Celebrating World Cerebral Palsy Day

Every hour, a miracle-of-a-human is born with cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term for a collection of disabilities, and everyone who has it has a different life and a different way of going about their day-to-day. There are people with cerebral palsy who are speakers, activists, authors, poets, actors, Olympic athletes, comedians, skateboarders, and more, despite and because-of having cerebral palsy. There are also those who aren’t in the public eye but conquer equally as great daily challenges that come easily to people without disabilities.

“It’s not life that counts but the fortitude you bring into it.”

– John Galsworthy 

Greater Abilities

Want to talk about mental fortitude? Look no further than a person who has seen the crest of a wave in a monsoon and, against all odds, made it to the other side. Individuals with cerebral palsy each have their own unique journeys and each person develops their own different abilities that lead to creative solutions to life’s tasks.

For as much as is currently known, cerebral palsy is due to a chain of events that can happen before, during, or after birth. These events hinder the baby’s developing brain by way of injury or acceleration of brain injury. Often, by the time the child is just a few years old, they have faced more challenges than many of the population will face in a lifetime. 

People with cerebral palsy may have physical disabilities including issues with coordination, posture, balance, reflex, and muscle tone. Individuals can also have intellectual disabilities that come along with some forms of cerebral palsy, such as speech, hearing, vision, and learning. People with cerebral palsy often build an insatiable drive to overcome these obstacles.

“Inspirational Stories”

Mainstream media very rarely publishes stories about those with disabilities–opting only to do so when there’s an “inspirational story.” That’s great and all, but the thing is, those stories just perpetuate the ignorance about cerebral palsy and the people who have cerebral palsy as part of their lives. 

Within our culture, there is an incredible fear about the unknown and, for most, the facts about life with cerebral palsy are staying within that unknown column. Without the facts, a massive injustice is done to those with cerebral palsy. Inclusion remains a nice side note that helps people to feel better about not taking the time to understand the similarities of the person in front of the disability as well as their differences.

Having bigger challenges in life leads to much greater accomplishments. People who have overcome so many challenges can’t help but affect those around them by demonstrating human drive and determination at its finest. But it’s much more difficult to actively influence others when you have been labeled by your diagnosis.

About The Diagnosis

Cerebral palsy affects people in different ways, and individuals respond differently to the obstacles that having their form of cerebral palsy can present. If you’re unsure of the science behind CP, here are some little-known facts to learn more about the diagnosis: 

• There is a baby born every hour who has cerebral palsy (CP)
• Cerebral palsy is not progressive (it does not get worse over time)
• Cerebral palsy is the most common physical disability in childhood
• In most cases, brain injury leading to cerebral palsy occurs during pregnancy
• Motor disability can range from minimal to profound, depending on the individual
• Cerebral palsy can range from weakness in one hand to an almost complete lack of voluntary movement
• There is no known cure

Statistics

• 1 in 323 American babies are diagnosed with cerebral palsy
• 1 in 2 people with CP is in chronic pain
• 1 in 2 people with CP has an intellectual impairment.
• 1 in 3 people with CP cannot walk
• 1 in 3 people with CP has hip displacement.
• 1 in 4 people with CP has epilepsy
• 1 in 5 people with CP cannot speak
• 1 in 5 people with CP has a sleep disorder
• 1 in 10 people with CP has a severe vision impairment
• 1 in 25 people with CP has a severe hearing impairment.
• Of all people with cerebral palsy, 40% were born prematurely and 60% born at term.

Everyone is Different

While we’re saying that understanding the basic scientific facts about cerebral palsy is important, understanding the person much more important. Just like anyone else on this planet, to really get to know a person who has cerebral palsy, you need to get to know the person themselves. 

People with cerebral palsy are as individually unique as people without cerebral palsy. One person may love to write, while another doesn’t. Some people get a kick out of competing in sports, while others don’t. Some love to read, dance, sing, smile, watch old movies, smell freshly-made popcorn, observe human behavior, watch the birds, and every other activity that people without a diagnosis enjoy.

Let’s Work Together

People with cerebral palsy have the right to a say just as others do. Let’s all work together towards a future where people who have cerebral palsy have a voice as loud as those who were born without CP. Let’s all work together towards a future where the playing field is leveled and judgment is left for occasions when it is actually needed. And let’s remember that “normal” is not a goal, it’s just a word with no real meaning.

Celebrate World Cerebral Palsy Day on October 6th, and help us build a better, inclusive world together.