October 6 is World Cerebral Palsy Day. This day represents a movement by people with cerebral palsy (CP), their families, and organizations that support them to create awareness and action around the disorder.
Cerebral palsy is a movement disorder which affects more than 17 million people across the world and about 10,000 people here in British Columbia. It is the most common physical disability in childhood. While cerebral palsy varies in its severity, it is a permanent disorder with no known cure.
On October 6, many BC landmarks, including Canada Place and Science World, will light up green to promote CP awareness. As common as CP is, many people with CP and their families lack access to basic information and support for condition. World CP Day is an opportunity to celebrate, raise awareness and take action to ensure that people with CP have the same rights, access and opportunity as anyone else in their communities.
As stated by Peter Brown of the Cerebral Palsy Association of BC (CPABC):
“Cerebral Palsy [CP] Day is an excellent opportunity for those of us with CP to educate the rest of the world, particularly our own communities, with respect to this affliction and the tremendous potential and ability that we all have, despite our condition. As with any such condition, there is tremendous uncertainty, almost mystery, for those who do not have, or do not know someone with, CP, as to what CP is and is not and the potential for great contributions to our world by those of us who do have CP… For me, it is a day during which those of [us] with CP should take the opportunity to provide the knowledge, information and expertise that we have gathered throughout our lives… to educate and inform our communities on… how far we have come and what challenges remain and which need to change, in order to benefit not only persons with CP but society as a whole.”
Visit the CPABC website to see how you can get involved with World CP Day on October 6.
At Pacific Medical Law, we are committed to bringing awareness to and supporting individuals with cerebral palsy. If you believe that your child’s cerebral palsy was caused by medical negligence, call us for a free consultation – we can provide information about supports and resources in your community as well as legal advice regarding your child’s rights for financial compensation.