OBJECTIVE: To describe the school distribution of a group of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) and to analyze the impact of gross motor function and other deficits in the inclusion process. METHODS: Prospective study of patients from de Outpatient Clinic for Cerebral Palsy of the Federal University of Paraná, Brazil, in 2005. Parents or caregivers completed a questionnaire about type of school attended at the moment, learning disabilities, and need for psychopedagogic and speech-language support. Data collected included who was primary caregiver, his/her school level and per capita income. Data obtained from medical records were: perinatal and post natal antecedents, topographic classification of CP and motor function (Gross Motor Function Classification System - GMFCS), speech classification and presence of epilepsy. RESULTS: 105 children and adolescents were included. Mean age was 10.8 years old and 61 (58%) were male; 97 (92%) attended school, with 36 (34%) in regular classes, 7 (6.5%) in special classes and 54 (51%) in special schools. Most of the children attending regular school had GMFCS level I or II, hemiplegia, absence of epilepsy or good control of seizures and either normal speech or dysarthria. Those in special schools had GMFCS levels III, IV or V, diplegia or tetraplegia, refractory epilepsy and a delayed speech or muteness. CONCLUSIONS: Up to now, inclusion of children with CP in regular schools proved to be indicated for those hemiplegic, with GMFCS level I or II, without epilepsy and with normal speech.
cerebral palsy; school inclusion; child; adolescent
