Living with Cerebral Palsy

Jakub Neubert (31) was born with Cerebral Palsy, a disorder that affects muscle tone, movement, and motor skills (the ability to move in a coordinated way). He was born in former Czechoslovakia, in an era when weak and ailing children (and adults) were hidden away in institutions, moved out of sight so that nothing would blemish the image of a perfect Czechoslovakian communist society. Jakub was lucky, he stayed at home and his family took care of him. He attended regular elementary school after the Velvet Revolution, with very understanding and supportive teachers and fellow students. Today, Jakub studies at Charles University in Prague, specializing in Andragogy. He also works part-time for "Helping Hand", a civil society association (Obcanske sdruzeni Asistence). This association fights for barrier-free transport in Prague.