World Cerebral Palsy Day, September 4, 2012

PRLog (Press Release) - Aug. 16, 2012 - Calgary, August 16, 2012: Tuesday, September 4th, 2012, will be the first World Cerebral Palsy Day, with a theme of “Change my world in 1 minute”. Cerebral palsy associations worldwide have designated the first Tuesday of every September in years to come as World Cerebral Palsy Day. The goals of the campaign are to increase global awareness of cerebral palsy (CP), as well as engage the 17 million individuals worldwide who live with CP. Through the World Cerebral Palsy Day website, everyone can participate and contribute ideas on how to change the life of a person with CP.

Change the world for a person with CP at www.worldcpday.org:
The “Change my world in 1 minute” campaign is a website that encourages anyone to think of an idea that would change the life of a person with CP. These ideas could affect any aspect of a person’s life such as mobility, independence, accessibility, communication or social connection. Users post their ideas online at http://www.worldcpday.org as text or video prior to September 4, 2012, with each idea limited to 1 minute required to read or watch.

On September 4, 2012, the website will allow everyone to review the ideas collected and vote for the ones that will have the greatest impact on people’s lives. At the end of September, the World Cerebral Palsy Day Panel will review the votes and select the best ideas. In November, social activists, researchers, inventors, and innovators will be invited to go online and propose how they would make these ideas a reality. The World Cerebral Palsy Day Panel will then review these submissions and award funding to those who have created or invented the best solution or product, and the products will be launched by the next World Cerebral Palsy Day, September 3, 2013.

About Cerebral Palsy:
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a term used to describe a group of conditions affecting body movement and muscle coordination. It is not a disease. CP can be as mild as just a weakness in one hand ranging to an almost complete lack of movement. Any damage to the developing brain, whether caused by genetic or developmental disorders, injury or disease, can result in cerebral palsy. Most often it occurs during pregnancy, labour or shortly after birth. There are 17 million people around the world with cerebral palsy.  A further 350 million people are closely connected to a child or adult with CP. About 1 in 300 babies have or develop cerebral palsy.

Although a condition does not progress, the brain injury is permanent. While cerebral palsy is not “curable,” training and therapy can help significantly. The condition can be managed, and a child with cerebral palsy can achieve maximum potential in growth and development. People with cerebral palsy can go to school, have jobs, get married, raise families and live in their own homes. Most of all, people with cerebral palsy need the opportunity for independence and full inclusion in our society.

About the Cerebral Palsy Association in Alberta:
The Cerebral Palsy Association in Alberta, an affiliate of United Cerebral Palsy, is a registered non-profit organization and makes a difference in the community by enriching the lives of people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. Through our programs and services, we promote awareness, acceptance and understanding for persons with disabilities to live Life Without Limits. For more information about the organization and to learn about ways you can support Life Without Limits, please visit http://www.cpalberta.com.

Media Inquiries:
Janice Bushfield
Executive Director
Phone: (403) 543-1162, toll free 1-800-363-2807
Fax:   (403) 543-1168
Email: janice@cpalberta.com
Website: http://www.cpalberta.com

Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/11951763/1