LeagueNews - Cerebral Palsy League

Letter to the EditorMy brother has cerebral palsy.As you can imagine, we don’tknow how this was caused, buthe is now a fully-grown adult andme being the older sister by twoyears have grown up with him andthis problem all my life.I am 30 years old, so it was 28years ago that my brother wasborn.Things were very different insociety then to what they aretoday.When we were young I oftenlooked out for my brother and ofcourse, my parents overcompensated for him and spoilthim every way they could, tryingto give him things they couldn’tand trying to perform a miracle.I remember that we went to everydoctor there was, and my brotherhad quite a few operations on hislegs.From the CEOTHE League and ACROD Qld, thepeak body for disability serviceproviders, are concerned there is acrisis pending for the health andwellbeing of children with disabilitiesand their families due to the lack offunding for services.The Australian Bureau of Statistics(ABS) conservatively indicated 64,000children aged zero to 14 years withdisabilities who require specialistservices, reside in Queensland.Fifty-two per cent of whom have asevere or profound activity restriction.In 2003/2004, only 3978 (6.2 per centof Queensland children withdisabilities) received services fundedunder the Commonwealth State andTerritories Disability Agreement.The ABS data does not includechildren with mild disabilities, zero tofive and the 15 to 18 years populations.Therefore, the percentage ofQueensland children receiving aservice is lower than this 6.2 per cent.The main issues that need addressingare:• An urgent and immediate increasein funding for Queensland childrenwith disabilities• Dedicated funding needs to beprovided for therapy servicesthroughout the child’s continuum ofcare2My parents were very strong anddetermined people.Despite advice from primary schoolteachers and advice from doctors mymum insisted on leaving my brotherin the normal school system.I thank God everyday that my mumdid that.Despite people’s misconceptionswhen they see him walking towardsthem, as soon as he talks they soonrealise his intelligence.My brother has battled throughdiscrimination in the workforce and atschool.I dealt with it by trying to fool myselfthat there was nothing different aboutmy brother.My brother has a mild case, however,it clearly affects his balance andwalking.My brother, despite advice when hewas young is clearly the mostintelligent person I know.• Development of a children’sservices program that includes earlyintervention and a continuum ofcare as the child develops toadulthoodRecently, I attended a MinisterialRound Table Discussion Forum held bythe Minister for Disability Services, theHon. Warren Pitt, on the need forservices to children with a disability.The outcome of this discussion forumwas encouraging with the Ministerstating he wanted Disability ServicesQueensland to take a lead role in awhole of government approach aimedat supporting Queensland children withdisabilities and their families.The Minister spoke about the need todevelop a Disability Action Plan forservices to Queensland children,highlighting the issues of therapy, earlyintervention and additional support atcritical stages in the continuum of careof the child.The League is looking forward toworking with the Minister and DisabilityServices Queensland to ensure theimprovement of services to childrenwith a disability and their families.Bruce MilliganChief Executive OfficerCerebral Palsy LeagueMy brother has an Arts / Lawdegree with Honours and is anextremely successful solicitor.I don’t want my name publishedanywhere, nor my brother to betraced about this.But I do want you to give thismessage to parents and familiesthat are going through what wehave for the last 28 years.Give your child every opportunity,believe in him/her as my parentsdid, and don’t just give up.Another point to this is... I wishpeople wouldn’t judge people bywhat they see on the outside, it’sthe inside that counts.I don’t know if I have helpedanyone, but I have helped myselfby writing this… about somethingI don’t talk about to anyone.Thank you(Name witheld)Letter to the EditorLeague News EditorPO Box 386Fortitude Valley, Q 4006The Editor reserves the right to publishone letter per edition of League News,and the right to decide the respondent.Letters will not be responded toindividually, and no correspondencewill be entered in to.Responses are no substitute forseeking individual consultation withregard to queries.Cerebral Palsy League of QldABN 27 009 942 269PO Box 386 FORTITUDE VALLEY Qld 400655 Oxlade Drive NEW FARM Qld 4005www.cplqld.org.auExecutive Management TeamBRUCE MILLIGAN, Chief Executive OfficerPhone: (07) 3358 8003 Fax: (07) 3254 1291Email: bmilligan@cplqld.org.auGEOFF ROWE, Service Development & PolicyPhone: (07) 3358 8014 Fax: (07) 3254 1291Email: growe@cplqld.org.auGREG CUFFE, Organisational ServicesPhone: (07) 3358 8064 Fax: (07) 3254 7387Email: gcuffe@cplqld.org.auSTUART PILTON, Human ResourcesPhone: (07) 3358 8078 Fax: (07) 3358 8103Email: spilton@cplqld.org.auMARGARET SCOTT, Marketing & FundraisingPhone: (07) 3358 8090 Fax: (07) 3358 2495Email: mscott@cplqld.org.au