It’s been 75 years since the Calgary Cerebral Palsy Association was formed by a small group of parents whose children were newly diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP). The parents wanted to get their kids into schools and active in the community. “They formed the group on June 13, 1951,” said Sheralee Stelter, executive director. “We’ve since changed our operating name to Cerebral Palsy Kids and Families, but that handful of parents, I believe there were five of them, has grown to thousands of families that have been through our agency over the last 75 years.” Stelter says in that time, the organization has become the go-to for parents who have a son or daughter born with the neurological disorder caused by abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain in utero. “When you get that (diagnosis), it’s just a kick in the stomach, and we’re there usually at the onset of diagnosis,” she said. “We’ve got a peer support program where families can connect with other parents with similar disabilities or abilities that their child might have, but we’re there from the very beginning and we just walk along them throughout their life’s journey.” Stelter says the people running the programs are key. All have children with CP, including her. Stelter’s son’s name is Taylor, who’s 31 years old. “I was looking for solutions when my son was little; he was born in 1995,” she said. “I was looking in the Encyclopedia Britannica, the medical guide, to try and figure out what cerebral palsy was and it was just like, ‘OK, there just has to be a better way.’” Stelter joined Cerebral Palsy Kids and Families 26 years ago. Then, it was her and one other staff member. Now, there are 18 and the charity continues to grow and add more programs for families. “The families we get to see have grown,” she said. “We’ve increased our programs and services and have just been able to really change the lives of our kiddos and support those parents for whatever they need.” Cerebral Palsy Kids and Families operates one of the largest cycling initiatives in the country with an inventory of close to 700 adaptive bicycles and tricycles to buy or rent along with teaching children how to ride. It also hosts summer camps, adaptive dance and a soccer program. Emily Jackson got her start with the organization 14 years ago when she was looking for a bicycle for her two-year-old daughter, Piper. She does counselling for parents and caregivers who are raising children with complex needs. “The lived experience is very valued in counselling. I think families feel like they’ve come to a place where somebody really understands what they’re experiencing,” she said. “(Cerebral Palsy Kids and Families) was here in a time of need for me when I was desperate for something, and now I can provide support and counselling and resources and advocacy for other families in similar situations to mine.” Trish Crisp’s son, Kale, is 22 years old and made use of all the adaptive bikes while he was growing up—five in total. Crisp is now the donor relations manager and knows the benefits Cerebral Palsy Kids and Families provides to parents. “It’s life-changing once you start talking to people who have been through it,” she said. “At the beginning, it’s really, really, hard and so to speak to somebody who has gone through what you’re navigating through blindly is life-changing.” You can learn more about the organization at https://www.calgarycp.org/.
