Diplegia is a type of quadriplegia or tetraplegia where all arms and legs are involved on both sides of the body, although the legs are more affected than the arms. It is most typically found in people with cerebral palsy, when it is often referred to as spastic diplegia.
Symptoms and characteristics:
Spastic diplegia is characterised by high muscle tone which means the muscles are tight, rigid and can tremor, particularly in the legs. The arms are usually only mildly affected. The person often demonstrates loss of coordination, resulting in jerky, awkward movement patterns.
The majority of people with spastic diplegia can walk, although they typically use a crouching type walk, bent at the knees due to muscle tone. Spastic diplegia can occasionally result in intellectual impairment, although this is uncommon.
Workplace solutions and adjustments:
In the workplace there are various factors that would assist persons with diplegia to manage their condition. These include changes to work tasks and the environment, including:
- ensuring wheelchair or walking aid accessibility to all areas of the workplace including kitchen and bathroom amenities, workspace and other doorways or emergency exits
- installation of ramps for independent building access
- automatic door openers to allow independent door access
- positioning of security pin pads for building access at an accessible height and location
- set up of kitchen amenities at a height accessible from a wheelchair and with equipment such as kettle tippers that can assist those with arm weakness
- set up of office supplies, equipment and furniture which allows for independent access
- provision of an ergonomically suitable chair accommodating to a persons postural requirements
- desk modifications to allow for wheelchair clearance and access to all items on the desk easily
- use of alternative means of computer access such as voice recognition software, joystick style mouse or on screen keyboards operated via switch mechanisms
- flexible work hours and breaks to allow for rehabilitation and fatigue management
- modifications to driving controls on work vehicles.
The Employment Assistance Fund provides financial assistance for work-related modifications, equipment and services to help people with disability to get employment and perform their work as independently and productively as possible. To determine eligibility, please refer to the full guidelines:
There are solutions and adjustments for the following job requirements:
References:
Cerebral Palsy Australia (no date specified), How does Cerebral Palsy affect the body?, Victoria, viewed 30 November 2011, http://www.cpaustralia.com.au/index.php/site/learningcentre/thefacts/cpaffects.
FormsofCerebralPalsy.com (no date specified), Forms of Cerebral Palsy—Diplegia, online, viewed 30 November 2011, http://www.formsofcerebralpalsy.com/diplegia.html.
Cerebral Palsy Alliance (no date specified), Basic Guide to Cerebral Palsy, Cerebral Palsy Alliance, Sydney, viewed 30 November 2011,
http://www.cerebralpalsy.org.au/about-cerebral-palsy/basic-guide-to-cerebral-palsy.