31 July 2009
NATIONAL CEREBRAL PALSY AWARENESS WEEK
Senator Mitch Fifield, the Coalition’s spokesman for Disabilities, today welcomed the start of National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Week, 2-8 August 2009.
20,000 Australians have cerebral palsy, with a child born with the disability every 18 hours. Symptoms become clear in most cases when children are as young as 12-18 months. Cerebral palsy can cause sudden movements, and muscles can be stiff and tight. Though it is a permanent condition with no known cure, treatment can help manage cerebral palsy.
National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Week features a number of events designed to raise awareness about the disability and spread the message that people with cerebral palsy make a valuable contribution to wider society.
The Centre for Cerebral Palsy will launch www.youbethedifference.com.au to collect and exhibit the stories of people with cerebral palsy. Women’s Day magazine will feature the most inspirational story.
“I encourage people with cerebral palsy to submit their stories via the website. It is important that other people with disabilities hear the inspirational stories of people living with cerebral palsy,” Senator Fifield said.
For more information, visit: www.tccp.com.au