With so many disabilities in the world, cerebral palsy, which affects about 764,000 people in the U.S., is often overlooked. Since 2005, March has been designated as Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month, which serves as a chance for all us of to:
- Celebrate those living with this disorder and their caregivers.
- Raise awareness for the critical need for prevention, treatment, and cure research.
- Educate others on the fact that this is not a disease, but a motor disability.
- Show that we have the power to make a positive change by speaking up together.
Cerebral Palsy Statistics
CP is more common than you may think. Here are some statistics from CerebralPalsy.org:
- Over 500,000 children under the age of 18 have cerebral palsy.
- About two to three out of 1,000 babies born in the U.S. have cerebral palsy.
- About 10,000 babies each year will develop CP.
- Every year, around 8,000-10,000 babies are diagnosed with CP.
- Around 1,200-1,500 school-aged children are diagnosed per year with CP.
- The lifetime care costs for someone with CP often exceed $1 million.
How You Can Raise Awareness
Do you want to get involved during Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month? There are several ways that you, your family, and your friends can help raise awareness during all of March and specifically on March 25, which is considered National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day:
- Donate to Organizations. There are several organizations, such as the Cerebral Palsy Foundation, that you can donate money to yourself or hold a fundraising event for.
- Wear Green. Green is the color of CP Awareness Month, so you can wear it to show your support.
- Post on Social Media. Use the #GoGreen4CP hashtag online with photos of your green attire or other cerebral palsy-related information that you have learned.
- Hear Someone’s Story. One of the best ways that you can learn more about the unique challenges of individuals with CP is to listen to someone’s story who has experienced it firsthand.
As of now, there is no cure for cerebral palsy. It is a lifelong disorder that can impact an individual and their family in many ways. If your loved one developed CP as a result of a birth injury, know that you may have legal options moving forward.
At Angel Law, our Portland birth injury attorneys are dedicated to protecting the rights of those injured due to negligent medical providers. The statute of limitations for filing a medical malpractice lawsuit is two years from the date of the injury, so it’s imperative that you act as quickly as possible. Contact Angel Law at (503) 862-8666 for more information.