What Are Realistic Goals for a child afflicted with Cerebral Palsy?
When thinking of the future for your child, it is best to be both realistic and optimistic. Just as with any other child, it is important to develop skills from the ground up. It is equally important for the parent of a child with cerebral palsy to be realistic about the child’s abilities now and for the future. With professional help, the parent will slowly develop realistic goals and it is these goals that the parent, child, and professionals should dedicate their effort. Occasionally, difficulties in communication arise when the parents, educators, and medical care providers discuss present abilities. Maximizing this level of communication allows parents, educators, and medical care providers to understand where the child is now and where their capabilities will be in the future. An attempt to define future expectations is usually more important in the teenage years and beyond, when function is better defined and the future and potential is more evident to all parties.
