The first time I was introduced to cerebral palsy, I was in 7th grade. My teacher told me to imagine I had 5 rubber bands wrapped around my hand – that was what it was like for someone with cerebral palsy. I couldn’t imagine living a life where I wasn’t in control of my own muscles. It felt so unfair, and I realized that that could have been me. I could have been the person who was trapped inside their own body, and I knew how frustrating that would have been. I think because I was introduced to this disorder so early on, I have always had a special desire to help, which is why I chose to do this project. I created an orthotic to help children with spastic cerebral palsy move their hand. Little electrical currents relax the muscles in the hand and motors pull the hand open, stretching out the hand and making it easier for the child to move. Children with cerebral palsy will regain control of their hands so they too can learn and play and explore the world around them.
