Smyrna times., 1951-08-09
PALSY GROUP
REVIEW WORK
Services For Cerebral Palsied
Established by State Board
of Health in 1897
SPECIAL CLINICS

The state Board OF 1ealLn can
point with pride to it's accomplish
ments toward the care. of Della
wares cerebral palsied children ac-
cording to DR.. Floyd I. Hudson,
Executive Secretary. In recogni-
ton of National Cerebral Palsy
Week, August IT, The state Board
of Health releases the following
pertinent information:
Delaware's official services for
cerebral palsied children date back
to the establishment of crippled
children's clinics under the State
Board of Health in october 1887.
when children so handicapped
could be seen by the attending or
thopedic consultant. A great step
forward occurred in 1889 when the
State Board of Health requested
DR.. Winthrop M. Phelps OF Balti-
more, Maryland - internationally
known for his work with cerebral
palsy-to hold special clinics year
lily. DR.. Phelps consented to do SO,
and he has been coming to Della
ware annually to give help and
guidance on the more difficult cas-
es. AS the Division of Crippled
Children's Services of the State
Board of Health broadened its staff
it made available more varied SER
vices for the cerebral palsied child
medical social services back in
1943, speech and physical therapy
services in 1916, hearing services in
1949, and occupational therapy in
1851. The opening of the Cover
nor Bacon Health Center in the
winter of 1949 provided an institu-
tion for the disqualification of these
children. The medical social work
ers and therapists of the State
Board of Health cooperate with the
staff of the Governor Bacon Health
Center in furnishing the necessary
specialized services that go into the
care of this condition.
Doctor Harold Westlake, Direct.
or of the Speech and Hearing
jCu;,,;o ,A NrortI,,r-oe, 81 o,,,, TT,,;xyore;+1, -,
was appointed a consultant anc
started conducting yearly specia
: speech clinics for cerebral palsiec
! children in 1850 Doctor Westlake
is regarded as an outstanding au-
/ thority in this field.
Here are some statistics of in.
terest relative to the cerebral palsy
problem. Z cases of cerebral palsy
are born each year per 100, 900 pop.
iulation. Is percent of these die
within the first years of life
J There are an estimated 4 cases pei
1000 population for the age grour
6 years and above. On the above
basis, Delaware can expect 21 ol
more new cases each year, should
have about 1900 so afflicted 6 years
or more of age, and at least 80 Ger.
ebral palsy children in the age
group up to 6 years. About two
, thirds of cerebral palsied children
have intelligence within the edu
cable range. About one-fourth ot
those educable will be able to at
tend regular school, but three
fourths will require special educa
tional facilities. A population O.
100000 might be expected to con
tain 100 to lis educable children
with cerebral palsy of pre-schoo
age who cannot go to regular pub
lie schools. IA children with Ger
ebral palsy were seen and treatet
: at the crippled children's clinic
t during 1850. Approximately 60 t.
/ 20 percent of all cerebral pals,
9 children need speech training
About so percent of the childrel
receiving speech therapy througl
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