Cerebral Palsy Foundation

We enable real world impact by dedicating 94 cents of every dollar we raise to our programs. Because we know that people with cerebral palsy deserve better when it comes to accessing the care they need at the right time in life. For 70 years, the Cerebral Palsy Foundation has provided answers for individuals with cerebral palsy and their families through leadership in advocacy, science, research and medicine. We're committed to elevating the standard of care for our community and we hope you'll support us along the way. Donate and change lives today at the link in our bio.

This year, 2025, marks our 70th anniversary — an important milestone for the foundation that marks a new era for transformative change. We refuse to accept that cerebral palsy is a condition that can only be “managed.” The time for change is now and this transformation has already started. Our new vision for the future focuses on four key areas: - Expanding care access & best practices across the lifespan - Accelerating early diagnosis through innovative tools and detection networks - Reducing CP cases through improved maternal and infant healthcare - Advancing research into treatments and curative solutions. Together, we can change the future of cerebral palsy care and accelerate scientific breakthroughs and life-changing innovations that will drastically shift the way that we treat cerebral palsy moving forward. Show your support by making a donation to CPF today at the link in our bio!

2025 marks 70 years of the Cerebral Palsy Foundation. Since the beginning, our mission has always been to be a catalyst for creating positive change for people with cerebral palsy. To celebrate our 70th anniversary, we’ll be highlighting some of CPF’s biggest achievements and a few of the people behind our progress. This milestone year is more than just a celebration of our past, it’s a renewed commitment to the future. We’re focused on improving healthcare, creating inclusive communities, fostering advocacy and awareness, and elevating the accessibility of both design and technology. As we look ahead, we invite you to be part of what’s next. Your support helps us continue to drive innovation, inclusion, and impact for the cerebral palsy community.

This survey is for people with cerebral palsy (CP) and their caregivers. It asks about drooling, which is a common concern for people with CP. Your answers will help us better understand priorities in the treatment of drooling. This project is led by Dr. Laurie Glader, Complex Care physician, Lisa Letzkus APN, developmental nurse practitioner, and Kayla Petkus PharmD, pharmacist, along with a team of experts from several countries. The survey takes less than 10 minutes to finish. Link in bio and our stories today!

"Our son Charlie was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 6 months old. He has a rare genetic disorder, TUBB2A, which we recently learned is the cause of his CP...I hope to see earlier and more accurate diagnoses, so children can begin intervention as soon as possible. I hope for greater access to therapies and support, regardless of location or financial situation, so every family gets the care they need. I’d love to see more awareness and understanding, leading to truly inclusive schools and communities. I hope for continued research and innovation that improves mobility, communication, and independence. And most of all, I hope for a future where individuals with cerebral palsy are fully supported, valued, and given every opportunity to thrive." Thanks, Chelsea, for sharing Charlie's story with us! Our early detection and early intervention program is transforming how cerebral palsy is identified and supported. Early diagnosis helps families access timely interventions that can significantly impact outcomes. Make a donation today at the link in our bio to change a family's future. 💚

This National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, we’re re-sharing resources on dysarthria, a motor speech disorder that can make speech more difficult to understand. Dysarthria can range from mild to severe and may affect each person differently. To learn more about what dysarthria is, how it’s diagnosed, available treatments, and speech modification strategies, visit the “Communication” section under our topics list on cpresource.org or click the link in our stories today.

Meet the panelists for our upcoming Cerebral Palsy Connect live webinar on orthotic management! Clinical experts Declan Sweeney, PhD, and Elaine Owen, MBE, MSc, SRP, MCSP will be joined by CPF staff members with lived experience, Katy Gaastra and Nicola Welford. Join us on May 27th at 2PM ET/11AM PT. Register for FREE at the link in our bio.

“It’s all about creating that space for communication to happen.” We’re throwing it back to a great message from CPF’s Digital Collaborator, Jae Kim during National Speech-Language-Hearing Month!

Today, the Cerebral Palsy Foundation attended the Cost of Disability Strategic Focus Network Summit at the Aviva Stadium in Ireland. Government representatives from across departments attended, highlighting the importance of a whole-of-government approach to addressing the real and significant cost of disability. The summit opened with an address from An Taoiseach Micheál Martin (@michealmartintd ), followed by contributions from Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary (@daracalleary ), Minister for Children, Disability & Equality Norma Foley (@normafoleytd ), and Minister for Transport Sean Canney (@seancanneytd ), with closing remarks delivered by Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris (@simonharristd ). The focus of today’s summit was to bring together stakeholders from across the disability sector to ensure equity, inclusion, and a rights-based approach in the development of a permanent Cost of Disability Payment aligned with the National Human Rights Strategy. Discussions centred around: • What a Cost of Disability Payment could look like • How it could be delivered • Ensuring fairness, sustainability, and effectiveness for all disability communities With 1,175 submissions received during the initial consultation process in April, it is clear that the cost of disability is a pressing issue affecting thousands of individuals and families across Ireland. Key messages from today included: • The cost of disability is real and significant • Income supports alone are not enough • Collaboration across all government departments is essential • Policy design will require important choices and trade-offs Today, we ensured the voice and needs of the cerebral palsy community were heard and represented as discussions continue on the future development of the Cost of Disability Payment. @social.protection @deptdce @dept_transport

What are the types and causes of hearing loss? We break it down for you here — swipe through to learn more and follow @ashaweb all month long.👂

Everyone communicates in a variety of ways, and AAC is no exception. An AAC system refers to all of the tools a person uses to communicate. Learn more about AAC and National Speech-Language-Hearing Month at @ashaweb 🙋Raise a hand in the comments if you use AAC regularly to communicate.

We're back with another Cerebral Palsy Connect event! Join us on May 27th at 2PM ET/11AM PT for a live webinar on orthotic management with clinical experts Declan Sweeney, PhD, and Elaine Owen, MBE, MSc, SRP, MCSP. Joining also will be CPF staff members with lived experience Katy Gaastra and Nicola Welford. Join us to gain a deeper understanding of the purpose of orthotics across different cerebral palsy mobility levels, explore common types of orthotic devices and key considerations for proper fit and comfort, and learn strategies to support consistent and effective use. Register for this FREE virtual event at the link in our bio.