Employment and social issues in adults with cerebral palsy

Abstract

Objective: To assess the social and employment status of adults with cerebral palsy.

Design: Detailed medical history, physical examination, and functional rating in the PULTIBEC system were performed on all study participants; they also responded to a standardized social adaptation questionnaire.

Setting: Outpatient clinic.

Subjects: Volunteer participants (n = 101), all with cerebral palsy, between the ages of 27 and 74 years, living independently in the community.

Results: More than 80% wished that their physician knew more about cerebral palsy. The majority (84%) felt their parents overprotected them in childhood. More than 90% desired more sexual education. More than half (67%) lived independently, 34% with and 33% without attendant. Of the 53% who were competitively employed, 22% earned an income high enough that advancement would cause financial loss through termination of disability benefits. Speech deficits severely compromised functional verbal communication in 50%. Type of employment correlated more with adequate cognition than with physical or communicative impairments.

Conclusions: Compared with earlier studies, the present study showed more adults with cerebral palsy achieving competitive employment and independent living, despite moderate to severe physical disability. Advances in rehabilitation technology, better home support services, and legal mandates in education and environmental access may have facilitated positive change for persons with cerebral palsy. Further studies are encouraged with emphasis on longitudinal designs.