October is here and it is one of our favourite months of the year in our house. Not only is there Thanksgiving and Halloween, but another day that is close to our hearts – World CP Day!

World CP Day is on October 6th. This day is to celebrate those with cerebral palsy (CP), their families and all those who support them. It is also a day for awareness and to ensure those with CP have the same rights and opportunities as others. This includes proper funding and services around the globe.

Since it is now October, we thought we would put together a list of 5 things you can do for World CP Day. Check them out below!

1. Wear Green

On World CP Day wear green for CP awareness! By wearing a green shirt, tie or hair accessory, you will show your support and solidarity with the CP community.

2. Social Media

On any sort of awareness day or holiday, social media is basically flooded with posts of support and celebration. World CP Day is no different! If you have CP, share your story with the world. If you are a parent of a child with CP, connect with others. Of course, it doesn’t have to be October 6th for this to happen. So many people in the CP community have already shared their stories online. Support groups have grown. Ideas shared. Social media has really made the world smaller and a beautiful community of support is out there. Join it, you are welcome!

If you do post on World CP Day, don’t forget to tag @worldcpday and use these hashtags! #MillionsofReasons @worldcpday #WorldCerebralPalsyDay

3. Educate Yourself

With technology today comes the opportunity to learn so much! Knowledge about anything is easily accessible and that also goes for learning about disability, inclusion and CP. If you are looking to educate yourself more on CP and organizations that support the community, here are some places to start:

Google

To start, you could Google “Cerebral Palsy.” Right away links to the Mayo Clinic and the CDC will then pop up with lots of information about this condition including how it is diagnosed and treated.

Ontario Federation of Cerebral Palsy

The Ontario Federation of Cerebral Palsy (OFCP) is a charitable organization in Ontario, Canada. The OFCP offers a variety of services and resources for those with CP and their supporters. They also have funding opportunities and provide a regular newsletter full of events and information. You can learn how to support their work or any other similar organization.

Podcasts

The Cerebral Palsy Foundation is another wonderful organization to look up. They have a podcast called Let’s Talk CP that covers a variety of topics and have interviews with different guests. You can listen on platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify and iHeartRadio.

In addition, here is a list of some other CP related podcasts.

People to Follow Online

There are so many wonderful people who are disability advocates and really making a difference when it comes to educating the world on CP. Here are just a few of the awesome people we follow:

Nicole Luongo – This woman is amazing and someone we have followed since we started our own personal journey.

Zach Anner – Not only does Zach provide super informative content, he is also hilarious!

Joseph – He has done an excellent job making viral videos that bring awareness to CP and challenges he faces as well as victories. However, he also shows how he is just like any other person!

Mighty Miss Maya – Maya and her Mom have been sharing their journey the last several years. One thing we know for certain is Miss Maya will and is already changing the world!

4. Lobby for Change

Though things are improving, the world is still not as inclusive as we may like. Programs that support those with CP often see cuts or have long wait lists. Children with CP who become adults with CP sometimes see less resources out there to help them with their needs. Next time you are out and about, take note of what buildings are accessible. Do they have ramps? What about your local playground? Could a child with a motor disability play there? These are things we also need to consider.

Look into your local government’s programs and subsidies. Research organizations who are lobbying for change. Contact your city or speak to business owners about things you notice around town. Search social media groups to connect with others hoping to make change. Remember, no matter how small or big an issue may be, change matters!

5. Connect Your Community

If you are someone who is passionate about your community, consider hosting an event for World CP Day. This could be an opportunity for those with CP to connect with each other in person or get families together. You could also create a fundraising event to support local organizations. An example of an organization here in Ontario would be Noah’s Clubhouse. They provide funding for children with CP. Finally, you could organize a smaller get together and just include yourself and your friends. Any chance to connect with others is great!

In short, World CP Day is an important day to us. With over 17 million people with CP in the world, it as an important day to many others and also an opportunity to learn and educate. Of course, this list of 5 things you can do for World CP Day are things you can do any day! Bringing awareness to CP and the challenges people with CP face is something that needs to be done more than one day a year. In order for real change to happen, it needs to be a constant movement.

We just want to give a special shout out to all our friends with CP, the families who love them and the people who support them! You are all amazing!

So on October 6th, show your support for those with CP, learn something new and rock something green!