March is CP awareness month - Ataxic Cerebral Palsy

March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month. 
The Cerebellum is part of the brain that governs smooth movement - motor skills , and is also thought to participate in the function of language. When this part of the brain, is injured language is affected, causing delays or a complete inability to communicate verbally. The lack of motor skills also inhibits the use of hands as an a tool for communicating. Until Henry was born, I had never heard of 'eye gaze' as a form of communicating. 

The Cerebellum is known as 'the little brain'.

Henry has Ataxic Cerebral Palsy - the type of CP that I just described. He doesn't have language. Sometimes, though, we are able to determine what it is that he likes or doesn't like. It is very difficult, however, to only be able to determine once or twice a day, what it is that he's trying to say - if it is in fact an attempt at communicating, or just my overwhelming desire to have some connection with him. Over all, Henry does not talk. He smiles. He cries. Sometimes he tries to push buttons on his 'lap top'... But he does not have the ability to hug, kiss, make much eye contact or give voluntary positive or negative responses to stimuli.