Cerebral Palsy Foundation

We are transforming lives of people with cerebral palsy today through research, innovation and collaboration.

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#CPAwarenessDay!

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#CPAwarenessday!

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#CPAwarenessDay

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Happy CP Awareness Day!

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It's molto meaningful to have Mario Batali share his thoughts on conversing with a person who has disabilities. And we hope you appreciate his suggestions: as many things in life, when you're an adult, so much goes better with a great bottle of wine.

Oddly, some people might be hesitant to offer wine to someone who has disabilities. How many times does someone in a motorized wheelchair need to hear a joke about drinking and driving before it's fair to run over the person who's telling it on purpose?

Truth is, meals for a person has disabilities can often have a few challenges - but it's nothing that can't be handled with common sense. Here are five tips on providing appropriate supports while being helpful, but not intrusive, to someone with significant motor challenges.

1. Offer a straw for drinking. Wine out of a straw? Well, it sure beats not having wine with a meal!

2. Offer to assist with cutting food. Many individuals can handle a fork, but cutting food can be tougher. Of course, many folks with disabilities know to order food that's already in bite-sized pieces, such as small ravioli or sushi. You see, the issue isn't new to someone who has disabilities.

3. If a person wants help with eating, they'll usually ask. Be comfortable with that. If you're not sure if someone wants another bite or isn't ready, just ask. It's really the same rule as saying hi -- if there's hesitation it's on your part.

4. If there's something sloppy, using a napkin tucked into the shirt (spaghetti and meatball style) is a great idea. But many people prefer to avoid that, as it calls attention. In those cases, you can just quietly fold up a napkin and unobtrusively hold it under the spoon or fork as you move.

5. When leaving a restaurant, it's fine to politely ask other diners to move if you need a clear path for a wheelchair. You'd be surprised how courteous others are in those moments. That being said, if it's tough for you, just ask a waiter for help.

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In 2002, William H. Macy did a movie called Door To Door, about a real-life salesman, Bill Porter, who had cerebral palsy but who was much more appropriately defined by his determination to succeed.

Anyone who saw that film was surely affected by how Bill (Macy) inhabited that role. That shouldn’t be surprising. In any of Bill’s wonderful films, from Fargo to Pleasantville to Rudderless, and of course in his show Shameless, he finds a depth of character that is compelling and informative. In all his roles, one quickly finds that the first impression of someone will always give way to the more complex reality of the actual individual.

So how terrific for CPF that Bill agreed to create our first “Just Say Hi” spot. Who better to share the notion that a simple world “hi” can open a door? Who better to acknowledge that meeting anyone can be a awkward moment? Who better to share the idea that crossing this barrier can lead us all to a place where we discover new relationships, new friendships, new vistas? Who better to remind us of both the awkwardness and simple magic of our shared human experience?

When referring to the qualities of his craft, Bill is often called “an actor’s actor.” And we sure agree with that. But the same can be said about his qualities as a human.

So we just wanted to say “thanks.” And for those of you who missed Door To Door and haven’t gotten to experience this wonderful story about the greatest salesman in the history of the Watkins company – here’s a link.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/door-to-door-2002/id694888185

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You might call me crazy for saying this, but there are very tangible benefits to being disabled. In fact, I’d go so far as to say many of the things people consider disadvantages actually result in the greatest advantages I get in life.

Sometimes having a ‎disability‬ can be rough. Other times, it's not so bad. Here's a humorous look at the practical benefits of a disability.

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Father and Son With Cerebral Palsy Show Skaters How It's Done

The smile on his face is everything.

This dad took his son with #CP to a skatepark. Watch him go!

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Please Don't Praise Me for Loving My Child With a Disability - Ellen Stumbo

It happens to most of us as we parent kids with disabilities, we hear statements like, “You are amazing, I could never do it.” “It must be so hard.”

The frustrations of being a parent: why one mother says praise for raising a child with a disability is unnecessary.

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The majority of individuals with CP will experience some form of premature aging by the time they reach their 40s due to the extra stress and strain the disability puts upon their bodies. The developmental delays that often accompany CP keep some organ …

Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition. Learn how it can affect adults.

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Lego unveils first ever minifigure in wheelchair

Images taken at the Nuremberg toy fair by fan group Promobricks show a wheelchair-using Lego figurine, complete with helper dog, following #ToyLikeMe equality campaign

LEGO recently announced its first wheelchair using minifigure. This is a huge step forward for inclusion and acceptance!

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What is CP

Cerebral Palsy (CP) describes a group of permanent disorders of the development of movement and posture, causing activity limitations, attributed to non progressive disturbances that occurred in the developing fetal or infant brain. The motor disorders of cerebral palsy are often accompanied by disturbances of sensation, perception, cognition, communication and behavior, epilepsy, and by secondary musculoskeletal problems.

Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term for a set of neurological disorders that affect movement and posture. There are a several types of CP, learn more about it!

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Kinect: Accessibility - Cerebral Palsy Foundation

Our ability to picture children and teens playing video games is about as vivid as the animation of the games themselves. The full picture, however, is incomplete, because current technology does not afford most individuals with motor disabilities the option …

Our #Kinect project is all about making gaming accessible to everyone.

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A chat with groundbreaking actor RJ Mitte – ‘A disability is a personal challenge’

The Tico Times sits down with "Breaking Bad" star RJ Mitte during his Costa Rica visit to discuss his work and his advocacy for people with disabilities.

"I use it for my work. I use it for my motion. I use it for what my character is. I don’t “play” CP: I just have it, and when I do try to have a convulsion and it comes through a scene, that’s part of the character." Breaking Bad actor RJ Mitte sees disability as a "personal challenge".

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Last Week Tonight’s John Oliver recently told us how not to speak to someone who has a disability via our “Just Say Hi” campaign.

Our friend and celebrated filmmaker, Andrew Pilkington, shared 5 other things you shouldn’t say to someone with a disability after you “Just Say Hi”.

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John Oliver, host of HBO’s Last Week Tonight, shares thoughts on how to say hi! And how not to say hi.