Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center, Inc.
338 Main Street, Niantic, CT 06357
Toll Free: 1-800-445-CPAC
Phone: (860)739-3089 V/TDD Fax:(860)739-7460

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WHAT'S NEW!
 

CPAC Welcomes New Staff Person

CPAC is pleased to welcome Andrea Deshefy as a new Parent Consultant.  Andrea is the mother of three grown children, two of whom have severe hearing impairments. In addition to her years of parenting experience, Andrea is a certified general education teacher who has worked as both Director and teacher of a nursery school/day care facility.  She has first-hand experience including young children with a variety of needs and has worked hard to support the families that are part of her program.  We think that Andrea has found the perfect niche to maintain her commitment to "seeing that the voice of all children be heard" and we look forward to working with her.
 

Maria Ortiz, CPAC's staff member in our New Britain office, is no longer available to assist parents in the Greater Hartford area. We will miss Maria and wish her well in her future endeavors.  Parents seeking information or advice are encouraged to call our main office at 1-800-445-2722.  Bi-lingual assistance is available by calling 1-203-776-3211.

The Human performance Laboratory at Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children's Hospitals in St. Louis, Missouri, is seeking children with cerebral palsy (CP) to serve as controls for an NIH-FUNDED research project.

WHO:  children with spastic diplegia CP must be 4 to 25 years of age and ambulating independently, or with crutches or canes (orthotics are acceptable).
PURPOSES: To study the effectiveness of the selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) surgical procedure and development objective method to help select candidates.
METHODS:  Four groups of children are being recruited.
    Group 1 will undergo the SDR and have intensive physical therapy (PT).
    Group 2 will not undergo the SDR but will have intensive PT.
    Group 3 will not under go the SDR and will continue with their current PT.
    Group 4 wil be children with able bodies.

We are currently recruiting children for Groups 2 and 3.  No surgery will be performed on these children.  Children who are randomly assigned to the Group 2 will have intensive PT (3-4 times/week) in their hometown paid by the grant.  Children will be tested 4 times over a 22 month period.  Tests will include an analysis of gait, strength and spasticity (ankle, knee, hip), oxygen uptake, gross motor function measure (GMFM) and disability questionnaire.  All tests will be paid by the grant.  Substantial participation incentives are provided to offset patient expenses and minimize attrition.

For more information please contact:
Sandy A. Ross, MHS, PT, PCS
Senior Physical Therapist
Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children's Hospital
Department of Rehabilitation at Washington University
4555 Forest Park Parkway
St. Louis, Missouri  63108
Phone:    (314)454-8335
Fax:       (314)454-5388
E-mail:    sross@roadrunner.carenet.org
E-mail:    for the Human Performance Lab:  roadrunner.carenet.org
(grant summary and more information, click on "Subject Recruitment")