralysis,
and its effects, physical, mental and social, are
far more tragic. Yet few doctors In this coun-
try know how to recognize it and . mere hand
full can treat it.
Most of Its victims are treated with aversion
locked away in back rooms or institutions. re-
garded as feeble minded. Yet most Of them
could be helped, even cured, If help were avail
able. There are hundreds of splendid institu-
lions for the care of those stricken with in
fantile paralysis. But for the diagnosis and
treatment OF cerebral palsy there are almost
none"
This means that from 5000 to 10000 bal
will be born in America next year who will have
or will develop cerebral palsy. Since this
disease is the same nonrespector OF persons
as cancer, infantie paralysis, or any other OF
the common human afictions, 1t may attack
any child regardless Of the parents station or
physical or mental inheritance. No one who
marries can escape the possibility Of being the
parent of a cerebral palsy child.
Problems Of Schooling.
Yet, in spite of its social nature, practically
nothing Is provided in public funds for this
group of citizens. On the contrary, our schools
are allowed to reject it. Typical is the case of
a cerebral palsy pupil who was barred from
school simply because he was unable to climb
a few steps Of q stairway. Recently cerebral
palsy student ordered to be expelled from
a university because of his handicap. Sub
sequent tests revealed that he excelled his
classmates. Barred from public institutions by
those who have been appointed to require at
tendance, the cerebral palsy child must rely on
the hopelessly inadequate hand of charity. Be-
cause Of this situation and because the hsndi-
capped child needs preschool care, the D. c.
Society for Crippled Children exists.
However, 1t is not merely education that
the cerebral palsy group needs. 1t also needs
care and complete rehabilitation from the time
the diagnosis Is first established 1t needs
special equipment and specially trained per-
sonnet. 1t needs informed orthopedsts. 1t
needs a research center directed toward ulti-
mate control or even prevention OF incidence,
but at present 1t most needs an informed
public.
The satisfaction OF these needs is q simple
matter in 4 country of such great productive
capacity rs we have. At time when the
richest nation on earth is preparing to re-
habilitate peoples outside its borders, it would
seem 4 travesty Of human intelligence that any
group OF Americans should be denied that for
which 1t is in dire need.
KENNETH r. M GILLESPIE