Let’s Promote Cerebral Palsy Awareness Together

Growing Up Without Cerebral Palsy Awareness

I didn’t hear anyone promote cerebral palsy awareness growing up. First of all, no one talked about my disability; thus, I didn’t know what it was or why I had it. Similarly, no one represented me on t.v., etc. I didn’t meet another person with CP until college.

Now decades later (I’m almost 47), CP is the most common childhood disability, with over 17 million affected worldwide. Shockingly, the media still isn’t really talking about it. Furthermore, they reinforce the assumption that we’re “suffering.” Certainly we deserve better; seems like our stories float into the deep waters in the sea of disabilities.

Why I’m Passionate About Raising Awareness

Did you know that March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month in the United States? Or that March 25 designated as National CP Awareness Day (U.S.)? Have you heard that October 6 is World CP Day? Because of the lack of awareness, I decided to help move the needle.

I promote cerebral palsy awareness for my younger self; she didn’t have social media, or a wonderful community like What Cerebral Palsy Looks Like, a FB page I created to shatter stereotypes. Most importantly, I advocate for the 17 million who feel ignored. As a result, we deserve to be recognized, especially in March and October.

Here’s How You Can Help

Remember, there’s no right way to promote awareness. Do whatever you want. Everything counts, and as a result, it all helps! Here are examples of how you can help:

• Call or write to your local news stations. Ask them to make on-air announcements. Pitch a story.
• Tweet national morning shows. Also, ask them to Go Green for CP!
• Share your child’s journey like Briella + Me (click link to read story). In addition, post it on social media.

Briella + Me on the Today Show

• Use social media to promote representation like Fifi + Mo. Target hit the bullseye with this campaign!

Fifi + Mo in Target

View this post on Instagram

I’ll never forget walking into Target & seeing a sweet lil guy with his walker… Finley LOVED that there was someone with equipment like hers on the walls of our favorite store. ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ There’s a few different posts going around the internet who don’t credit the original source for this precious photo + caption. I absolutely LOVE what Katie Lew had to say: ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ “Representation matters. ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ It matters to the individual, to see images reflective of oneself. To know that no matter what it is that you think makes you different, it’s a trait that others in the world also share. ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ And it matters to the individual’s loved ones. To know that when you tell your child, your friend, your family member that they’re not alone, you’re also sending them out into a world that practices what you’re preaching. ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ Today, my kiddo got to see that representation. And it may have been a coincidence, but it was also the only poster that he walked right up to. Today, I got to see him represented. And seeing it, a weight that I didn’t even realize I had been carrying was lifted. Kudos to Target, for an ad campaign that gave my baby (and his parents!) a chance to feel seen”

A post shared by finley + christina (@fifiandmo) on Dec 8, 2019 at 1:51pm PST

• Feature people with cerebral palsy on your podcast.
• Write about cerebral palsy. Get published on Medium, The Mighty, Yahoo!, etc. like me.

Community Involvement Creates Change

Since the media remains speechless, it’s up to us to raise awareness together. Therefore, if we all do our part, society will see us. Our voices won’t be denied. In conclusion, advocacy is important all year round (not just in March and October).

Advocacy catches fire with a community effort. Consequently, we need to do it together. Finally, let’s encourage the little girl with CP who doesn’t think she matters. As a result, maybe 2020 will be the year cerebral palsy shines in the spotlight. We can do this!