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Various types of equipment are used in the aid of CP children and adults. They are: wheelchairs, communication aids, walkers, helmets, and adaptive silverware and writing utensils.
Wheelchairs
When a child or adult can't or has a difficult time walking, a wheelchair is used. Many CP children have the ability to use their arms, which allows them to push themselves in the chair. Besides a manual wheelchair [one that you push yourself], there are motorized ones as well. A motor is attached to the chair and it makes the wheels turn.Communication Aids
A communication aid is used when the person can't talk or when their speech is difficult to understand. As I said in a previous page, a communication aid can be a book, an alphabet board, a poster with pictures, and even a computer. Not every CP child or adult has good use of their hands to type on a computer keyboard, so special computers have switches that allow the computer to speak for the person. These switches are pushed on by the child using different parts of their body, such as: a hand, a foot, a head, or a chin.Walkers
Because many have poor balance, they use the aid of a walker. A walker is used much like a wheelchair [to move about], except it permits the person to walk. A walker is made of metal with four legs. The ends of the legs might consist of: four wheels, four rubber cups, or a combination of the two.