Additional Needs

World Cerebral Palsy Day 2020

Posted by Rochelle Carter on 20th October 2020 Additional Needs, Advice & Support, Disabilities

Share this article

On 6th October it was World Cerebral Palsy Day.

3 years ago it wasn’t a day we had heard of let alone celebrated.

“There are 17 million people across the world living with cerebral palsy. Another 350 million people are closely connected to a child or adult with cerebral palsy. It is the most common physical disability in childhood. Cerebral palsy is a permanent disability that affects movement.” (WorldCPDay.org)

Our family falls into that 350 million people statistic and Annabelle is one of those 17 million people statistic.

“World Cerebral Palsy Day is a movement of people with cerebral palsy and their families, and the organisations that support them, in more than 75 countries. Our vision is to ensure that children and adults with cerebral palsy have the same rights, access and opportunities as anyone else in our society. It is only together, that we can make that happen.” (WorldCPDay.org)

We strongly believe that children and adults with cerebral palsy SHOULD have the same rights, access and opportunities as anyone else. We are a long way from achieving that but we the only way to make that happen is to fight for it and that is what World Cerebral Palsy Day is all about.

Every year there is a different theme. World Cerebral Palsy Day 2020 was a day to Make Your Mark!

There is no doubt about the fact Annabelle has already made her mark on so many people and we couldn’t be prouder of what she has achieved and the beautiful little human she has become.

Cerebral palsy doesn’t define her, she is her own amazing person, but it is something she will have to live with every day of her life and there is no getting away from that, so, we will always take a minute or two, on 6 th October every year to reflect on what she has achieved despite the challenges cerebral palsy throws her way and will let her know how proud of her we are.

This year Annabelle had conductive education on 6th October and showed cerebral palsy that she is and will forever be a fighter!

Conductive education and therapy are a big part of Annabelle’s life and it is just ‘normal’ to her.

As the years go by and she gets older and her understanding of cerebral palsy and what it means will grow. 6 th October will mean more and more to her each year that goes by. She is more than a statistic, but we will ensure she is proud to be part of the statistics and that she does something to raise awareness of cerebral palsy on this day each year!