I began thinking about this in regards to CP Awareness Day a bit differently. If we think about even the name, Cerebral Palsy Awareness, there are so many things I imagine you would like others to be aware of, as caregivers and Cerebral Palsy warriors. What does awareness mean to each of us, personally?

In my 30-year career as a social worker and therapist, I have seen many children, adults, couples and families face what seems impossible. There are some common characteristics with those who face impossible with fear and those who face it with hope.

For all of us, the idea of adjusting is so important in understanding ourselves, those around us and the kindness that can happen when offered with care and understanding.

In 2025, there are thousands of reels, social media accounts and testaments to the badassery that is required to live with CP. And though the world still has a long way to go, the pride, wholeness and strength of this community never ceases to amaze me.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a mental health treatment technique. This method involves moving your eyes a specific way while you process traumatic memories. EMDR's goal is to help you heal from trauma or other distressing life experiences.

On the days that having CP is challenging, it is extra important to take care of yourself, all those feelings and your body. When we can mention how we feel, then we figure out or manage what we need to feel better.

For as long as I can remember, I dreamed of being a mama and for equally as long, I just couldn’t comprehend the dream coming true, for me. Yet, I had NO frame of reference or role models for mamas with CP.

This research studied falls in ambulatory children and adults with CP specifically asking how often they’ve fallen, fall-related injuries experienced, circumstances around the fall, the level of fear or concern about future falls, and the extent to which they do or don’t avoid certain activities due to their concern about falling. This study sets a strong foundation for future fall research, quantifying the breadth and depth of the problem across a large spectrum of age and walking ability.