Historical Development
In early 1950's a group of concerned parents whose children had been diagnosed as having Cerebral Palsy — in those days it was commonly referred to as "Spastic Paralysis" -realised that their children had very special needs.
They formed the "Parents Association of Cerebral Palsy Children" (our records reflect meetings of this association from 1951 & 1952) and operated under the auspices of the Cape Cripple Care Association.
The need for an independently operating association for Cerebral Palsy was fast becoming apparent. After negotiating with the Cripple Care Association and the council the "Cape Province Cerebral Palsy Association" was established in 1953. The Association operated as an independent sub-committee of the Cape Cripple Care Association.
The Association rented its first premises in Rosebank in 1953, and as the numbers grew it became necessary for larger and more permanent premises to be sought.
In 1956 a large defunct nursing home was bought in Milner Road, Rondebosch — this was later demolished and a school was built. The school was established in 1964 and became the first Cerebral Palsy school in the Western Cape and it was known as "The Cape School for Cerebral Palsied Children" and later became what is today known as Vista Nova School.
In 1971 the Association finally broke away from Cape Cripple Care and became known as "The Western Cape Cerebral Palsy Association."
