Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month 2023

(Image Description: The author of the blog, Vanessa, is sitting outside. She is wearing a bright green shirt with the words "March 25th, 2023: National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day" featured within a white circle with a ribbon.)

Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month 2023

Hello, my name is Vanessa. I have been involved with Best Buddies for three and a half years. I have been a part of multiple programs including Friendship, Leadership Development, Integrated Employment, and the Young Leaders Council. I have also served on the Friendship Walk Committee and participated in Champion of the Year as a nominee and mission partner.

  

Did you know not only is March Best Buddies Month it is also Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month? As a person living with cerebral palsy, it is especially important to me that I do my part to spread awareness. 

What is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month?  

National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month was started by Reaching for the Stars, a cerebral palsy advocacy group in 2006. 

 

During the month of March, individuals living with cerebral palsy as well as family members and activists come together to advocate for the cerebral palsy community.  

The goal of National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month is to push for positive change in education programs, the health care system, and the job market to give opportunities to those living with cerebral palsy.  

Learn more about National Cerebral Palsy Awareness month by visiting National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month - Show Your Support   

What is Cerebral Palsy?  

Over 1 million people (about the population of Delaware) in the United States are living with cerebral palsy, and approximately 10,000 babies are diagnosed every year.

  

Cerebral palsy is a non-progressive neurological condition that affects movement, muscle tone, balance, and posture.  

According to the Cerebral Palsy Foundation (CPF) there are several types of CP:   

• Ataxic: least common form of CP. Describes shaky movements or tremors.  

• Athetoid: describes the involuntary unpredictable movement that is present even at rest. Often have very weak muscles and can feel floppy when transferred or carried.  

• Diplegia: Both legs are more greatly affected than arms.  

• Hemiplegia: One side of the body is affected.  

• Quadriplegia: Both arms and legs are affected, trunk and face are also affected.  

• Spastic: Most common form of CP. Describes tightness or stiffness of muscles.

Learn more about Cerebral Palsy by following @yourcpf on social media or visiting: CPF - Cerebral Palsy Foundation (yourcpf.org)  

What is something you wish everyone knew about Cerebral Palsy?  

Cerebral Palsy and how it impacts movement, coordination, balance, and more is unique to us as individuals and can look different for everyone. For example:   

• Driving: Some can drive. Others cannot due to delayed reaction caused by CP.  

• Walking: Some can walk. Others walk with a mobility device such as a walker. 

• Talking: Some are verbal. Others are nonverbal and communicate with Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). This device empowers people with disabilities to communicate fully.  

What do you want people to know about cerebral palsy that they might typically not be aware of? 

Symptoms of cerebral palsy can be both visible and invisible. For example: 

• Visible: Walking on the grass with a mobility device (i.e., walker) 

• Invisible: Recovery time from pushing a walker in the grass: At least 1 week. 

 

• Visible: Capable of typing or writing 

• Invisible: Difficulty with fine motor skills. Limits speed. Taking notes at the same pace as peers can be challenging. 
   

• Visible: Wears glasses 

• Invisible: PowerPoint slides can be difficult to process depending on how information is presented (i.e., charts and graphs)  

As an individual with cerebral palsy, what are some challenges you have experienced?  

• Friends: I was rarely invited to hang out outside of school. This made me feel I was not good enough to be seen in public.  

• I cannot help but wonder who the leader I would have been if I were given an opportunity to serve in a leadership position during elementary, middle school, high school, and college. 

• Driving: I passed the written test. While practicing for the driving test I experienced delayed reactions caused by cerebral palsy. In other words, driving would not be safe. 

• Employment: Decades of job searching. Hundreds of applications. In 2022, Best Buddies provided an opportunity to serve as a Program Manager. Through the six months' experience I discovered a passion for Salesforce.  

• Independent Living: I wonder if I would have moved back home after college if I knew about affordable housing and the 10-year waitlist.  

Why is accessibility Important? 

Accessibility provides people with disabilities an opportunity to:  

• Bowl by pushing a bowling ball down a bowling ramp.  

• Climb a rock wall using held bar style ascenders to grip a rope and ratchet themselves up. 

• Stand up skiing includes 2 track, 3 track or 4 track. Personally, I prefer 4 track skiing, which involves standing up on both legs on two skis with two handheld outriggers.  

How can we improve accessibility?  

Inclusion is not the same as belonging. For example, I feel included when I am invited to attend the Friendship Walk and the walk route is wheelchair accessible. But when taking photos at the Best Buddies backdrop, opening and closing ceremonies, awards, and dancing on the dance floor take place on the grass and/or an incline, I do not feel like I belong. We can improve accessibility by being given a chance to belong.  

What advice would you give people with and without disabilities?  

The work we do today paves the way for a better tomorrow!  

How can we support the Cerebral Palsy community?  

• Show your support for the Cerebral Palsy Community by wearing green and using the hashtag #GoGreen4CP on Saturday March 25, 2023 

• Follow public figures on social media and support their work.  

• Maysoon Zayid: Comedian  

• Ahren Belisle: Mute standup comedian. 

• Brianna Pievac: Wheelchair model and published author. 

• Zach Anner: Author, Public Speaker, Host and Comedian 

• Miracle Pelayo: Actor (Lilly in American Girl Doll: Travel Twins) 

• Micah Fowler: Actor (JJ in Speechless), Advocate and movie enthusiast.  

In friendship,

Vanessa Ocana

YLC Member, California