World Cerebral Palsy Day

Photo credit Natalie Venezia (C) written by Janet Lee Harrold... September 4th, 2012 has been named “World Cerebral Palsy Day” This is the first time ever such a day exists. There has been and still is a Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month but never before has a specific day been named World Cerebral Palsy Day. This day could help to change the lives of people with Cerebral Palsy (C.P). The theme for this unique day is “Change my World in 1 minute”

There is an astounding 17 million people around the world with Cerebral Palsy and those of us who love someone with the non curable disease knows that C.P. does not only affect that person but also affects their family as well, bringing the total to 350 million people who are closely connected to someone with C.P. In addition to celebrating the day, The World Cerebral Palsy Website is giving people with C.P. and their loved ones, the opportunity to express ideas about what they need to make their life more independent or more rewarding. There is no idea that is too small and no idea that is too big. They are also allowing you the chance to make a video explaining your idea. There will be a voting process on the most popular ideas, from that process the best ideas win. In November they become a reality and then by next year on World Cerebral Palsy Day, the winning products will be launched. Can you imagine the feeling if your idea helped to make a significant change in someones life.

Anyone living with Cerebral Palsy knows how even the slightest feat can make a huge difference in the quality of life. So why not voice your opinion? Or have someone else submit an idea for you. You never know if your idea will be chosen and can help change the lives of so many people around the world. Being the grandmother of a beautiful 5 year old girl who lives with C.P. I feel compelled to submit an idea and at least voice my opinion on a few ways that I think that could possibly help her to have a better quality of life. I’m sure that there are so many things that could physically help those with C.P. but since I can’t speak of these first hand. I thought I would leave those requests to the people who are directly affected and living with C.P.

My request would be more of a plea to educate and really drive home the fact that though there are people who have disabilities, these people are people first and they too have feelings and emotions just like you and I. I think that it should be mandatory in schools to inform and educate those who are fortunate enough to be typically developing about why and how people become disabled, and how to speak and act around people who have a disability. If children learn this at a very young age, then I believe they will be more understanding of others and less bullying and teasing will arise. I wish that all schools promoted inclusion and adopted a buddy system that paired children with disabilities with children who are not disabled, giving both children a better understanding of each other making the world a better place to live, while promoting friendship instead of hardship. This is only one small idea, but I believe it could make a huge difference, not only in the lives of those with C.P. but in the lives of everyone. I can’t begin to tell you how much Hailey has taught our family in the past 5 years, because of her our lives have been both transformed and enriched. Our eyes are now wide open. She has taught us the most valuable lessons about what is most important in life. Just by implementing a couple of ideas in the school system can be life changing for so many of our children, how can we ignore the need and the difference we can make?

If you want to make a difference in someone’s life go to World Cerebral Palsy Day and submit your idea. Definition of Cerebral Palsy from the CDC Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that affect a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture. CP is the most common motor disability in childhood. Cerebral means having to do with the brain.Palsy means weakness or problems with using the muscles. CP is caused by abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain that affects a person’s ability to control his or her muscles.