Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy

Toll-free: 1-877-244-9686

Email: info@ofcp.ca

ofcp.ca

Family playing with their kid, who has cerebral palsy. The logo of Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy is on the corner.

Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy

Toll-free: 1-877-244-9686

Email: info@ofcp.ca

ofcp.ca

The Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy works to address the needs of people with cerebral palsy in Ontario. 

Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term for a number of disorders that impair the brain’s control of muscles related to movement and posture. Cerebral palsy can affect a person’s balance, posture, ability to move, and speech. Most cases of Cerebral palsy are related to brain injuries that occur either before, during, or within a few weeks of birth. As a result, children with cerebral palsy may also experience other challenges, such as seizures or problems with sensation, perception, communication, learning, and behaviour. 

Each case of cerebral palsy is different and each person’s life with cerebral palsy is unique. Some people with cerebral palsy experience very mild symptoms, such as a slight weakness on one side of the body, while others experience more serious limitations and require assistance with daily living. Cerebral palsy is the most common physical disability diagnosed in children in Canada, and about 34,000 people are living with cerebral palsy in Canada today.

The charity has made a huge difference for my daughter. 

Click to see video transcript

Gordana Skrba:
The Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy is a not-for-profit charitable organisation dedicated to supporting people with cerebral palsy in Ontario.

Patricia G:
Raquel was nine months old when I got to find out that she had cerebral palsy. It was a very devastating diagnosis for my husband and I, not knowing what the future was going to be like for Raquel, and what cerebral palsy was at the time.

Shira W:
Cerebral palsy is a varying diagnosis, it’s not one-size-fits-all. Some people who can run around and you can barely see it, and then there’s people who use their wheelchairs fulltime and rely on someone for all aspects of daily living. I am one of those people.

Victor Gascon:
My partner and I adopted a young boy who had cerebral palsy at the age of seven. Because cerebral palsy has left him non-verbal, which it does for a lot of people, it puts him in a very vulnerable position. When staff are working with him, we need to trust that people are doing what they’re supposed to be doing, and that they’re not neglecting or abusing him.

Shira W:
When you turn eighteen and lose the support of our wonderful paediatric health system, you go into the standard hospitals, they don’t know what CP is.

Victor Gascon:
Organisations like the Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy plays a major role in educating PSWs – personal support workers – how to prevent abuse.

Gordana Skrba:
We believe in supporting our members in a way that offers a variety of opportunities for full inclusion, and give them a choice to enjoy the freedom as to where they live, where they work.

Patricia G:
The charity has made a huge difference for my daughter. About a year ago, she had a surgery that enabled her to walk a little bit better. Because of that surgery, she’s able to do things that she wasn’t able to do before.

Shira W:
They helped me secure my own apartment and funding for my singing lessons.

Gordana Skrba:
The dollars that we receive from Federated Health Charities, OFCP uses to support our members through life-enriching activities, programs. Also provide funding assistance to assist them with the purchase of much-needed equipment.

Victor Gascon:
We get no federal money, we get no provincial money, like, we get no government money at all. All of our funding comes from donations.

Patricia G:
The funds are going to the right place. Activities that make such a huge difference, not only to the kid, but also to the families. To see a kid have fun and just being kids, is the most amazing gift that you can make to a parent and to a kid with special needs.

Raquel G:
Thank you for your donations, because I get to go swimming and gymnastics and baseball.

Gordana Skrba:
The funds that we receive from Federated Health Charities, we see as a gift of hope, that one day soon, we will be able to find a cure for cerebral palsy.

The Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy works to help Ontarians living with cerebral palsy to live independently and advocates for their inclusion and full integration into society. The Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy provides people with cerebral palsy and their families and caregivers with a wide range of programs and services, ranging from inclusive and supportive education and recreation programs for children, to help with housing and life planning. 

When you turn eighteen and lose the support of our wonderful pediatric health system, you go into the standard hospitals, they don’t know what [cerebral palsy] is,” says Shira W. Shira credits the Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy with helping bridge the gap between the care provided for children with cerebral palsy and services available to adults. “They helped me secure my own apartment and funding for my singing lessons.”

The Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy’s programs and services are funded almost entirely through the collection and resale of used clothing and other used goods, and donations from organizations like Federated Health Charities. 

“We believe in supporting our members in a way that offers a variety of opportunities for full inclusion and give them a choice to enjoy the freedom as to where they live, where they work,” says Gordana Skrba, Executive Director, Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy. “The dollars that we receive from Federated Health Charities, [the Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy] uses to support our members through life-enriching activities, and programs. It also provides funding assistance to assist them with the purchase of much-needed equipment.” 

For more than 30 years, Federated Health Charities has worked with the Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy to advance solutions to improve the self-sufficiency, dignity, and quality of life for people with cerebral palsy. 

Learn more about the Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy at the Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy (ofcp.ca).

Donate to Federated Health Charities today to support a healthier Ontario and the independence, inclusion, choice, and full integration of all persons with cerebral palsy in our province.

Click on the button below to make a donation to Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy through Federated Health Charities

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For general questions:

Sarah Wood
Executive Director
437-925-6227
sarah.wood2@ontario.ca

Address

315 Front St. West, 5th Floor
Toronto, ON
M7A 0B8

Federated Health Charities White Logo

For general questions:

Sarah Wood
Executive Director
437-925-6227
sarah.wood2@ontario.ca

Address

315 Front St. West, 5th Floor
Toronto, ON
M7A 0B8

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