48TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN PALSY AND 1994

Ross Mitcliell

ACADEMY FOR CEREBRAL DEVELOPMENTAL ME DlCl N E,

The 1994 meeting of the Academy must surely rank high amongst the 48 Annual Meetings in its history, and it was certainly the best I have attended. I n content and presentation it was quite outstanding, and the quality was enhanced by the charm and excitement of New Orleans, and by the superb appointments of the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The heavy rain at times during the meeting was a mixed blessing, for while i t discouraged exploration of the city i t must have increased attendance at the various sessions and seminars-already well supported.

The main theme of the meeting was ‘Accessing the World for Persons with Disability’ and a number of important issues were considered. among them ways of removing the barriers which prevent people with disabilities from realising their full potential and living productive lives, and ways of improving the access they have to health and social services. While these and related topics were the cynosure of the niecting. material presented in the scminars and teaching sessions was, as usual. on a great variety of themes, and those that I attended were of a very high standard. I f I were to voice any criticism. it would be that the sound insulation between seminar rooms left something to be desired and attention might profitably be devoted to this o n future occasions. because listening to two presentations simultaneously does tend to impair concentration!

The highlights of the proceedings were undoubtedly the unorthodox and highly entertaining address by the President, Helen Horstmann, and the spellbinding dis- course by her principal guest, Al Condeluci, who started out in his exploration of disability from his own family. Equally impressive was the presentation by the Cathleen Lyle Murray lecturer, John Kemp. himself a disabled person who took us through the jungle of changes that have occurred in society’s approach to dis- ability. On a personal note. the warm tribute paid t o Mac Keith Press by the President from the rostrum was greatly appreciated.

There were several interesting symposia, first on ‘ITinancing health care for children with disabilities’ which perhaps not surprisingly did not come up with anything very much in the way of solutions; ‘Growing older with cerebral palsy‘ 3 75

drew attention to a much neglected field that at last is beginning to receive the attention i t deserves; and finally, 'Interdisciplinary treatment of spasticity'- 'interdisciplinary' is an old word, but we have to re-invent i t regularly.

Family Forum took place again. This was rather a large group which made dis- course between professionals and parents and disabled people themselves some- what clumsy. I wonder if breaking this up into smaller groups of activity might not be more useful. There were some 30 Instructional Courses to select from, and Free Papers covered a broad range of topics. As ever, we await with interest the decision by the panel as to which they thought the best.

The value of the whole meeting was greatly increased by the substantial con- tribution from people with cerebral palsy, recounting their experiences and giving their views to complement those of the professionals. This is ;i welcome trend which should be encouraged, for i t brings reality to what may sometimes be too theoretical a presentation.

Education and information are the bricks of which Academy meetings are built. but informal 'out-of-school' discussion is the mortar which binds them together. All who were in New Orleans benefited by exchanges with colleagues trom New York to San Francisco and from Toronto to Ilallas-at breakfast, during coffee breaks in the excellent trade exhibition. and i n corners of the hotel foyer. As a Mayo alumnus. I particularly enjoyed hearing news of former Rochester associ- ates. We all share happy memories of convivial evenings in the French Quarter with friends. at such fine restaurants as the Court of the Two Sisters, Tegagues or Nola's, or simply strolling through the streets listening to the jazz spilling o u t from Preservation Hall. The Annual Meeting o f the Academy is such a valuable and enjoyable experience that I sometimes wonder i f those members who do not attend regularly realisc what they are missing. Sadly. this was my own last mcet- ing as chairman of Mac Keith Press. but I hope to be back in future as a Foreign Corresponding Mcni be r.

Ez'

Mac Keith Meeting: Cerebral Palsy- The Children Get the Treatment, But the Adults Live the Lives Lotdoi i , I7t/i ibfay 1995

Behind all the discussions about the differ- ent treatments for children with cerebral palsy lie niore fundamental questions: what are their likely priorities as adults'? How soon should these influence the aims of

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managcnient during childhood? The follow- ing speakers will be introducing topics related to thesc themes for discussion by participants froin. we hope, many disci- plines: 1 felene Cockerill, Prof. Kevin Connolly, Dr Robert Goodman, Prof. David llall, Prof. Sheila lfollins, Dr Jean-Pierre I.in. Paul Pimm. Dr Sheena Rcilly, Anthony Robertson. David Scrutton. Registration fee: f30.00 per person. to include coffee, lunch and tea. Further details can be obtained from Nechama Lewis, the Royal Society of Medicine, 1 Wimpole Street. London WI,M 8AE, U K . Tel: 0171 290 2984; Fax: 0171 290 2989.