Leaflets and booklets

The information all the HemiHelp leaflets and booklets is available on this website, in html format - just follow the text links listed below.

But if you'd prefer to have a paper copy, you can always order one or more leaflets from the Hemihelp office using our Publications order form, or download our leaflets in pdf format and print them out.

When reading these leaflets please do bear in mind that the difficulties faced by children and young people with hemiplegia vary enormously in range and severity, and that some leaflets deal with more serious problems which affect only a minority of people with hemiplegia.

Hemiplegia

What is hemiplegia?
General information on hemiplegia and HemiHelp.
A downloadable version of this leaflet will be available soon!

You have just been told your child has hemiplegia
Information for parents/carers whose child has just been diagnosed.

Family and friends
A short introduction to hemiplegia, and how to help a child with hemiplegia, for family and friends.

Education

Guidelines for teachers - Pre-school
A booklet aimed at pre-school teachers.

Guidelines for teachers - Primary school
A booklet aimed at primary school teachers, focusing on the challenges faced by pupils with hemiplegia.

Guidelines for teachers - Secondary education
A booklet for secondary school teachers. Children with hemiplegia face not only physical challenges at school - many of them have additional problems which affect their school lives. The more teachers understand the effects of hemiplegia, the greater the help they can offer the child. Parents and carers also find these booklets give them more insight into their child’s condition.
This booklet will be available for download soon!

The inclusion of children with cerebral palsy - including hemiplegia - in early years settings
HemiHelp, in conjunction with Scope, has produced this leaflet which is a comprehensive run down of guidance for early years workers. Headings include "Handling a child with cerebral palsy", "Changing clothes", "Communication" and "Playing and learning".

Early communication for children with complex needs
This is also produced in conjunction with Scope and is about early communication for children with complex needs and covers different strategies for communication between the child and their carer. Aimed at those with communication difficulties, it suggests strategies that include equipment and toys and seating and also lists further resources.

Friendship and popularity in mainstream primary schools
The inclusion of children and young people with disabilities in mainstream education is not just a question of ramps and adapted toilets. Dr Carole Yude summarises the results of her study of how children and young people with hemiplegia fare in another important area - relations with their schoolmates.

Associated problems

Epilepsy
Over one in five children with hemiplegia also have epilepsy. This leaflet was produced jointly by HemiHelp and the National Society for Epilepsy.

What you see – Visual perceptual difficulties in hemiplegia
Many children and young people with hemiplegia have difficulty organising the information coming to their brain from their eyes, which can lead to serious problems with everything from drawing a straight line to finding their way about. A look at the problem and how to minimise its effects.

Emotional and behavioural difficulties in children and young people with hemiplegia
Working with children with hemiplegia, Robert Goodman, Professor of Brain and Behavioural Medicine, began to suspect that many of them had psychological problems out of proportion to the frustration caused by their physical disability. He embarked upon a research study which confirmed that this was the case. In this leaflet he summarises his findings and suggests how children can be helped with these problems.

Coping with behaviour problems
Research has demonstrated that problems associated with hemiplegia can be more disabling than the hemiplegia itself and behaviour problems could certainly fall into this category. But how do you cope day to day? Written by a child psychologist these excellent strategies look at how your response can have a huge impact on the child.

Treatments

Botulinum Toxin and Hemiplegia
A guide to the use of Botulinum Toxin injections as part of a movement therapy programme.

Orthopaedic surgery for hemiplegia
Hemiplegia often causes tightening of muscles which, if unchecked, can lead to serious deformity in the affected limbs. For some children physiotherapy and possibly splinting are effective in reducing this problem, but for others surgical correction needs to be considered. A Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon discusses the procedures used.

Foot and ankle splints or orthoses
Splinting is one of the most common treatments for the impaired gait often associated with hemiplegia. An experienced orthotist explains the various types of splint and how they work.

What is Dynamic Lycra Splinting and does it work?
This type of splint, also known as 'Second Skin', has had wide publicity, but is not suitable for every child. A Senior Occupational Therapist looks at the issues.

A second bite at the cherry - an alternative approach to physiotherapy
As children get older, they get fed up with physiotherapy. An experienced physiotherapist shares his ideas on how involvement in sports and hobbies can provide an excellent substitute.

Everyday living

Equipment
From cutlery to climbing frames. An extensive list of things to make the child’s everyday life easier, and where to get them.

Dressing
Hints on helping the child become more independent, and where to find the clothes that will make it easier.

Shoes
Finding suitable footwear is one of the most common problems faced by parents and carers of children and young people with hemiplegia. This lists companies who will provide odd sized pairs, Velcro fastenings etc.

Shoe Lacing
Yes, you can do it one-handed (diagrams supplied). Or do you prefer stretchy laces? All you ever wanted to know about this tricky problem.

Activities

A sporting chance
A guide to sports organisations for children and young people with hemiplegia in the UK.

Bikes
Children of all ages love to ride a bike and children and young people with hemiplegia are no different, though they may take longer to learn and some may need a three-wheeler or other specialised bike. This leaflet will help them get started.

Music
A weak arm may seem rather a hindrance to playing a musical instrument, but many instruments can be played with one hand, or hands of differing strengths, and the pleasure of music making may encourage the child to make more use of their affected hand.

Tweaking and adapting computers
AbilityNet is a national organisation offering advice and information to disabled people on “adaptive technology”. All too often it is tempting to continue to use a computer as it came, straight from the box, but often a few simple tweaks and adaptations can make the system more useable.

Driving
Many people with hemiplegia are able to drive a car, providing it has automatic gears, power steering and steering and indicator adaptations. Where to go for advice, assessment and instruction.

Benefits and legislation

It's for your benefit
A guide to some benefits, tax credits and other financial help

Guidelines for completing DLA forms
Straightforward, step-by-step instructions to guide you through the complicated procedure of filling out the Disabled Living Allowance Application Form. Written by a parent these simple guidelines have been referred to time and time again resulting in a head ache free process and many successful applications.

New legislation on disability and Special Educational Needs
In May 2001 the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act became law. Together with the accompanying Code of Practice, the rights of children and young people with special educational needs are strengthened particularly in regard to being educated in mainstream schools. This leaflet explains how.

Useful contacts

Useful names and addresses
Organisations members might find helpful, dealing with everything from benefits to basketball.