Cerebral Palsy Awareness
What is Cerebral Palsy?
The National Institutes of Health defines cerebral palsy (CP) as “a group of neurological disorders that appear in infancy or early childhood and permanently affect body movement and muscle coordination.”
My story
At 9 months old, I was diagnosed with CP. I have right hemiplegic CP, caused by a stroke at birth. As a result, I have mobility issues with the right side of my body. Though after years of physical therapy, my disability may not be noticeable to the untrained eye.
As a child, I needed assistance with a walker and braces on both legs. I attended physical therapy several times a week and eventually was able to remove the brace on my left leg.
By the 4th grade, I was able to remove my right brace as well. This was no easy feat and came after 10 years of hard work.
Types of Cerebral Palsy
Spastic involves muscle tightness and spasms.
Dyskinetic involves issues with muscle control.
Ataxic affects balance and depth perception.
Mixed involves features of the above types.
I have whats considered mild right hemiplegic spastic CP, meaning the right side of my body is affected by muscle tightness, pain and weakness. I also have issues with depth perception and coordination. CP presents differently for everyone.
Managing my CP
To this day, I do PT, OT, pool therapy, acupuncture, gua sha, cupping, and chiropractic work regularly, to help mitigate my CP symptoms such as pain and spasms.
What does CP feel like?
For me, CP is a full-body experience. I live with constant muscle tightness, pain, and spasms, especially on my right side. Although my left side is “unaffected,” the asymmetries in my body can cause pain on the left side, too.
My body has to work harder to do everyday tasks that others might take for granted, like walking down the stairs or getting dressed, which can lead to fatigue.
My right side is also weaker and less coordinated than my left, creating physical imbalances that have led to pain and developing postural issues like scoliosis.
Invisible Pain
Although my disabilities may not always be visible to others, gua sha, a traditional East Asian medicine practice used to produce light petechiae, shows some of the areas in which I experience pain, including my left and right sides. This full-body pain and inflammation affect me daily. I am often expected to do the same tasks as an able-bodied person while dealing with this excruciating pain.
The mental & emotional impact of CP
CP doesn’t just affect the body. It also impacts mental health. Living with chronic pain, fatigue, and limited access to care can lead to depression and anxiety.
Furthermore, the ableism & misunderstanding that we face on a daily basis can be incredibly isolating and lonely. Living in a body that doesn’t work the way you want it to can be extremely discouraging, and navigating a world that isn’t built for you takes a great deal of strength, patience, and emotional resilience.
The Importance of Representation
We need more disabled voices at the table—in medicine, media, and leadership. Too often, the stories of people with CP stop at childhood or are told by others.
Real representation means showing adults with CP living full, complex lives and giving them the platform to speak for themselves.
Why Awareness Matters
Awareness isn’t just about education — it’s about action. It leads to better care, more inclusive policies, and reduced stigma. It helps people understand the reality of living with CP, which is the first step toward creating real, lasting change.
Cerebral Palsy Strong, Cerebral Palsy Grows Up, and the Cerebral Palsy Foundation have been amazing with bringing more awareness to CP and creating a much needed community.
Advocating Through Art
This year, I had the honor of working with the Cerebral Palsy Foundation (CPF) to design t-shirts for National CP Awareness Day. CPF is a leading organization dedicated to transforming the lives of people with cerebral palsy through research, innovation, and collaborative projects. One of their most exciting recent initiatives is Cerebral Palsy Grows Up (CPGU). CPGU — a program I helped brand, is a groundbreaking effort to shift the narrative that CP is only a childhood disorder. Because kids with CP grow up, and most of us are left without adequate support once we age out of pediatric care.
Why CPGU Matters
The project aims to improve healthcare for adults with CP by developing clinical practice guidelines and researching critical areas like neurocognitive function, cardiometabolic health, musculoskeletal issues, gastrointestinal and endocrine disorders, respiratory health, urological concerns, mental health, and even sexual health.
While there’s no cure for CP, there is progress. The more we learn about our own bodies and advocate for treatments that work, the more we reclaim our quality of life.
How Trump's DEIA Order Hurts People with Cerebral Palsy
Executive Order 14151 mandates the removal of all Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) initiatives in federal agencies. For people with CP and other disabilities, DEIA policies are often the only safeguards ensuring accessibility, disability-inclusive research, and workplace protections.
Without these, barriers to healthcare, employment, and education will continue to grow, pushing the disabled community even more at risk at a time when support is already severely lacking.
Advocating through art pt.2
As an artist, I want to convey the challenges of CP in a way that people can understand, regardless of their abilities. I try to use my skills to transcend ability and demonstrate my personal experience.
How you can help
You can make a difference by uplifting disabled voices, supporting inclusive policies, & donating to organizations or individuals doing this work. Share what you’ve learned, challenge misconceptions, and always ask how you can be an ally. Show your loved ones you care by accommodating their disabilities.
How Parents Can Support Children with CP
If you’re a parent of a child with CP, your support makes all the difference. Focus on what your child can do and build on their strengths.
Encourage independence and let them try things in their own way.
Advocate for inclusive education, disability rights, and therapies that support their physical and emotional well-being.
Most importantly, listen — your child knows their body better than anyone else, and your belief in them helps them believe in themselves.
Help Support My Work
For the past year, I’ve been writing my blog unpaid, sharing personal experiences, research, advocacy, and art to help others feel seen, informed, and empowered. I want to keep my blog free, but I can't continue doing this work without financial support.
If you believe in free, accessible disability journalism, please consider donating and sharing this post. Every contribution helps me continue this work. Let’s make sure disability voices are heard, policies are held accountable, and people never feel alone with their conditions. Donate through GoFundMe below!
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