March is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month, and National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day is on March 25th. This initiative was started by a cerebral palsy advocacy group in 2006. Supporters, activists, and advocates celebrate by wearing the color green, using the #GoGreen4CP hashtag, and donating to organisations who support people with Cerebral Palsy.
What is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month?
During the month of March, individuals living with cerebral palsy as well as family members and activists come together by advocating for the cerebral palsy community.
The goal of National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month is to push for positive change in education programs, the health care system, and the job market to give opportunities to those living with cerebral palsy.
History of Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day
Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day has been a global event for over a decade. It was started in 2006 by the Reaching for the Stars (RFTS) advocacy group. RFTS is run by parent volunteers who realized that — despite other awareness days for autism, down syndrome, and other disabilities — there was not a day that celebrated cerebral palsy.
The organisation wanted to bring greater attention to cerebral palsy and raise more research funding for the condition. RFTS was instrumental in establishing March 25th as National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day, as well as designating green as the colour for cerebral palsy awareness.
Since it was first celebrated, Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day has grown into a global event. Entire buildings around the world have been lit up with green to celebrate on March 25th. Over the past few years, a number of world-famous landmarks have “gone green” to celebrate Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day, including Niagara Falls.
The #GoGreen4CP hashtag was created to engage communities on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
How to show your support
If you are looking to support those with cerebral palsy this March, you have plenty of different options.
To support Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month, you can:
