Jackson girl with cerebral palsy featured in St. Louis health panel today

Elle McCadams is only 6, but today she will be teaching some adults a few things about cerebral palsy. McCadams will join several other young children who have cerebral palsy in a panel discussion moderated by U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson at the Eric P. Newman Education Center of the Washington University Medical Center in St. Louis.

The afternoon panel is part of the fifth annual Cerebral Palsy Conference, subtitled "Building the Road to Independence," organized by the Pediatric Neurology Cerebral Palsy Center at St. Louis Children's Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. The conference is aimed at physicians, parents, caregivers and therapists.

"It's for the parents to figure out what road to take, as far as schools, individualized educational programs, medications, braces and mobility devices. It's a great conference," said Nickie McCadams, Elle's mother. "One of her physical therapists at [St. Louis Children[']s Hospital] called me up and said she thought Elle would do a great job and asked if I was interested."

The McCadams live in Jackson. Elle, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as an infant, is a twin; her sister Sophia does not have cerebral palsy but has been invited to join her sister on the panel.

Cerebral palsy is a medical condition caused by a permanent brain injury at or shortly after birth that results in a lack of muscle control and movement.

"People automatically assume people with cerebral palsy have some mental disorder as well, but most of the time these children are just as sharp as the next, they are just physically slower," Nickie McCadams said.

For more information on the two-day conference, visit cme.wustl.edu/cp.