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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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  • 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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  • 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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  • 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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  • Social Media: Friend or Foe?

    Writing

    Social Media: Friend or Foe?

    How friendly is Facebook? Social media connects us, yet Americans are lonelier than ever. In this video, Nicole Luongo shares statistics + tips on how to stay sane, take control online.

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  • These 7 Cerebral Palsy Advocates Need Notoriety

    Cerebral Palsy

    These 6 Cerebral Palsy Advocates Need Notoriety

    Meet the CP celebrities you should know. Writer Nicole Luongo tells why these 6 cerebral palsy advocates need notoriety for raising awareness for cerebral palsy — the disability that gets the least attention in the media.

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  • The Sexual Abuse Epidemic Society Ignores with Kathy O'Connell

    Cerebral Palsy

    The Sexual Abuse Epidemic Society Ignores

    The sexual abuse epidemic society ignores is the important topic I discuss with Kathy O’Connell from Radiant Abilities. Find out why people with disabilities are sexually abused at a rate of SEVEN times higher than the general population.

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  • Fighting Your CP Lion with Matt Rich

    Cerebral Palsy

    Fighting Your CP Lion with Matt Rich

    Nicole Luongo talks about fighting your CP lion with motivational speaker, Matt Rich. Find out how to change the way you think about having a disability, why “inspiration porn” may be good for the cause + more!

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  • Overcoming Odds with Para Athlete Ryan Raghoo

    Cerebral Palsy

    Overcoming Odds with Para Athlete Ryan Raghoo

    Nicole Luongo talks about overcoming odds with Ryan Raghoo, international athlete, speaker and founder of Enabled Not Disabled. Tune in to find out how exercise can help people with cerebral palsy and/or other disabilities, the link between mental health issues + more!

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  • Cerebral Palsy Self-Care Tips

    Cerebral Palsy

    Cerebral Palsy Self-Care Tips

    Nicole Luongo discusses cerebral palsy self-care tips. Learn some of the simple things you can do to take better care of yourself or your disability, and download The Mighty’s Self-Care Calendar.

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    whatcplookslike

    #Author of Naked Desires
    >100 #GoGreen4CP #cerebralpalsy lightings Founder #whatcplookslike #Writer @huffpost @themightysite @yahoo @yoocandoanything
    Girls run the world! Save this for when you need a Girls run the world! Save this for when you need a reminder. Tag your favorite CP accounts featuring girls + women in the comments. 💜💜💜 #NicoleLuongo #InternationalDayoftheGirl #DayoftheGirl #CerebralPalsy #whatCPlookslike #MondayMotivation #MotivationMonday #DisabilityTwitter [ID: A tweet from Nicole Luongo. A green background. In the middle there’s a white box that has Nicole’s Twitter profile picture, name, and handle in the upper left hand corner. The tweet is in black text. It says: Repeat after me: My difference CAN make a difference. It’s my superpower!]
    Walking for the first time after SDR (selective do Walking for the first time after SDR (selective dorsal rhizotomy) surgery. I was almost 40 when I had it. Learn more at the link in my bio or go to nicoleluongo.com/about-nicole-luongo/sdr-faqs/ 💚💚💚 #NicoleLuongo #CerebralPalsy #whatCPlookslike #SDRChangesLives #StLouis #FBF #FlashbackFriday #YoutTube
    If you share ONE thing today for @worldcpday, let If you share ONE thing today for @worldcpday, let it be this video. I'm so honored to know Dallas, her mom and to be a part of this beautiful project! @mauricebenard, I’m wearing your @mbstateofmind shirt! 😉 #Repost @discover_with_dallas with @make_repost ・・・ If there is one awesome thing for anyone to do today, it’s to see this. Link is in the bio💚 In honor of World CP Day a community of people with cerebral palsy and I made an absolute beautiful video💚 This project and working with everyone has been such a privilege and I am honored to know you. This video is for you. When Dallas and I started this journey of creating videos to spread awareness and advocate for people living with disabilities, I couldn’t have imagined 6 months later I would have met some of the most amazing people in my life. Thank you to everyone involved with this video project. And never forget that you are strong. You are valuable. And you are beautiful 💕 Happy World CP Day🌎 P.S. To everyone in this video, if you look closely at the thumbnail, you might see your picture 😉 Also, I will be posting the video on IG and Facebook later too for you to share! #WorldCerebralPalsyDay #MillionsOfReasons . . . .⁣ #worldcpday #cerebralpalsy #cerebralpalsyawarenessmonth #disabilitycommunity #disabilitysupport #disabilityarts #cerebralpalsywarrior #disabledandcute #disabilityawareness #selectivedorsalrhizotomy #disabilityinclusion #wheelchairlife #disabilityblogger #wheelchairuser #disabledandproud #disabilitypride #disabilitylife #sdrchangeslives #cerebralpalsy #cplife #cerebralpalsyawareness #cerebralpalsykids #choosetoinclude #inclusionmatters #changemaker #cpwontstopme #cerebralpalsystrong #bookedbybravo @bravotalentmanagement
    This is me when I was five years old. I just wante This is me when I was five years old. I just wanted to be loved, accepted. The same is true today. When you grow up with a disability, you’re different from everyone else. That’s just the way it is. Back then, I didn’t know anyone with cerebral palsy. There weren’t other kids who were like me, in the same way. No one understood what it felt like to be stared at all the time, or get teased for walking funny. There were no awareness days when I was young…heck no one even talked about CP. I didn’t even know what it was, just that I had it. Cut to forty-three years later. Everyone’s talking about accessibility, disability awareness and inclusion. How about including CP in the NATIONAL MEDIA? Maybe if it got just some of the coverage given to other disabilities and/or causes, we could move the needle because… Cerebral palsy IS the most common disability in childhood yet… * There is NO federal funding for it * Parents are given little to NO information about it when their child is diagnosed * Adults (like me) are often left to fend for ourselves, unable to find doctors who are knowledgeable about CP. We simply don’t get vital care, resources we need throughout our lives. Raise your hand 🙋‍♀️ if you think this is UNACCEPTABLE?!?! These are just some of the reasons raising awareness for @worldcpday is important to me. The media isn’t going to help us, so WE must do it. Let’s light up social media in green on OCTOBER 6! There are little boys and girls and adults, with CP too, all over the world, who just want to be ACCEPTED. LOVED. SEEN. Let’s show them that they are, and that they’re not alone. Let me know in the comments…what (or who) is your reason for wearing green tomorrow? 💚💚💚 #NicoleLuongo #CerebralPalsy #whatCPlookslike #MillionsofReasons #WorldCerebralPalsyDay #GoGreen4CP #InclusionMatters #RepresentationMatters [ID: A picture of Nicole at five years old. She’s smiling, and she’s wearing makeup (that she probably applied). She has straight, dark brown hair in pigtails tied with lavender fabric. A Facebook frame with the words WORLD CEREBRAL PALSY DAY OCT 6 are shown in the upper left hand corner of the picture.]
    Did you know I’m a published author? #TBT to 200 Did you know I’m a published author? #TBT to 2007 when I was interviewed live on @nbc6. I had a blast with @trinanbc6! • • Click the link in my bio to watch! P.S. My self-published book will celebrate 20 years in print on December 4, 2022. 😉 💚💚💚 #NicoleLuongo #AuthorLife #AuthorsofInstagram #Books #LovePoetry #Poetry #PoetryBooks #CerebralPalsy #whatCPlookslike #NBC6 #Florida #SouthFlorida [ID: 1. A white background. In the center, there’s a picture of a live interview on the set of NBC6 in South Florida. Trina Robinson is sitting on the left in a green chair, and she’s holding a copy of Nicole’s book, Naked Desires. Trina is a Black female with long, straight black hair, dressed in all white. Nicole is sitting next to Trina, in a green chair. She has short, straight dark brown hair with caramel highlights. She’s wearing a satin, v-neck red kimono with black trim, along with black pants. Nicole’s book is prominently displayed on a table that’s in front of the two women. 2. A white background. In the center, there’s a picture of Nicole standing on the set of NBC6, with the the station’s logo behind her. She’s smiling, wearing a satin, v-neck red kimono with black trim, along with black pants. Nicole’s book, Naked Desires, is displayed on a table next to her.]
    Say it louder for the ableist people in the back… 💚💚💚 #NicoleLuongo #Ableism #CerebralPalsy #Disabilities #DisabilityQuotes #WednesdayWisdom #whatCPlookslike [ID: A green background with a white quotation mark. In the center, there’s a quote from Nicole in black text. It says: My disability doesn’t define me. I do. Nicole’s Instagram @whatcplookslike is below the text, in the center. There’s a small, black vertical line at the bottom of the graphic.]
    An important photo dump about how I advocated for An important photo dump about how I advocated for @worldcpday in 2019. I’ve written several articles about #WorldCPDay, the first one was published in @huffpost in 2014. Five years later, without any contacts, experience, money, or sponsors, I did what no other person, nonprofit, etc. has ever been able to do — secure over 100 #GoGreen4CP lightings in 48 states AND three other countries. I did the same thing on March 25, too. The project took six months of non-stop work. It all started with an idea.💡 In the words of #JFK, I believe “one person can make a difference, and everyone should try.” Anyone can be an advocate. There’s no right or wrong way to do it. The impossible is possible. Take it from me. 😉 If you want to see the list of lightings, click the link in my bio or go to the Go Green for CP tab on my website at nicoleluongo.com. You’ll see a picture of my first (ever) lighting on World CP Day 2018 that was announced live on @king5seattle! How will you celebrate World Cerebral Palsy Day on October 6? Share your story, don’t forget to tag @worldcpday. Use the hashtags #MillionsofReasons and #WorldCerebralPalsyDay. 💚💚💚 #NicoleLuongo #whatCPlookslike #CerebralPalsy #CerebralPalsyAwareness #DisabilityAdvocate #AdvocacyMatters #RepresentationMatters
    Leave a 💚 below if you agree! Wake up, kick bu Leave a 💚 below if you agree! Wake up, kick butt, repeat! Follow my success formula at the link in my bio or go to nicoleluongo.com/follow-success-formula-achieve-anything/ What’s one thing you want to achieve? 💚💚💚 #NicoleLuongo #CerebralPalsy #CerebralPalsyStrong #SDRChangesLives #whatCPlookslike #DisabilityAdvocate #BossBabe30Days #MotivationMonday #Success #QuotesAboutLife #QuotesToLiveBy [ID: A green background. In the center there’s a box with a black border around it. In the center of the box there is a white, round illuminated circle. Inside the box, superimposed on top of the illuminated circle, is a quote from Nicole in black text. It says: You can’t achieve anything if you’re on the sidelines of life. Get in the game! Nicole’s Instagram @whatcplookslike is below the text, in the center.]
    In case you need a reminder… Life with #Cerebra In case you need a reminder… Life with #CerebralPalsy can be exhausting! We expend 5-7 times more energy doing daily tasks, so it’s no wonder we’re tired. It’s okay to take breaks. It’s healthy (for your body + mind) to take breaks. It’s necessary to take breaks. Taking breaks doesn’t mean you aren’t productive. REPEAT AFTER ME: Just because you take breaks doesn’t mean you’re broken. Want some examples of how to take care of yourself? Check out my vlog Cerebral Palsy Self-Care Tips in my bio or go to nicoleluongo.com/cerebral-palsy-self-care-tips/ On Sunday when I need a break, I watch @mbstateofmind with @mauricebenard (In case you don’t know, I interviewed him earlier this year) on YouTube at 1PM EST. What does taking a break look like to you? 💚💚💚 #NicoleLuongo #whatCPlookslike #CerebralPalsyAwareness #Disabilities #SelfCare #SelfCareAwarenessMonth #SelfCareSunday #BossBabe30Days [ID: A green background. In the center there is a white, square pop up bubble with black text. At the top it says Reminder. Underneath it says: Just because you take breaks doesn’t mean your broken. There’s a vertical line under the text. Underneath, to the left, in blue letters, it says Close. There’s a vertical line. To the right, in blue letters, it says Got it. Nicole’s Instagram @whatcplookslike is below the bubble, in the center.]
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