Hello everybody! Today I would like to shine a light on a recent awareness day which is very close to my heart. World Cerebral Palsy Day is celebrated on the 6th of October every year. There are 17 million people living with cerebral palsy worldwide. The theme for world cerebral palsy day 2025 was “Unique and United”.
The word “unique” is exceptionally important when it comes to talking about cerebral palsy because no two people are affected in the same way.
For example, I have spastic quadriplegic Cerebral palsy which affects all four limbs and can also affect a person’s trunk. For me, having spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy means that I am a full-time powered wheelchair user, and have limited hand and arm control. For another person spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, it may mean they have no hand control, or limited or no speech, and, even more uniquely, even though it may seem difficult with this type of cerebral affecting every limb in the body, there are people with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy that can walk, just at a slower pace.
Other types of cerebral palsy include:
Having had 2 healthy pregnancies, my mom wouldn’t have had any reason to be concerned about baby number 3, but when she got pains one afternoon and arrived at the hospital after an hour and a half drive, what unfolded was beyond her expectations. At 7:20 in the evening, just 20 minutes after stepping inside the door of University Hospital Kerry I arrived at 27 weeks weighing 2 pounds 7 ounces.
What a rollercoaster of an arrival! What started out as a perfectly smooth day turned out to be so much different, a whirlwind of emotions in a flash, fear for the unknown, wondering how this happened, the uncomfortable feeling of waiting in anticipation. A preterm birth can never be predicted, so for parents it can take huge courage to sit with the unknown. But that’s where adequate support is crucial, and that’s why initiatives like the Crann 2Gen model of care is so important. That’s also why the word “united” is so important, because it highlights communities and organizations coming together to help those with cerebral palsy and advocate for change.
In order to achieve the level of independence I have today medical intervention through various therapies and surgeries was essential. I attended regular physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and hydrotherapy pool sessions. Adequate support enables fulfilling lives. Without the right support independence doesn’t happen, fulfilling lives are denied. Children can’t be children. Adults can’t be adults. People with disabilities can’t have a life of their choosing and can’t contribute to society, and family members have no choice but to pick up the pieces.
I read a quote about cerebral palsy when I was younger and it has always resonated with me:
“Cerebral palsy slows me down but it ain’t stopping me!”
I feel it is very important for people living with cerebral palsy and even the wider public to be aware of such an important message.
Personally, embracing my cerebral palsy as a core part of my identity is very important to me. Advocacy is a huge passion of mine and I genuinely believe that if I didn’t have cerebral palsy I wouldn’t have began to explore this passion. Advocacy has opened invaluable doors for me, particularly having been on a local and national rights committees for people with physical disabilities, and also through my journalism podcasting and radio course. Also through having the opportunity to raise awareness about the Crann Centre’s annual Walk n’Roll fundraising campaign, which I was the ambassador for in 2022 and was able to share videos on social media on my personal perspective on the importance of inclusive play, which in turn made the wider public aware of the importance of an inclusive society by creating equal opportunities for outdoor recreation and play.
So embrace your uniqueness – and know that each and every one of you can contribute to society – everyone with cp has their own set of challenges but everyone has something to give!