Political Quotes

“I am proud to submit, along with Senator Specter, this resolution declaring March 25 as National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day. With this resolution, it is my hope that we can increase education and public awareness about cerebral palsy among the general public and the medical community. Cerebral palsy, commonly referred to as CP, is not one disorder but many. It includes any number of neurological disorders that may appear in infancy or early childhood and permanently affect body movement and the muscle coordination necessary to maintain balance and posture. CP is caused by damage to one or more specific areas of the brain, usually occurring during fetal development, or before or during birth or shortly thereafter. Although most children with CP are born with it, it is often not detected until months or years later. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that about 10,000 babies will develop cerebral palsy each year in the United States. According to the March of Dimes, about 2 to 3 children per 1,000 have cerebral palsy. An estimated 800,000 people in the United States have CP. The average lifetime cost of cerebral palsy is estimated at nearly $1.5 million. This includes expenses associated with additional doctor visits, speech and physical therapy, surgery, prescription drugs, transportation, emergency room visits, residential care, and other needed expenses. Children with cerebral palsy need much more attention than other children do.”