March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month
6th October marks World Cerebral Palsy Day, an opportunity to shine a light on a condition that impacts millions of lives in unique ways. As a mother to a wonderful 20-year-old daughter with Cerebral Palsy (CP), this day always resonates deeply. Over the years, I’ve come to understand not only the challenges but the extraordinary strength, resilience, and potential found within the CP community.
This year, I wanted to move beyond surface awareness and offer a resource that deepens understanding. That’s why I’m delighted to introduce my new infographic poster: "Cerebral Palsy: 10 Things You Might Not Know."
You’re invited to download and print this poster for personal, non-commercial use, whether to share at home, in schools, clinics, or with friends and neighbors. [Link to Downloadable Poster File]
A preview of the infographic is also available above!
What Makes This Infographic Different?
Rather than repeating the basics, this infographic dives into lesser-known but important aspects of Cerebral Palsy. Here’s a summary of the 10 insights featured:
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CP is Not Always Obvious at Birth: Signs may appear gradually as a child grows.
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CP Is an Umbrella Term: More than 300 combinations of impairments exist, making each journey unique.
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Mental Health Matters: Up to 40% of people with CP experience anxiety or depression, making holistic care essential.
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Body Awareness Challenges: CP can affect body awareness (proprioception), impacting balance and fine motor skills.
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Sleep Difficulties Are Common: Up to 70% of children with CP experience disrupted sleep, which significantly affects well-being.
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Lifelong Needs: CP doesn’t just affect children; adults face evolving health, mobility, and pain issues.
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Most Cases Happen Before Birth: Less than 10% of cases are caused by birth complications; most stem from prenatal events.
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Assistive Technology Empowers: Innovations like eye-gaze tools and exoskeletons are changing lives daily.
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Celebrating Achievements: People with CP pursue education, careers, and meaningful relationships, every day defying assumptions.
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Global Differences: The experience of CP varies worldwide, with significant barriers in lower-income regions.
What’s New and Remarkable in CP Awareness?
Emerging Therapies & Research
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Stem Cell Breakthroughs: Regenerative medicine is being studied for its potential to improve movement and thinking skills, especially in children, though it’s only offered in regulated clinical trials at present.
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Personalized Treatments: New research is combining cell therapy with advanced rehabilitation methods, aiming to boost mobility and independence even further.
Hidden Realities & Difficulties
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Chronic Pain is Under-recognized: Up to 75% of people with CP experience pain, especially adults, yet this remains under-addressed in care plans.
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Communication Diversity: Nearly 1 in 4 people with CP are nonverbal and rely on assistive technologies, emphasizing the urgent need for accessibility in every community.
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Severe Vision and Sleep Challenges: About 10% of children have serious vision difficulties, and 20% face persistent sleep issues, often complicating daily life in ways that aren’t always visible.
Changing Prevalence & Global View
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Rates Are Declining: Encouragingly, the prevalence of CP has started to decline in many developed countries, thanks to better prenatal and early childhood healthcare.
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Different Realities Worldwide: Race and country make a difference, children from marginalized communities or living in lower-income countries face steeper barriers to diagnosis, therapy, and assistance.
Fun Facts & Representation
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CP is neither inherited nor contagious, every person’s experience is different.
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TV shows and media are increasingly featuring real characters with CP, helping break stereotypes and foster acceptance in popular culture.
Why Share This?
This resource is only a starting point. My hope is that it prompts curiosity, deeper questions, and broader understanding about the realities of living with Cerebral Palsy, from advanced research to everyday challenges and triumphs.
As a mom, I witness my daughter’s courage and see the strength in so many others with CP. Let’s honour this month by expanding our understanding and celebrating the individuals, each story, struggle, and wonder, within this resilient community.
Please feel free to share the infographic widely for personal use. Together, we can build a more informed and inclusive world for those affected by Cerebral Palsy.
Until next time, stay blessed!
Muji’s mum/Nur
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