LeagueNews - Cerebral Palsy League

National trial results
THE Queensland Health Minister
launched the Australian Cerebral Palsy
Register Conference, which presented
the analysed results of a national trial
classification of cerebral palsy system
in Brisbane during October at the Royal
Children’s Hospital.
The Queensland Cerebral Palsy Register
participated in the trials, which
represented a potential international
breakthrough in recording and analysing
clinical symptoms of people with
cerebral palsy.
The next step in implementing the
classification system will be testing its
effectiveness with university students and
other clinicians across the country to
use.
Following the results of this trial, further
changes may be made before the
system can be promoted for use
throughout Australia and offered
internationally.
Manager of the Queensland Cerebral
Palsy Register, Michael deLacy, said
Witness: Minister for Health Hon Stephen
Robertson witnessed the application of
the 1200th participant in the Queensland
Cerebral Palsy Register: James FitzGerald,
2, pictured with his mum Leone at the
Australian Cerebral Palsy Register
Conference.
Results of a national trial classification
system of cerebral palsy were announced
at the conference, which was held in
October, in Brisbane.
more consistent and transferable data
within registers, achieved by a universal
classification system, will fast track
research into causes and preventions
of cerebral palsy.
“With a greater resource of information
to use for research, identifying potential
causes will speed up exponentially and
this will lead us to preventions,” Mr
deLacy said.
Parents of eighteen-month old
Brisbane resident, James FitzGerald,
signed James onto the Queensland
Cerebral Palsy Register, which now
includes some 1,200 Queenslanders
with cerebral palsy, during the
conference.
James was recently diagnosed with
cerebral palsy, which affects the
mobility in his legs and means he is
not yet walking, crawling or sitting up
unassisted.
It is not possible to confirm the cause
of James’ disability.
James’ parents said they supported the
Register to contribute to better
research into cerebral palsy that will
lead to better treatment and possible
prevention.
For information on the Queensland
Cerebral Palsy Register:
www.qcpr.org.au
Film and Fanfare
TEN young actors found new
talents when producing
Inside-Outside, a DVD
documentary exploring the
experience of discrimination
for young people with
disabilities, through Screech
Theatre Company, a troupe of
young actors with mixed
abilities.
The actors reached another
milestone in their remarkable
journey which has spanned
more than three years when
Brisbane film-maker, Luke
Mansour, joined Screech to
help the troupe plan, film and
produce the documentary.
Facilitator Chris Pye of
Interaction Drama and
Cerebral Palsy League
occupational therapist, Margo
Wratten said they saw the
project as a way for children
who attended Screech to learn
and grow from their traditional
experiences of performing on
stage.
“Each year Screech facilitates
a series of skills development
workshops through which
young actors develop a
performance to showcase
their hard work and talent as a
final project,” Ms Wratten said.
Both Chris and Margo also
worked to secure funding to
enable Screech to continue
each year and set the
groundwork for another year of
operation in 2007.
Continuing in their stead will be
Alex McCullum as Creative
Director and Faye Carver as
Screech Coordinator.
The Inside-Outside DVD is
available for purchase from
the League for $10.
Further information:
Caitlin Neville
Phone: 07 3347 7200
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