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Nicole Luongo | What CP Looks Like

Cerebral Palsy Awareness + Education

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  • About Nicole
    • Press
    • Published Articles
    • Contact
  • Book
  • Go Green for CP
  • Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy
    • SDR FAQS
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  • Why Cerebral Palsy Representation Matters

    Cerebral Palsy

    Why Cerebral Palsy Representation Matters

    Nicole Luongo explains why Cerebral Palsy Representation, and how you can help the word out during Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month.

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  • Don't You Forget About CP

    Cerebral Palsy

    Don’t You Forget About CP

    ‘Don’t You Forget About CP’ is a call to action for the cerebral palsy community to help promote awareness. Our stories matter, and they need to be told.

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  • Promote Cerebral Palsy Awareness

    Cerebral Palsy

    Let’s Promote Cerebral Palsy Awareness Together

    Disability advocate Nicole Luongo discusses how you can promote cerebral palsy awareness + why you should get involved in the advocacy movement.

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  • Go Green for CP World CP Day

    Cerebral Palsy

    5 Reasons to Go Green on World CP Day

    Cerebral palsy advocate Nicole Luongo explains five reasons why you should Go Green on World CP Day, which is celebrated annually on October 6.

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  • Nicole Luongo SDR Changes Lives

    Cerebral Palsy

    How SDR Surgery Changed My Life

    Cerebral Palsy advocate Nicole Luongo vlogs about how ‘SDR Changes Lives’ one year after selective dorsal rhizotomy surgery with Dr. T.S. Park on St. Louis, on the cusp of turning 40 years old.

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  • Follow This Success Formula, Achieve Anything!

    Cerebral Palsy

    Follow This Success Formula, Achieve Anything!

    Nicole Luongo shares the success formula she applied after selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) surgery. Follow her simple advice to achieve anything in life. Ability + Motivation + Attitude = The Secret to Success!

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  • Bike Camp Bravery with Cerebral Palsy

    Cerebral Palsy

    Bike Camp Bravery with Cerebral Palsy

    Cerebral palsy advocate Nicole Luongo vlogs about braving bike camp at 41 years old, after having selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) surgery in 2013. Watch her do what she once thought was impossible.

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  • White House Response Regarding Cerebral Palsy Awareness

    Cerebral Palsy

    White House Cerebral Palsy Awareness Response

    Disability advocate Nicole Luongo shares what happened when she wrote to The White House about Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month + SDR, a life-changing surgery for adults and children with cerebral palsy. Follow her tried-and-true tips to get your cause noticed.

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  • 3 Must-Read Cerebral Palsy Books

    Cerebral Palsy

    3 Must-Read Cerebral Palsy Books

    Nicole Luongo shares why you should put these 3 must-read cerebral palsy books on your list. Each features an author thriving with CP.

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    whatcplookslike
    Here’s how to make almond butter in a @Vitamix! Here’s how to make almond butter in a @Vitamix! I’m using @bluediamond dark chocolate flavored almonds. YUM! #whatCPcookslike #cerebralpalsy #cookingmadesimple #easy #quick #homemade #almondbutter #Vitamix #foodreels #foodreelsinstagram
    Did you know I wrote a poetry book 20 years ago? A Did you know I wrote a poetry book 20 years ago? And you thought I was just a disability advocate. 😉 Check out my interview on @nbc6. Here I am on the set in 2007. Don’t miss the titular poem NAKED DESIRES — it’s a must-read! Consider yourself warned...it's 🔥! Check out the preview in my stories. Read the entire poem at the link in my bio or go to https://nicoleluongo.com/naked-desires-love-poem/ #author #poet #authorlife #authorsofinstagram #advocate #NationalPoetryMonth #books #poetry #lovepoetry #poetrybooks #unrequitedlove #disabledandproud #disabledauthor #throwback #throwbackthursday #disabilityadvocate #disabledandcute #whatCPlookslike
    Did you know that that people with disabilities ar Did you know that that people with disabilities are sexually abused at a rate of SEVEN times higher than the general population? Since April is #SexualAssaultAwarenessMonth, I wonder: Why does society continue to ignore this epidemic? Learn more, watch my interview with my friend Kathy O'Connell from @radiantabilities about how to have confidence and succeed at dating with a disability. Make sure you grab the free download about healthy sexuality + disabilities. LINK IN BIO or go to https://nicoleluongo.com/the-sexual-abuse-epidemic-society-ignores-kathy-oconnell/ #cerebralpalsy #whatCPlookslike #dating #disabilities #disabilityrights #sex #sexuality #sexualassault #sexualassaultawareness #interview #youtube
    Sixteen years ago today, I was interviewed on @nbc Sixteen years ago today, I was interviewed on @nbc6 about my book Naked Desires. Enjoy this reading of ‘The Sea.’ P.S. National Great Poetry Reading Day is April 28. Wondering how I got on t.v.? It’s simple: I asked! I was interested in a product that was featured on the show. I called the local business owner. I remember asking how she got on the show. I think she said her agent contacted the show. I don’t have an agent. I AM my own agent. What did I do? I went to the library (I didn’t have access to the Internet at home at the time), and I emailed the show. The rest is history! Watch the t.v. interview at the link in my bio or go to https://nicoleluongo.com/about-naked-desires-book/ #NicoleLuongo #cerebralpalsy #whatCPlookslike #author #poet #poetry #poetrybooks #poetryreading #throwback #reelsvideo #NationalPoetryMonth #Florida #SFLA *ALL SPAM LIKES, COMMENTS + MESSAGE REQUESTS WILL BE BLOCKED, REPORTED! STOP THE NONSENSE!
    Today is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day. LE Today is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day. LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX! Would you go up to a person (who doesn’t appear to have a disability) and ask if they’re able to have sex? NO! So, why do people with disabilities get bombarded with these questions ALL THE TIME? Thanks for watching this excerpt from my discussion with David @cerebralpalsyandfitnesspodcast in honor of National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day (which is today, March 25)! 💚 We debunked a lot of CP myths. Click the link in David’s bio to WATCH the episode on YouTube (or listen to it wherever you listen to podcasts) or click HERE: https://youtu.be/UjumWtEzP8k Read more about at https://nicoleluongo.com/debunking-popular-cerebral-palsy-myths/ #whatCPlookslike #cerebralpalsy #myths #cerebralpalsyawareness #cerebralpalsyawarenessmonth #disabilities #sex #podcasts #Youtube #cpmyths #thinkbeforeyouspeak #reelsinstagram
    In the United States, March is Cerebral Palsy Awar In the United States, March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month. March 25 (TOMORROW) is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day. Cerebral palsy gets ignored by the media EVERY YEAR! It’s tiring to constantly remind people about the significance of March, especially since CP IS THE MOST COMMON PHYSICAL DISABILITY IN CHILDHOOD - for which there is no cure or federal funding. According to the @cdcgov, “recent population-based studies from around the world report prevalence estimates of CP ranging from 1 to nearly 4 per 1,000 live births or per 1,000 children.” Imagine what would happen if just 1/4 (I picked a low number on purpose) of the people (including the media) who posted about St. Patrick’s Day (a day everyone is already aware of) on social media also posted that March 25 is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day (a day most people have never heard of) in the U.S. (March is also Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month). Maybe then, advocates like me wouldn’t have to shout it from the rooftops. Think about it…but, don’t think too long because Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month will be over in SEVEN days. If you’d like to help, wear GREEN TOMORROW MARCH 25 ON NATIONAL CEREBRAL PALSY AWARENESS DAY and tell people why you’re wearing it. Thank you! 💚 I asked the CP community to contribute to my video project (see pinned post or reel) telling people ONE THING THEY SHOULD KNOW ABOUT CEREBRAL PALSY. The adults with CP (@uniqli_vivvi, @creativejj.photography, @oswaldperez85 @alex_kaiser0 who’ve already participated did a FANTASTIC job! I’m looking forward to seeing more videos tomorrow. 😉 NOTE: I didn't create the graphic, and I don't know who did. #advocacy #whatCPlookslike #cerebralpalsy #cerebralpalsyawareness #inclusion #representationmatters ID: A graphic with a green background a white letters that say March 25th is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day. Below the text, it says Wear some green...spread some love! There's a white ribbon at the bottom.
    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
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