World Cerebral Palsy Day 2024 aims to raise awareness for all individuals and families that are living with cerebral palsy. There are approximately 18 Million people living with Cerebral Palsy worldwide and in the UK, around 1,800 children are diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy every year, which works out at around 1 in 400 births.

Cerebral palsy is a complex lifelong condition that affect movement and posture. It can also affect vision, hearing, communication and mobility and involve intellectual impairment, behavioural issues or learning difficulties.

The very first Cerebral Palsy Day was celebrated in 2012 and the focus is very much on celebrating those with Cerebral Palsy, emphasising strengths rather than weaknesses and individuality rather than stereotypes.

Each year, it is celebrated on 6 October and aims to raise awareness of the condition, and to ensure a future where children and adults living with cerebral palsy have the same rights and access as everyone else.

Every year, the day has a different theme and this year’s theme is #UniquelyCP, celebrating how Cerebral Palsy makes you unique. Our experienced medical negligence team has substantial experience in working with families affected by Cerebral Palsy and we see that those with Cerebral Palsy can still thrive and achieve wonderful things, particularly when they have access to specialist therapy and rehabilitation.

Ms C, the mother of a child with Cerebral Palsy and with whom Williamsons have been working for a number of years, sums up the #UniquelyCP message perfectly with reference to her own experience, as follows:

My son got diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 2 years of age. I was told he may never walk, and he may never talk. The first thing that came to my mind was that I would never be able to walk down the street holding my son’s hand and he would never be able to call me “Mummy”. Thoughts that consumed my mind, although looking back now, I needn’t have worried.

It is not his disability that makes him unique, nor his walking stance compared to others, or the fact he wears splints to aid his mobility, it is his ability to get up every single day and strive for everything neurotypical children can do without giving it a second thought and he never once complains!

Through surgery, physiotherapy but most of all his pure drive and determination! He now not only walks but was able to actively take part last year in his first school sports day. He also participates in a weekly frame football group where children with all types of cerebral palsy come together to celebrate their differences and enjoy sport together, with no judgement. This was the first time my son had ever seen anybody else with a walking frame, who was like him.

A disability like Cerebral Palsy may be limiting but it does not limit one’s drive, will power and determination to be able to achieve things that others may take for granted. I look forward to watching him grow and to see what else he can achieve in the years to come.

As well as successfully securing millions of pounds in financial compensation, the medical negligence team at Williamsons work closely with those who have been injured and their families in order to support them with their rehabilitation, such as, where admissions are secured, providing access to specialist treatment and therapies to assist with having the best quality of life and independence possible.

If you or a loved one has been affected by Cerebral Palsy, please do not hesitate to contact our team on 01482 323697 to discuss how we can help.