World Cerebral Palsy Day
World Cerebral Palsy Day is a movement of people with cerebral palsy and their families, and the organisations that support them, in more than 52 countries. Its vision is to ensure that children and adults with cerebral palsy (CP) have the same rights, access and opportunities as anyone else in society.
World Cerebral Palsy (CP) Day is held on the first Wednesday each October - Wednesday October 5 in 2016.
Goals
More than just an awareness day, World CP Day is an opportunity to:
- Celebrate and express pride in the lives and achievements of those with CP and the people and the organisations that support them
- Create a powerful voice for those with CP to change their world
- Connect organisations across the globe so they are better equipped to meet the needs of those with CP
- Create new solutions to everyday problems
- Act as a catalyst for social change and education campaigns that create solutions to universal challenges
- Produce tangible, actions and outcomes that measurably improve the lives of those with CP
- Raise awareness of CP and the issues that affect people with CP at a local, national and international level to create more inclusive societies.
How
World CP Day supports organisations and individuals to advocate locally and, in doing so, build a global movement. Local initiatives range from educational seminars for medical professionals through to city-wide campaigns for inclusive education.
Six Key Areas for Change
There are 6 critical issues that universally affect people with cerebral palsy globally, irrespective of their economic, geographic or cultural differences:
- Public awareness: Putting an end to ignorance and the stigma it can create, by building a true understanding of what CP is (and is not). The objective is nothing less than to create cultural change so that everyone in a society embraces people with CP as brothers, sisters and full citizens.
- Civil rights: Ensuring that government officials at the local, regional and national level will move beyond passing proclamations, and take concrete action to guarantee that our basic rights, our full citizenship and our individual opportunities are real and cannot be taken away.
- Medical/Therapeutic: The very best information for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of CP so doctors and therapists can make better decisions earlier in the process and provide everyone with CP the best possible assistance in living the fullest possible life.
- Quality of life: The most useful advice, support and inspiration for our community, our families and others who help us. Not just to help each of us ‘survive’ the challenges, but to ensure we all thrive and can find enjoyment and fulfilment in life.
- Education: Helping all educators create an experience that will encourage the broader community to embrace people with CP, and provide an education to members of the CP community that is equal to that of every other citizen of the societies in which we live.
- Contribution: Each of us has a unique ability to contribute economically, artistically, socially and/or politically. Not being able to make that contribution is not just a matter of personal loss, it is a matter of robbing our entire society and culture of something that is essential to its ability to flourish.
Ambassador
The Global Ambassador for World Cerebral Palsy Day is RJ Mitte, from the hit US TV series, Breaking Bad.
Governance
The project is coordinated by the World Cerebral Palsy Initiative, a group of non-profit palsy with a global vision to create real change for people living with CP. World CP Day is not a fundraising or commercial venture.
How to join World Cerebral Palsy Day
Participation is open to any non-profit organisation or group keen to create a better world for people with cerebral palsy. There is no cost to join the campaign, which is supported through the generosity of the Allergan Foundation.