FACT: Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the most common motor disability in childhood according to the CDC. 

According to the United Cerebral Palsy, Cerebral palsy is a broad diagnostic term used to describe a problem with movement and posture, due to damage or abnormalities in the brain that makes certain activities difficult. It is the most common motor disorder and the second-most common disability found in children.

About 10,000 infants are diagnosed with CP and up to 1,500 preschoolers in the U.S. are recognized as having it each year. The United Cerebral Palsy Association estimates that more than 764,000 Americans have CP.  

The Adaptive Learning Center, an inclusions preschool program for children with special needs, is working hard every day to raise awareness for cerebral palsy and other disabilities affecting our preschool communities. For National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day, we ask that you share this blog post, raise awareness and tag a friend who is affect by Cerebral Palsy!

Building Communities Through The Inclusion of Children
With Special Needs and Their Families

The Adaptive Learning Center is joining together with Down Syndrome International, as well as other organizations worldwide, to raise awareness for Down Syndrome and the importance of inclusive environments.

This year’s campaign is “My Friends, My Community” for World Down Syndrome Day.   The purpose of this theme is to show the benefits of inclusive environments for today’s children and tomorrow’s adults affected by Down Syndrome. 

ALC believes inclusion for all children with special needs not only benefits the child, but the entire community.  When children with Down syndrome and other disabilities are given opportunities to participate, all children benefit from this shared environment of friendship, acceptance and respect for everyone and high expectations are created.

We hope you will join to raise awareness for the importance of an inclusive environment and Down Syndrome.  Share this information with others and email us your story at ascii(alckids.social@gmail.com)!

Background of World Down Syndrome Day:
WDSD is a global awareness day recognised since 2012 by the UN, which takes place on 21 March every year (21 March, or 21:3, signifies the triplication of chromosome 21, unique to persons with Down syndrome). On 19 December 2011, the United Nations General Assembly declared 21 March as World Down Syndrome Day (A/RES/66/149). Global activities and events around WDSD each year, organised by persons with Down syndrome, their families, friends and advocates, work to raise awareness of what Down syndrome is, what it means to have Down syndrome, and how people with Down syndrome play a vital role in our lives and communities.

What is ALC?
We are the only organization in Georgia that fully integrates children with special needs into typical preschools – with individualized support from special education support teachers. Our partnerships with some of Atlanta’s finest preschools enable children to learn and play alongside their peers in a warm and caring environment. In classes with 90 percent or more typical children, children with disabilities learn not just basic academic skills; they discover important life lessons through interactions with other children and adults.

What is an Inclusion Preschool?
Inclusion is the full and active participation of children with disabilities or other special needs, along with typically developing children, in community activities, services and programs, including preschool.