During the month of March, Thomas Pest Services will be working to raise Cerebral Palsy awareness, a cause near and dear to Bill and Sarah Thomas-Clark. At the age of one-and-a-half, Bill and Sarah's daughter was diagnosed with Mild Right Side Spastic Hemiplegia, a form of Cerebral Palsy. Riley has stiffness in her arm and leg making everyday tasks and movements difficult. She is not as fast as her peers, lacks coordination, struggles with gross and fine motor skills, but otherwise is no different than her peers. Typically Riley will have physical therapy three times a week to help with her condition. Riley is an inspiration to everyone that works with her. She is Bill and Sarah's hero and the most important part of their lives.
Throughout the month of March, we are asking people to wear the color green to help raise awareness and support all those who suffer from Cerebral Palsy, especially on Friday, March 25th, Cerebral Palsy Day. The pest control technicians have decided to wear green booties and gloves during the month in an effort to raise awareness as well.
While Cerebral Palsy is a blanket term commonly described by loss or impairment of motor function, Cerebral Palsy is actually caused by brain damage.
The brain damage is caused by brain injury or abnormal development of the brain that occurs while a child’s brain is still developing — before birth, during birth, or immediately after.
Cerebral Palsy affects body movement, muscle control, muscle coordination, muscle tone, reflex, posture, and balance. It can also impact fine motor skills, gross motor skills, and oral motor functioning as well. While there is no known cure for CP at this time, there are many ways to improve the quality of life for individuals living with this condition.
Change The Way You Interact With People Who Have A Disability
Many people have reservations or insecurities about how to interact with individuals with a disability.
The next time you meet a person with a disability, try starting off the conversation with this simple gesture.
Raise Awareness
Making a difference in the lives of individuals with CP can actually be a great way to maintain your own health and stay fit.
Increase Your Knowledge.
The more you know about Cerebral Palsy and its causes, the more you can inform those around you. There are many myths surrounding Cerebral Palsy; the better people are educated about the disability; the better life will be for those living with CP.
Raising our voices and awareness is what will make the difference. Not only does this apply to Cerebral Palsy, but other causes, diseases, and important topics. Bill and Sarah would like to encourage everyone to remain open to both starting and listening to conversations regarding this cause. Each day brings its own challenges with their daughter, but together being an amazing model of strength they will overcome obstacles.
Sources:
http://www.cerebralpalsy.org/about-cerebral-palsy
https://www.cerebralpalsyguide.com/blog/national-cp-awareness-day/