Myths and misconceptions about Cerebral Palsy

Even though I don't really want it to be, one of the first things people would probably notice about me is that I have a disability - Cerebral Palsy in fact. I have had it all my life. One of the things that has often really frustrated me throughout life is when people have the wrong ideas about my disability and what I (and other people with the same condition) are capable of.
I thought I'd address some of these myths here:

1. Cerebral Palsy is a degenerative disability: No. I and many others have the condition from birth and it is something that does not get steadily worse or better. It will affect you for all of your life. Maybe I'll end up being slightly weaker when I get older, but that happens to everyone when they get old. Physiotherapy and exercise helps a lot to keep you mobile, but its not a miracle cure!

2. Cerebral Palsy is a genetic disability/you can find out if your child has it when its in the womb:
Nope! Cerebral Palsy is a disability you can have from birth not something you are born with (if you see the difference). Cerebral Palsy occurs when parts of the brain are damaged soon after birth, usually (as in my case) as a result of being born prematurely. Many things can directly cause this to happen (to a premature baby) such as lack of oxygen to the brain or a bleed to the brain.

3. If you have Cerebral Palsy, then you have learning disabilities: This is something that really gets to me as some people presume this a lot if they have just met me and not spoken to me before. Cerebral Palsy is a physical disability NOT a mental one. Obviously in some cases separate learning disabilities can occur as a result of being born prematurely or some severe aspects of Cerebral Palsy, but it is not the Cerebral Palsy itself which causes issues with learning and mentality. I am testament to this as I studied at a mainstreame school all my life and then went on to graduate from a university with only support to help me physically throughout school.

4. Cerebral Palsy is a really severe disability: In some cases it is, but it all depends on which parts of the brain are affected. For example with myself it is mostly my right side of the brain that was affected. As the 2 sides of your brain control your opposite sides of your body, it is mostly the left side of my body that are affected. Many people who have Cerebral Palsy often have trouble with their speech and this is something that has often got mixed up with the stereotype of people with Cerebral Palsy having learning disabilities. I'm lucky, as it is generally the left side of the brain which is associated with producing the ability to speak and so I am not really affected this way (my legs are the main things that are affected by my disability and although I can weight bare and take a couple of steps with support, I use an electric wheelchair to get around). However I do know a few people who have CP whose speech is affected this way and this still does NOT mean they have learning disabilities. Unfortunately because society doesn't seem to have figured this out yet, people with more severe physical speech and mobility problems associated with CP are often still put into special schools and are not always given the opportunity to communicate fully. Therefore they might not always be given access to the educational standard they are capable of and wouldn't be given as much opportunity to achieve the things they are able to.