On June 23, 2017 clinicians, researchers, and community agencies from Western New England gathered at the Shriners Hospitals for Children for the first annual symposium. This symposium brought together representatives from families, academic institutions, healthcare organizations, and local agencies in the area to:
- Discuss how we currently meet the needs of individuals with cerebral palsy
- Identify needs for clinical care, research, and education
- Improve how we are working together
Participants were highly engaged in sharing challenges and success, networking, and brainstorming on the region’s strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats to improving the health and wellbeing of individuals with cerebral palsy across the lifespan. The group plans to capture more information from families and individuals with cerebral palsy via a survey this fall and hold additional meetings in October of 2017 and March of 2018 to develop goals and a strategic plan.
The group is highly energized to impact local policy, service delivery, and to provide education for the empowerment of providers, families, and individuals.
The University of Hartford Institute for Translational Research and the Shriners Hospitals for Children sponsored the event.
