HR 625

Subject

Cerebral palsy prevalence, symptoms, and co-occurring conditions

Overview

This bill designates October 6, 2026, as "World Cerebral Palsy Day" within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The legislation serves as a ceremonial resolution to raise awareness regarding cerebral palsy, a group of disorders affecting movement, balance, and posture caused by abnormal brain development or damage before birth.

The text provides factual context on the condition, noting it is the most common movement disability in children, affecting roughly 1 in 345 people in the United States. It details various causes including gene mutations, maternal infections, and lack of oxygen, and describes four main types: spastic, dyskinetic, ataxic, and mixed. The bill further outlines symptoms such as stiff muscles, tremors, and difficulty walking, while acknowledging that there is currently no known cure, though treatments can improve motor and communication skills. It also cites statistics regarding the average lifetime care costs of approximately $1.6 million.

Key Provisions

• Designates October 6, 2026, as "World Cerebral Palsy Day" in Pennsylvania.
• Recognizes cerebral palsy as the most common movement disability in children in the United States.
• Identifies specific causes including gene mutations, fetal stroke, and traumatic head injury.
• Lists four primary classifications of the disorder: spastic, dyskinetic, ataxic, and mixed types.
• Notes the average lifetime cost of care for an individual with cerebral palsy is $1.6 million.