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Cerebral Palsy

How do you parent a child with a disability

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Some wise and witty advice on parenting a child with a disability from Zach Anner

Parenting is the hardest job in the world at the best of times. Zach Anner, a comedian, actor and writer with cerebral palsy has some wise advice for parents on strategies for raising a child with cerebral palsy:

1. Be okay with watching your kids struggle.
Zach gives a great example of how his mom had to step back and allow him to struggle – for two hours! – to learn to put on his socks. It now only takes him 5 minutes. Zach credits his current independence and “coolness” to his mother’s ability to step back and allow him to struggle through his challenges.

2. Raise your kids to be considerate, thoughtful adults who aren’t always the centre of attention.
Zach describes how growing up, a child with a disability can get used to the world revolving around him or her. Getting use to this is dangerous as it can breed co-dependency. It can also encourage narcissism – which he jokingly admits he has, firmly of the belief that no party starts until he has arrived!

3. Be careful about accidentally patronizing your child.
Zach explains that there can be a tendency to give kids with a disability credit that they have not earned. Don’t do this. Instead, find ways for your child to contribute in realistic and meaningful ways and give them credit for what they have contributed.

4. Treat your disabled teenager as a teenager.
Simply put – if you would not barge into your able bodied 15 year old’s bedroom – don’t do it for your disabled teenager!

A few other random pieces of advice offered by Zach …

5. Let your kid’s passion lead rather than their disability.
In other words, don’t conflate your child’ disability with their identity – who they really are in their hearts, minds and souls.

6. You want to prepare your child with a disability for the real world.
Focus on strategies for independence that will work in the real world, outside the familiarity and comfort of their own home.

7. Most important piece of advice – this one is for the kids – thank your mom for EVERYTHING!

For some great insights, and a laugh, click here for the full video: https://www.facebook.com/littlethingscom/videos/1029249823951056/

Also, I encourage you to read Zach’s book, “If at Birth You Don’t Succeed”, a similarly witty and frank memoir about the trials and tribulations of living life to the fullest. For a brief glimpse into the book click here: https://www.pacificmedicallaw.ca/blog/2016/03/if-at-birth-you-dont-succeed.shtml

To purchase the book and get to know Zach better, click here:

http://ifatbirthyoudontsucceed.com/

The Cerebral Palsy Association of BC’s annual fundraising gala “Learn Without Limits” – An invitation to change the life path of a young person living with CP.

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Every day presents us with opportunities to give back; to do our small part to improve the lives of others. To support and strengthen the communities in which we live, work and raise our children. As President of the Cerebral Palsy Association of BC, I would like to invite you to join us in providing opportunities for young people living with cerebral palsy to achieve their educational aspirations.

The focus of the Cerebral Palsy Association of BC’s fourth annual Gala is Learn Without Limits. Our goal is to support and empower young people living with cerebral palsy to achieve their goals through advanced education.

As a lawyer, education has provided me with a great opportunity to practice law and the privilege to represent children living with cerebral palsy, and their families. The people I have come to know with cerebral palsy are tremendously driven and resilient, and will do extraordinary things when given the opportunities which help break down barriers created by their disability.

Often, the financial costs and medical demands caused by their disability create barriers to funding post – secondary education. I have personally met with several recipients of education bursaries granted by the Cerebral Palsy Association of BC and their stories of what they have been able to achieve are truly remarkable. For this reason, my firm, Pacific Medical Law, has been supporting the education bursary program at the Cerebral Palsy Association of BC for several years now and will continue to do so, with the firm belief that education opens doors and creates opportunities.

Imagine for a moment how your financial support of the Learn Without Limits fundraising Gala can change the life path of a hardworking, determined young person living with cerebral palsy with a dream of furthering their education. Imagine the pride that person will feel upon graduation, and the employment opportunities that their education will provide.

I am hopeful you share our view of the importance of supporting young people living with cerebral palsy with their educational goals. I encourage you to become a sponsor and join us at the fourth annual Gala on March 15, 2018, to celebrate the accomplishments of past education bursary recipients, and to support future young people in pursuing their educational aspirations. Please click here for more information: https://www.bccerebralpalsy.com/events/life-without-limits-gala/

Pacific Medical Law Supports the 2017 Janna Epp Bursary

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Pacific Medical Law has established a bursary in honour of Janna Epp, a beautiful, determined young girl with cerebral palsy who faced challenges that few of us could imagine. Sadly on October 11, 2012, Janna passed away.

In memory of Janna, Pacific Medical Law donates $5,000 to a child living with cerebral palsy in BC every year, to assist with that child’s care, therapy, equipment or recreation.

If you have a child with cerebral palsy who could benefit from these funds, please send in your application. The recipient of the bursary will be selected by Janna’s mother.

Applications are due July 1, 2017

Contact Pacific Medical Law for application details:

604-685-2361 or toll free 604-685-2361

[email protected]

Play Without Limits – Why it Matters!

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At Pacific Medical Law, we know that for kids, playing is not a luxury – it is their “work”. It is how children learn to interact with their environment, develop physical skills and strength, expand their imagination and build friendships. It is indeed the essence of childhood. The importance of play in a child’s life simply cannot be over-emphasized.

Kids with disabilities are just like all other kids – they want to play, explore and have fun with friends. Yet, notwithstanding our common experience and the medical research which supports the importance of play in a child’s life, there is little support offered to children with disabilities to create recreational opportunities and support their ability to engage in play. Children with disabilities often need specialized equipment or other supports to facilitate their participation.

We are proud to support the efforts of the Cerebral Palsy Association of BC to assist them in raising funds to create opportunities for our youngest members to play. Last year, through the generous support of our community, we were able to provide an adaptive bike to a little girl with cerebral palsy named Eleeka. She rode a bike for the first time in her life – and her smile said it all! I had a chance to meet with Eleeka and it was clear to me that she and her family were very happy for her to have this special bicycle so she could be active in the sunshine.

To be in a position to put a smile on the face of a child is an opportunity that should not be missed. To be able to provide an opportunity for a child to grow, to laugh and to build friendships that they might not otherwise have is an opportunity that should be seized upon. It is a unique opportunity where doing something small can make a significant difference in the life of a child.

Kids with disabilities are resilient. They are fighters. They have overcome challenges and hurdles that few of us can comprehend. They deserve the same opportunities as all other kids. I am committed to doing what I can to make a difference in the lives of children living with cerebral palsy.

September – Pacific Medical Law is Steppin’ Up to Support Children Living with Cerebral Palsy

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As part of our commitment to assist children living with cerebral palsy, both inside and outside the courtroom, the lawyers at Pacific Medical Law are once again participating in September – an annual fundraiser to raise funds and awareness for children living with cerebral palsy.

In the past, Pacific Medical Law was honoured to have been awarded the Top Fundraising Organization in Canada, raising over $8,000. Our mission this year is to raise at least the same amount of money, but to expand our reach and focus on raising awareness of cerebral palsy in our communities. Our goal is to encourage as many people as possible to show their support for people living with cerebral palsy by making a contribution in any amount they wish. We want to send a strong message to people living with cerebral palsy that the communities in which they live care about them and support them.

Please show your support by making a donation to at: https://event.September.ca/donate/search?search=steppin%27+up

No donation is too small, and a tax receipt will be provided for all donations over $10.

*image via https://research.cerebralpalsy.org.au

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