Legal and Medical Resources to Empower Cerebral Palsy Families
1-800-CPFamily (273-2645)
September 4th, 2012
Sign up for our weekly newsletter!
In celebration of World CP Day, Cerebral Palsy Family Network would love to know how CP has affected your world. This can be anything from the hardships to the triumphs. The Cerebral Palsy Family Network was created to help families find the resources they need locally and globally to overcome the challenges CP presents. Please take some time and tell us about your story in the comments section of this article. We will be highlighting the stories in upcoming blogs and newsletters. You never know how your story may impact people across the world, so don’t hesitate to share.
Starting in 2012 and going forward, the first Tuesday in September will take on a whole new meaning across the globe. Tuesday September 4, 2012, will be the first annual World Cerebral Palsy Day. This will be a day for 17,000,000 global citizens to come together to raise awareness on a local, national and international levels in a collaborative effort to make a difference in the lives of those living with cerebral palsy and their families.
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a widely misunderstood condition that affects twice as many people as multiple sclerosis. Yet, the public has limited awareness and understanding of cerebral palsy. CP is actually the largest cause of physical disability in children and the incidence occurs at a rate of somewhere between one in 400 to 500 births. One of the greatest barriers to gaining a higher profile for CP is that cerebral palsy is often used as an umbrella term for encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement, unlike many other disabilities which have more narrowly defined conditions.
“World CP Day is an exciting world first, not only to engage the CP community to create innovative ideas that could change their world but also to engage inventors, developers, innovation companies, universities or even people with disabilities who are budding inventors to create products and solutions to the many ideas submitted,” explains Marcus Blease, General Manager of Fundraising & Marketing from Cerebral Palsy Alliance in Australia.
This worldwide awareness initiative aims to shed some light on the perceptions in various countries that people with disabilities are ‘taken care of’ by the government and do not need financial support from the public. This worldwide initiative by partnered CP agencies, which includes organizations in Canada, USA, Australia, England, Scotland, India and many more, are joining forces to raise the level of awareness and understanding through this collaborative celebration of World CP Day.
World Cerebral Palsy Day, on 4 September 2012, is a world first! It will change the lives of people with cerebral palsy (CP). The theme for this unique day is ‘Change my world in 1 minute‘.
There are 17 million people around the world with cerebral palsy. A further 350 million people are closely connected to a child or adult with CP.
Visit the official World CP Day website to learn more about World CP Day and participate in the “Change my world in 1 minute” challenge. The website is a forum for people with cerebral palsy to express what they need to make their life more independent or more rewarding. The website also gives anybody the opportunity to make these ideas a reality by posting ideas about how they want to improve the quality of life of people with CP. These ideas could affect any aspect of a person’s life such as their mobility, independence, accessibility, communication or social connection.
Learn more about World CP Day!
Sign up for our weekly newsletter!
To find help, answer the questions below.They will be reviewed by the doctors and attorneys who helped us.
The answer to preventing one of the main causes of cerebral palsy may be as simple as eating broccoli sprouts during pregnancy.
READ MORE
A student born with cerebral palsy eagerly ran the track during a mile relay event and what happened next was a spontaneous gesture that will never be forgotten.
READ MORE
My Cerebral Palsy has LED to me writing and publishing a children’s book about a child super hero with Cerebral Palsy. I sm also gearing up to go back to school for a Technical Certificate in Human Resources Management!
My 2 yr old son has Spastic Quadriplegic CP as a result of prematurity, a brain bleed, and bacterial meningitis(3x). It is a miracle he is here with us and even his drs call him a one in a million baby because of his recurring meningitis. They are currently writing a medial journal on his case.
Having a special needs child has dramatically impacted my life. I have a whole new set of hopes and dreams now and my life direction has shifted. He has taught me patience and true joy. I have learned to see past the physical and really see people for who they are. I have met people whom I would have never come into contact with that I have grown to love.
I have raised over $20k for special needs charities since my son was born and have made an effort to raise awareness (via my blog) of CP and prematurity. I hope to help make it ‘normal’ for people so every kiddo is treated and looked at the same.
My son has touched many lives with his story, huge heart, and even bigger smile. I want others to see just how wonderful people with CP are, they are not just a diagnosis, they are beautiful people that just look a little different than most.
My son has such a kind sweet heart, he is my inspiration!
Heather
First World Cerebral Palsy Day: I learned about this condition 8 years ago. I heard about the condition before at that time but never was interested enough to understand what was it about until it hit me.
My son suffered brain bleeding and hypoxia as a consequence of a very hard labor. This changed our lives forever. Not only because I became a Mommy for the first time but because I was the mother of a child with special needs.
Mixed feelings are still today. I had to give up my job for a while and later change my profession so I can meet his needs. A lot of traveling for special therapies or surgeries (not the kind of traveling I always dreamed of).
But this path has teach me so many beautiful things and gave me the privilege of meeting amazing people with the condition or affected by it in some way (patients, parents, therapists, incredible support of family and friends).
And best of all, I have the privilege of being Andrés mom. He has teach me so many things…lots of patience, courage, to never give up, work very hard, and that big beautiful smile with those amazing eyes, those hugs and kisses are priceless…to celebrate the small things in life…
I hope this day will be the beginning of creating awareness about their needs. The day by day is not easy at all. For example, most places in Puerto Rico do not have a family restroom and none has an area to lay down our big kids to change their diapers. This is a reality that has to be considered seriously.
Please support our cause by reading about it and promoting investigations/activities.
I would like to thank my husband for always being there, my mom and my stepfather for making my everyday life a little bit easier. And specially my daughter for being the best sister ever. She is always there for him. Thanks for understanding sweetie!
How do you get my granddaughters picture on your web site I have tried but it will not get published she has had c.p. for 11 yrs old and she is so mart and has the most beautiful smile and is a joy to everyones life she meets.