Cerebral palsy is a disorder of muscle control which results from damage to part of the brain. The name, cerebral palsy, is used when the problem has occurred to the developing brain either before birth, around birth or in early life. Worldwide, more than 15 million people have cerebral.In Australia there are 20,000 people with cerebral palsy and more than 2,000 of these live in Western Australia. Each year, 45 Western Australia children are diagnosed as having cerebral palsy. Of each thousand babies born, between two and three will have cerebral palsy.

Cerebral palsy affects people in different ways: some may have difficulty in walking and talking, and some may also have other problems such as an intellectual disability. Sometimes, when we meet people who have cerebral palsy, we don't know how to react to them. What do you do if you can't understand what a person is saying? What do you do if you meet a person with a disability who is having trouble in the street, and you don't know how to help them?

This means that people with cerebral palsy are often isolated in the community. They find it hard to use the day-to-day services which we all take for granted. By following a few of the hints here, you can help people with cerebral palsy become part of the community. Here are some ideas about how you can focus on the person, and not the problem.

* What do I do if someone seems to be having trouble walking, or managing a wheelchair? Do I help them? If I see someone with cerebral palsy in a supermarket, should I offer to help? If someone seems to be having difficulty, you may want to offer a hand. If they refuse, then that's fine. Never help without asking first, and if you do ask, make sure that you listen to the answer before helping. Some people with cerebral palsy are quite happy managing on their own, but just need a little extra time. If someone turns you sown on your offer of help, don't feel cross or embarassed.

* How do I shake hands with someone who has cerebral palsy? People with cerebral palsy sometimes have trouble controlling their movements, or hold their hands in an unusual way. This can often cause embarassment for the person who doesn't have cerebral palsy.

When someone with cerebral palsy sometimes have trouble controlling their movements, or holds out a hand, then shake it the way you would anybody else's hand. But not everybody wants to shake hands, and people with cerebral palsy are no exception. The guidelines for personal contact with someone with a disability are exactly the same as they are with anyone else. Don't feel that you have to stand back.

* How do I talk with someone who has cerebral palsy? Talk to a person who has cerebral palsy in the same way as you would someone else their age. You don't need to yell or speak slowly. Don't feel shy or embarassed. Always treat people with cerebral palsy in a polite and dignified manner. Although you may be surprised by the way the person walks or talks, remember that they are used to their disabilty, and they hope that you can see beyond it. And, more importantly, if they have someone with them who is helping them, don't forget that the person with the disability is the person with who you area talking.

* What do I do if I can't understand what someone says? First, don't pretend that you can understand if you can't. Let the person know that you did not hear them, and ask them to repeat what they said. If you still cannot understand, ask them to use different words. Remember, it is always easier to hear what a person says if you look at them while they are talking.

* How do I talk to someone who cannot speak? Just because a person cannot speak does not necessarily mean that they cannot hear and understand what you are saying. Most people with cerebral palsy are able to understand normal speech, even if they don't speak themselves. Some people with cerebral palsy use other way to let us know what they mean, such as electronic devices, while others use body language such as signing, eye pointing or gestures. If you meet a someone who `talks' this way, ask a person who knows them to help you understand what they are saying.

* Is there anything else that I can do for people with cerebral palsy? If you own a shop, or are responsible for a public building, then you might think about ways to make access easier. If rebuilding, chat with a person who knows about these sorts of things - an occupational therapist, an architect or a person with a disability. They will give you some useful hints on how to make your office, shop or school more accessible.

* If I shake hands with someone with cerebral palsy, can I catch it? No! Cerebral palsy is not contagious. It is not a sickness or disease.

* Can people with cerebral palsy look after themselves? Some children and adults who have mild cerebral palsy will have no problems in achieving independence. For others, considerable assistance will always be needed. But regardless of how independent they are able to become, children and adults with cerebral palsy have the same goals as people everywhere: to participate in as many of life's opportunities as possible. By helping to focus on the person, and not their problem, you can help people with cerebral palsy achieve independence. We need to be reminded that people with cerebral palsy have lots of abilities and skills.

* First and foremost they are people, and they like the same sorts of things as other people their own age.

* They like to spend time with their friends, they like to choose the sort of homes they live in and they like to make their own decisions.

* They like to choose what sort of clothes to buy, food to eat, music to listen to, which doctor and dentist to visit, which hairstyle to wear.

* And although it may sometimes look as if someone else is making the decisions for them, there is no doubt that every person with cerebral palsy has preferences like everybody else. Put simply, the needs of people with cerebral palsy are no different to others in the community. If you think about it, we all desire a way of life that offers opportunities to gain respect and dignity alongside others in our community, and to belong to a family, group of friends and a community. People with cerebral palsy are no different.