October 6th is World Cerebral Palsy Day. This holiday celebrates the 17 million people who live with CP and their loved ones who help them along their journeys.
If you’d like to celebrate with us this year, here are four ways that you can participate in World Cerebral Palsy Day:
1. Allow those with CP to share their stories.
Although cerebral palsy is the most common motor disability in children, no two people with cerebral palsy are the same. Therefore, you should let your friends with CP share their stories with you. As a friend or family member of someone with CP, it’s important that you always hold space for your loved one’s stories and feelings. Most of the time, people with cerebral palsy cope with their symptoms well, but some days, living with CP can feel emotionally overwhelming. After all, people with cerebral palsy need to express their struggles, too.
3. Help your loved ones with cerebral palsy through the hard moments.
People with cerebral palsy often go through a lot of medical procedures, doctor’s appointments, and therapy sessions. But at the same time, they want to have a normal life, attend school, work, or volunteer Therefore, it’s important to remember that above all else, we, as people with cerebral palsy, are people first and may need support in the hard moments.
4. Be supportive of someone with cerebral palsy.
Supportive friends and family members are one of the most important parts of anyone’s life. This is no exception for individuals with cerebral palsy. Although people with CP may need more help with activities of daily living than the average person, that doesn’t make them any less deserving of support. In fact, when people with cerebral palsy receive support from their loved ones and caregivers, they live more successful, independent lives.
As a friend or family member of someone with cerebral palsy, it’s also important to make sure that you see them as a person first, rather than only seeing their disability. How others see someone who has CP can have a huge impact on how they see themselves.
There are many ways to celebrate World CP Day and advocate for those with CP. How will you help celebrate World Cerebral Palsy Day? Leave a comment below!
Written in collaboration with Tylia Flores.
Featured Photo by Kevin Andre on Unsplash.
