People with athetoid cerebral palsy experience erratic and uncontrolled movements (athetosis) which almost always involve the whole body and are most obvious when attempting to move although can also occur at rest.
Symptoms and characteristics:
The most obvious characteristic of athetoid cerebral palsy is uncontrolled or uncoordinated body movements.
People with athetoid cerebral palsy may also experience difficulties with:
- speech
- vision
- hearing and
- intellectual impairment
- epilepsy.
Although athetoid cerebral palsy is a permanent, non progressive condition, people may experience changes in their capacity with the progression of age or if physical difficulties develop.
Workplace adjustments and solutions:
In the workplace there are various factors that would assist people with athetoid cerebral palsy to manage their condition. These include changes to work tasks and the environment, and will vary depending upon the level of uncontrolled movement, seizures (epilepsy), and intellectual impairment. Some suggestions for workplace modifications include:
- ensuring wheelchair or walking aid accessibility to all areas of the workplace including kitchen and bathroom amenities, workspace and other doorways or emergency exits
- installation of ramps for independent building access
- automatic door openers to allow independent door access
- modifying workstation set up to accommodate strengths and abilities and overcome barriers including the potential for injury due to uncontrolled movements
- provision and adjustment of suitable ergonomic seating for individual needs to allow maximum support for posture
- alternative method of environmental control or computer input such as through the use of switches to operate on screen keyboards
- flexible work hours to allow for medical treatment and rehabilitation.
Employers of people with disability may be eligible for free workplace assessments and modifications through the Workplace Modifications Scheme. The Workplace Modification Scheme pays for the costs involved in modifying the workplace or purchasing special equipment for employees with disability. To determine eligibility, please refer to the full guidelines:
There are solutions and adjustments for the following job requirements:
(CP Australia 2007; Better Health Channel 2007; MDA Internet 2005; Scope 2006)
References:
Better Health Channel 2007, Cerebral palsy—causes and implications, State Government of Victoria, Melbourne, viewed 9 March 2007, http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Cerebral_palsy_causes_and_implications?open
CP Australia 2007, CP Australia, Woodville, viewed 9 March 2007, http://www.cpaustralia.com.au/news/index.html
MDA Internet 2005, Reed Group Ltd, Colorado, viewed 7 May 2007, http://www.mdainternet.com (secure site)
Scope 2006, Information About Cerebral Palsy, Scope, Melbourne, viewed 9 March 2007, http://www.scopevic.org.au/info_about.html