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Nicole Luongo | What CP Looks Like

Cerebral Palsy Awareness + Education

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  • Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy
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  • Whitney Houston on stage singing into a microphone. She has short, dark brown curly hair, and she's wearing a yellow pant suit.

    Writing

    Why We Will Always Love Whitney Houston

    Shocked at the news of her death, writer Nicole Luongo describes why we will always love Whitney Houston, her music, and her legendary voice.

    Continue Reading

    • whatcplookslike
    We need to talk about disability language because We need to talk about disability language because #WordsMatter!!! Clearly there’s more work to be done if a neighbor who’s known me for close to 25 years describes me as “handicapped” and says it takes me awhile to get to the door (not true) to another neighbor, who inquired because he knocked on my door and I didn’t answer. I know this because went to the pool the other day. Two people sat down to talk. As I read my magazine, I overheard a woman raving to her friend about THE @instantpotofficial! I started talking to them (hello, I’m obsessed with my #InstantPot (s) and didn’t leave until FIVE hours later. As it turns out, the guy (and his wife, who wasn’t at the pool) live in the unit above me. They wanted to let me know that they’re installing new flooring, and to make sure the noise wasn’t too loud. Apparently, he knocked on my door the other day (no answer) and again today (no answer) not knowing I was at the pool. So, he told my neighbor at the end of the hall (who is the Treasurer on the board), and asked if she could let me know about the noise. That’s when I asked what she said. I was SHOCKED when he told me that she described me as handicapped! He said (based on what she told him) that he was expecting an elderly person in a wheelchair. I was so mad I think I he was afraid of me (joking, he understood)! Here’s a description my neighbor could have given INSTEAD: “My neighbor Nicole lives there. We don’t see her much, but she’s an author and a disability advocate. She’s pretty cool!” She has cerebral palsy, so I don’t know if it takes her awhile to get to the door or not.” What’s the LESSON? 1. The word handicapped isn’t appropriate language anymore. 2. The fact that I have a disability doesn’t HAVE to be the reason why I didn’t answer the door. Maybe I didn’t hear the knock, maybe I was in the shower, or maybe I wasn’t home (I was but I bring this up because disabled people have lives, too). Come on! P.S. The last time she came to my door, it took me longer to answer it because I was going to the BATHROOM. Also, I don't "suffer" with CP. READ: https://nicoleluongo.com/media-must-end-cerebral-palsy-news-trend/ Can you relate? #Quotes
    In the United States, March is Cerebral Palsy Awar In the United States, March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month. March 25 is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day. I participated in this project 5 years ago. Watch my pinned reel to learn how to participate in my 2023 project ONE THING YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT CP to help raise awareness. Please use the hashtag I created #whatCPlookslike, tag me @whatcplookslike. I look forward to seeing your videos! For more information about CP, go to my bio OR https://nicoleluongo.com/category/cerebral-palsy/ Here's What I want you to know about cerebral palsy: VD: Nicole is wearing a green and white top with her hair pulled back. She says: “My name is Nicole Luongo. What I want people to know about cerebral palsy is that adults and children who have cerebral palsy contribute positively to society. We are authors, we are writers, we are bloggers, we are YouTubers, we are athletes, we are musicians. We do a little bit of everything. So, if you have cerebral palsy, or if you're a parent of a child who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, don't despair, look into your options and know that we are 17 million strong, and WE ARE HERE!” 💚💚💚 #NicoleLuongo #DisabilityAdvocate #whatCPlookslike #CerebralPalsy #CerebralPalsyAwareness #GoGreen4CP #Inclusion #RepresentationMatters #WhatIWantYouToKnow #YouTube
    March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month. March 25 March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month. March 25 is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day. In honor of #InternationalWomensDay, let's shine a light on all of the phenomenal women with #cerebralpalsy, their moms, caregivers, sisters, etc.! In the comments, tag your favorite women with CP, women with #disabilities, or just your favorite women! P.S. I can only tag 20 women, so I’ll mention more in the comments. 💚💚 From internationalwomensday.com: "The aim of the IWD 2023 #EmbraceEquity campaign theme is to get the world talking about Why equal opportunities aren't enough. People start from different places, so true inclusion and belonging require equitable action." FREE downloadable resources are available here: https://www.internationalwomensday.com/Resources #EmbraceEquity #CerebralPalsy #CerebralPalsyAwarenessMonth #CerebralPalsyAwareness #whatCPlookslike #Accessibility #Diversity #Equity #Inclusion #RepresentationMatters #Intersectionality #IWD2023 #women #girlsruletheworld #celebratewomen #womenwithdisabilities #cpkids #phenomenalwomen #womensupportingwomen
    @uniqli_vivvi, THANK YOU for participating (I’m @uniqli_vivvi, THANK YOU for participating (I’m pretty sure you’re the 1st) in my project for #CPAwarenessMonth! PLEASE SHARE! In the United States, March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month. March 25 is also National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day. Despite the fact that cerebral palsy is the most common physical disability in childhood — for which there’s NO cure or federal funding — our day + month go virtually unnoticed by the media every year. I’m on a mission to change this, and I want to hear from YOU! Here’s my idea (see video in my post + reels): Make a short video saying “One thing you should know about cerebral palsy is” and then tell the world what you want people to know about our disability. Share your video far and wide. Anyone can participate, so kids that means you, too. GO! Please tag someone with CP in the comments so they can participate. Let’s show the world #whatCPlookslike! #cerebralpalsy #representationmatters #GoGreen4CP #useyourvoice #useyourvoiceforchange #cerebralpalsyawarenessmonth #OneThing #Trustfall #Pink @pink
    PLEASE SHARE! In the United States, March is Cereb PLEASE SHARE! In the United States, March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month. March 25 is also National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day. Despite the fact that cerebral palsy is the most common physical disability in childhood — for which there’s NO cure or federal funding — our day + month go virtually unnoticed by the media every year. I’m on a mission to change this, and I want to hear from YOU! Here’s my idea: Make a short video saying “One thing you should know about cerebral palsy is” and then tell the world what you want people to know about our disability. Share your video far and wide. Anyone can participate, so kids that means you, too. GO! Please tag someone with CP in the comments so they can participate. Let’s show the world #whatCPlookslike! 💚 VD (thank you @r.a.r.e.advoc8): Nicole, creator of @whatcplookslike, is an Italian American woman with short brown hair curled at the ends wearing a light green tank top. #reels #cerebralpalsy #cerebralpalsyawareness #cerebralpalsyawarenessmonth #cpkids #representationmatters #GoGreen4CP #Florida #useyourvoiceforchange #useyourvoice
    This is my #superbowl. Why? 1. I have a disability This is my #superbowl. Why? 1. I have a disability. Since representation is lacking in the media, being seen on National t.v. is a big deal. It's a win for the entire cerebral palsy community - that's one of the reasons I wanted to be on the show. I've done so much advocacy work over the years to try to get CP represented in the National media. I couldn't get thru the front door, so I went thru another one! 2. I'm not wearing ANY makeup in the photo. Most people don't know that I had terrible acne (and people would actually say things like, "But you're so pretty"...meaning, if it weren't for the bumps on my face....yeah, I know...UGH.) well into my 30s. Long story short, but everything changed when I found an all natural product that cleared my skin. Having a physical disability (that got glares and stares) AND bad skin? NOT FUN. 3. I'll be 50 in June. It's a miracle I was born (weighing just 2 lbs 13 ounces), so to make it to a half a century old...WOW! 4. I'm virtually invisible in my day-to-day life. I'm alone all the time, and all of my friends are online. It's so hard not being connected to anyone (on a consistent basis) in real life. Being a member of Start TODAY makes me feel like I'm part of a family. Everyone really cares about each other. 5. Look at my ARMS!!! I've been working out for years, but I can't life heavy weights (and I'm okay with it). I use 3 lb + 5 lb weights for everything! People with CP can workout; do things you don't THINK they can do. Don't write us off just because we have a disability. So, the next time you see a picture, remember that it might not tell the entire story! 💚💚💚 #NicoleLuongo #Almost50 #BucketList #CerebralPalsy #CerebralPalsyAwareness #whatCPlookslike #RepresentationMatters #Disabilities #DisabilityInclusion #Inclusion #SDRChangesLives #TodayShow #StartToday #Health #Fitness #GHUTVSquad #Wellness #ThankYou @stepitupwithsteph @todayshow
    If you watch the 3rd Hour of TODAY, you might have If you watch the 3rd Hour of TODAY, you might have seen me on the big board THIS morning! *Watch the video in my reels, stories.* I hardly ever see adults with CP on t.v. I’ve been on a mission to change that for MANY years. Thank you @stepitupwithsteph @alroker @craigmelvinnbc @dylandreyernbc @sheinelle_o and everyone at @todayshow in our Start Today FB group. MORE news! My appearance in the latest episode of Start Today (which came out this week; it’s online and on @peacock) was pushed to another month so, I’ll be on TWICE. Stay Tuned to find out when it airs. ID: A picture of Nicole in a bright coral tank top. She’s flexing her right bicep, and she’s smiling at the camera. 💚💚💚 #NicoleLuongo #Almost50 #BucketList #CerebralPalsy #whatCPlookslike #DisabledAndCute #NoMakeup #TodayShow #StartToday #GHUTVSquad #Health #Fitness #Wellness #RepresentationMatters #DreamsComeTrue #HardWorkPaysOff #SDRChangesLives #Florida #SouthFlorida #SmallButMighty #ThankYou
    A day late, but did you know you can make #Popcorn A day late, but did you know you can make #Popcorn in an @instantpotofficial?!? I used @betterbodyfoods coconut oil + @preferredpopcorn from @hungryharvest) YUM! #InstantPot #CoconutOil #Popcorn #NationalPopcornDay #whatCPcookslike
    Be on the lookout for me in a special digital seri Be on the lookout for me in a special digital series with @stepitupwithsteph for START TODAY @todayshow! It will air sometime in February. If you want your dreams to come true, you must create doors where they don’t exist, go thru the back door if you can’t get in the front door, and be undeterred when you get a NO. THERE’S MORE THAN ONE WAY. Just keep trying! P.S. All spam comments will be BLOCKED. ID: Nicole is an Italian American woman with straight dark brown hair. She’s smiling, and she’s wearing makeup, rose gold hoop earrings and a bright pink top. Brands I used: @calistatools (The Triangl hair straightening tool) @bellebykimgravel (top from @kimgravel for @qvc) @doll10beauty @flowerbeauty @joanrivers Beauty Great Hair Day Fill-In Powder (QVC) @hauslabs @itcosmetics @lauragellerbeauty @mallybeauty by @mallyroncal @tartecosmetics #NicolesNuggets #whatCPlookslike #CerebralPalsy #Fitness #BucketList #AlmostFifty #QVCBeauty #BelieveInYourOwnBeauty #RepresentationMatters #TodayShow
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