History

The Children’s Hemiplegia and Stroke Association, CHASA, is the oldest organization in the United States dedicated to improving the lives of children and families affected by hemiplegia, hemiparesis, or hemiplegic cerebral palsy, often resulting from a perinatal or childhood stroke, traumatic […]

We Can Help

CHASA – Helping Kids with Hemiplegia. CHASA exists to improve the quality of life for children and families affected by hemiparesis or hemiplegic cerebral palsy due to pediatric stroke or a variety of other conditions.  CHASA helps by providing educational […]

Medical

Hemiplegia, hemiparesis, or hemiplegic cerebral palsy are the result of a brain injury and children with brain injuries may have multiple disabilities and medical concerns. Each child is unique. One child may have a variety of hemiplegia-related differences while another child may […]

About Us

The Children’s Hemiplegia and Stroke Association (CHASA) exists to help children – children who have survived an early brain injury that results in hemiplegia or hemiparesis (weakness on one side of the body).  We also help adults who have been […]

Assistive Technology

Communication Aids There are many augmentative aids available. The speech therapist can explain and recommend they be added to your child’s IEP. Communication is central to socialization, motivation and self-esteem. The child must have access to two-way communication with teachers […]

5K, Marathons, Bikes, Walks and Runs for CHASA

We’re often contacted by volunteers who would like to host a large walk or run. Because these events can be complicated and sometimes expensive to set up, we encourage volunteers to participate in an established walk or run. The established […]

Pediatric Stroke – A Few Facts

Perinatal stroke, neonatal stroke, infant stroke, and childhood stroke are some of the most common causes of hemiplegia or hemiparesis in or unilateral cerebral palsy in children. Perinatal arterial ischemic stroke is the most common form of stroke in children […]

CHASA Awareness Shirts Shipped 12/11/12

We’re excited to let you know that the CHASA Awareness shirt orders were shipped on 12/11/12, USPS priority mail , so watch your mailboxes for your order. We apologize for the 4-day delay in shipping. We had a slight set […]

Midpoint Check In – Constraint Induced Movement Therapy

Henry, a pediatric stroke survivor who has hemiplegic cerebral palsy, is in the middle of constraint induced movement therapy (CIMT), nearly exactly at the half-way point. The first few days were impossible, for a variety of reasons. Let’s start with […]

Dad Runs Marathon to Help Kids with Hemiplegia

David Sexton is a software development manager who lives in Westfield, N.J., with his wife, their daughter and son. When his son was found to have cerebral palsy five year ago, he turned to writing as a way to sort […]

NYC Marathoner Runs for Infant Stroke Survivors

This story is about community. Two moms. One little boy who survived a stroke. And helping pediatric stroke survivors worldwide. Susan Dodge will run in the 2013 NYC Marathon on Sunday, November 4th, and parents of pediatric stroke survivors from […]

I will fix you – Constraint Induced Movement Therapy

Today we had a cast put on Henry’s “good” arm to force him to use his “affected” arm. Constraint Induced Movement Therapy. He was ready for it, we had been talking about it for a couple of weeks before it […]

CHASA Wins RAISE Award From National Stroke Association

ARLINGTON, TX (October 23, 2012) – The Children’s Hemiplegia and Stroke Association (CHASA), a non-profit organization dedicated to improving lives of children and families affected by pediatric stroke and other causes of hemiplegia,  recently won a Raising Awareness in Stroke […]

Shoe Exchange for Odd Sized Shoes

Individuals with hemiplegia or hemiplegic cerebral palsy often wear two different sizes of shoes. For example, a child might wear a size 7 on the right foot and a size 9 on the left foot. This results in having to […]

Monkey Science – Constraint Induced Movement Therapy

There’s a book that was suggested to me while I was in the NICU, right after Henry was born. About six months later, I finally got up the courage to read “The Brain that Changes Itself” by Dr. Norman Doidge, […]

A Sister and a Brother and Disability – Film by Jennifer Siegel

As the parent of a child who has a disability, I don’t know that words can describe the feelings that overwhelmed me as I watched this beautiful film created by Jennifer Siegel.  Jennifer produced this short film for the Cinema […]

Pediatric Stroke and Silver in the FSKA World Championships

Kaidhyn has hemiplegic cerebral palsy, but that diagnosis didn’t stop him from bringing home a chest full of medals form the FSKA (Funakoshi Shotokan Karate Association) World Championships held in Denver this past weekend. Kaidhyn wasn’t alone at this competition. […]

Behavior and Hemiplegia – 7 year old has tantrums at night

I have a seven year old daughter with right sided hemiplegia. She also has tantrums at night when stressed and I have a question about this. Her behavior is really getting to me and all the professionals say it’s normal […]

Jude Paints Kandu during Occupational Therapy

Kandu, the CHASA Mascot, was sighted at Jude’s house this weekend. Jude is nine years old and has hemiplegic cerebral palsy due to a stroke at age five. Jude works really hard in occupational therapy and that’s where he was […]

Can an Adult with Hemiplegia Since Childhood Benefit from Weight Training?

My son’s hand, arm, leg, and foot are smaller on his affected side than on the other side of his body. What causes this? He had a stroke just before he was born and we’ve taken him to physical and […]