Cerebral Palsy Books

I've collected a long list of books, most of which are available for sale from Amazon.com. These range from medical texts discussing the causes and various forms of cerebral palsy to children's books meant to introduce kids to cerebral palsy and what it means to have it. Take a look and hopefully you will find something helpful. I've tried to divide them up into categories, but don't limit yourself to any one section.

Click on a section to jump to it.

Mostly for Medical Professionals

Mostly for Parents/Caregivers

Personal Stories of Living with Cerebral Palsy

Children's Books Dealing with Cerebral Palsy

More Technical Books - Useful for medical professionals and those seeking advance knowledge.

• Cerebral Palsy - Dr. Miller’s valuable resource helps members of the medical team navigate the complexity of cerebral palsy care. Readers will become familiar with treatments that fall outside of their own disciplines while also benefiting from a review of current practices in their own fields. This comprehensive reference outlines the etiology of cerebral palsy and presents a description of muscle tone and movement problems.
• Cerebral Palsy: A Developmental Disability
• Treating Cerebral Palsy: For Clinicians by Clinicians
• The Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium on Hyperbaric Oxygenation for Cerebral Palsy and the Brain-Injured Child - These Proceedings feature scientific papers presented by medical practioners from more than 14 counties who are studying the effets of hyperbaric oxygenation on cerebral palsy and traumatic brain injuries.
• Early Diagnosis and Interventional Therapy in Cerebral Palsy: An Interdisciplinary Age-Focused Approach - Highlights specific concerns about diagnosis and treatment of cerebral palsy in infants from birth to three years. Topics include trends in etiology and epidemiology, clinical assessment of the infant, research and cerebral palsy, and assessment and treatment planning. This third edition reflects changes in the field based on advances in molecular and cellular research, developmental neurology, screening, and interventional therapy.
• Neurosurgery: Management of Spacticity in Cerebral Palsy Spinal Cord Injury
• Cerebral Palsy (Health Watch)
• Cerebral Palsy: Principles And Management - This collection of papers by German and Greek authors gives background information on cerebral palsy and describes recent research in its characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment. Papers include overviews of the history, classification, incidence and prevalence of the condition; studies in etiology, neuropathology, clinical characteristics and differential diagnosis; and the relationship of cerebral palsy to post-traumatic brain damage and epilepsy.
• 21st Century Complete Medical Guide to Cerebral Palsy, Authoritative Government Documents, Clinical References, and Practical Information for Patients and Physicians (CD-ROM).
• The Treatment of Gait Problems in Cerebral Palsy - James Gage and a range of experts who manage gait problems in cerebral palsy examine the way the brain controls locomotion and the types of brain pathology associated with cerebral palsy. Current treatment modalities and treatments of specific gait problems are covered in detail, including computerized gait analysis and methods of assessing the child and evaluating treatment outcomes.
• Posture and Movement of the Child With Cerebral Palsy
• Cerebral Palsy Resource Guide for Speech-Language Pathologists - A practical tool providing speech-language pathologists working in schools, clinics, or medical settings with information regarding the assessment and treatment of communication and feeding/swallowing disorders in children and adults with cerebral palsy.
• Caring for Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Teambased Approach - An interdisciplinary reference for team-based, collaborative care of children with cerebral palsy. Twenty-one chapters detail information on diagnosis, management of impairments, optimizing function and preventing disability, and preventing handicap by creating opportunities.
• Treatment of Cerebral Palsy and Motor Delay - Provides an outline of therapeutic approaches and suggests treatment options for children with cerebral palsy. Suggests the employment of the author's Collaborative Learning Approach and offers a new chapter on adolescents and adults with cerebral palsy. Abundantly illustrated with halftone photos.
• Management of the Motor Disorders of Children with Cerebral Palsy - Covers all aspects of the treatment of cerebral palsy, providing an up to date approach. Discusses the various types of cerebral palsy, assessment techniques, goal setting, learning and neural plasticity, and more.

Books mostly for Parents and Caregivers.

• Living With Cerebral Palsy - Introduces readers to the disease of cerebral palsy, its causes, how it affects the body, and what it's like to live with the disease.
• Handling the Young Child With Cerebral Palsy at Home - A practical manual for parents and other caregivers, explaining medical aspects of the condition, answering questions, and suggesting ways to help children accomplish routine activities. The word "handling" in the title is meant literally, with chapters on teaching methods emphasizing innovative ways parents can position and support a child to help him practice newly acquired motor skills throughout the day.
• The Child With Special Needs: Encouraging Intellectual and Emotional Growth - Nature or nurture. One of the most intense debates in understanding the development of the human mind is whether cognitive ability is based in genetics or developed through learning experiences. While biology clearly plays a part, recent neuroscience research shows that the interactions experienced during infancy and childhood can actually change the physical structure and wiring of the brain.
• Cerebral Palsy: A Complete Guide for Caregiving - A guide for parents and caregivers of children and adults with cerebral palsy (CP), as well as for adolescents and adults with the condition. Part I provides an overview of CP and explains the medical and psychosocial implications of associated conditions, offering advice for parents on becoming an advocate for their child. Part II contains practical information on caregiving and medical procedures. Part III defines and describes medical terms and diagnoses, surgical procedures, and assistive devices. Includes a list of resources and recommended reading.
• Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Manual for Therapists, Parents and Community Workers - This book was written for therapists but the clear line illustrations, glossary and minimal use of technical terms will ensure that parents and community workers will also find the book useful and informative.
• Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Parents' Guide - A revised and updated edition of this classic primer for parents provides a complete spectrum of information and compassionate advice about cerebral palsy and its effect on their child's development and education. Covers: Diagnosis, Medical Issues, Family Life, Legal Rights, Early Intervention, Coping, Therapies, Treatment, Development, Advocacy, Special Education, Daily Care.
• Cerebral Palsy - An information portal with lots of different information concerning cerebral palsy.
• Vocational Training and Curriculum for Multihandicapped Youth with Cerebral Palsy - Curriculum manual describes how to develop employment skills in areas involving technology for multihandicapped students with physical and communication problems
• Coping With Cerebral Palsy: Answers to Questions Parents Often Ask
• Uncommon Voyage 2 Ed: Parenting a Special Needs Child - Uncommon Voyage, first published in 1996, documented Laura Shapiro Kramer’s search for alternative treatments for her son Seth’s cerebral palsy in the face of an uncomprehending medical establishment. In this revised and expanded edition, the author redefines the main complementary therapies discussed earlier and explores new solutions she and Seth have discovered.
• The Official Parent's Sourcebook on Cerebral Palsy - This book has been created for parents who have decided to make education and research an integral part of the treatment process. Although it also gives information useful to doctors, caregivers and other health professionals, it tells parents where and how to look for information covering virtually all topics related to cerebral palsy, from the essentials to the most advanced areas of research.
• Keys to Parenting a Child With Cerebral Palsy - This book covers Cerebral Palsy, and what it is like to have a child with cerebral palsy. It talks about the family dynamics, how to encourage your child to be independent, how to handle friends, and how to discuss the disability.
• Cerebral Palsy: The Child and Young Person - This book provides a description of the development of children and teenagers with cerebral palsy. The authors describe the emotional, neurological, social, and motor control issues in a straightforward and succinct way.
• My Perfect Son Has Cerebral Palsy: A Mother's Guide of Helpful Hints

Personal Stories concerning cerebral palsy.

• From Where I Sit: Making My Way With Cerebral Palsy - An autobiography by Shelley Nixon in which she talks about growing up with cerebral palsy. Howerver, she does not let her condition dominate her story. Instead, she writes about childhood, friendships, family, crushes, and art - all things important to her.
• The Courage to Live: Donna Gustavel's Triumph Over Cerebral Palsy and Deafness.
• Yes, I Can!: Challenging Cerebral Palsy - Stacy shares the difficulties of having cerebral palsy, and how, in spite of those difficulties, she lives a happy and fulfilling life.
• From Cp to CPA: One Mans Triumph Over the Disability of Cerebral Palsy - An uplifting personal testimony of Robin Pritts drive to achieve his dreams and overcome barriers set in his path by cerebral palsy. Tracing his journey from a Special Education classroom to the University of Illinois where he successfully obtained CPA certification, From CP to CPA is a motivational and inspirational life journey which is very highly recommended reading for anyone having to cope with a life-altering disability, injury, or illness.
• Step by Step: Real Life Experiences With Cerebral Palsy - There are many children born with Cerebral Palsy who are unable to sit up, play or even do the simplest tasks. Colleen Rose, mother of four whose second child, born in 1983, was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at the age of a year, has written a self-help book entitled "Step by Step" (Real Life Experiences with Cerebral Palsy).

Children's Books dealing with cerebral palsy.

• Howie Helps Himself - Though he enjoys life with his family and attends school, Howie, a child with cerebral palsy, wants more than anything else to be able to move his wheelchair by himself.
• Rolling Along: The Story of Taylor and His Wheelchair - A glimpse into the life of a young boy with cerebral palsy. Taylor describes his condition, aspects of his daily activities at home and at school, and his desire for independence.
• Nathan's Wish: A Story About Cerebral Palsy - This book is about a boy who searches for a way to help an injured bird become rehabilitated, not realizing that what he finds will help transform his life as well.
• Taking Cerebral Palsy to School - Even though Chad has cerebral palsy, he can still attend school and do many of the same things as his classmates. Written from Chad's perspective, this book answers many of the questions his classmates have but may be too scared or uncomfortable to ask.
• Stretching Ourselves: Kids With Cerebral Palsy - In a straightforward essay, Carter talks about three children with cerebral palsy, a disease that affects the control of voluntary muscles. Emily, Tanner, and Nic have varying degrees of CP. They are shown doing regular kid things--going to school and playing with friends--as well as undergoing physical therapy and using a computer to communicate..
• Going Places: Children Living With Cerebral Palsy - Mathias, six-years-old, was born with cerebral palsy and subsequently diagnosed as almost totally deaf. But he is a happy child, spinning through the garden in his electric wheelchair, miming guitar on a tennis racket, and kneading dough. Readers follow him through examinations, various therapies, riding horseback, ice-skating, etc.; mostly they witness a busy, good-natured child adjusting to his limitations.