Cerebral Palsy Scotland volunteer Bernie shines a spotlight on World Cerebral Palsy Day, explaining what it is and how you can get involved.

The time has come around again where the world prepares to celebrate Cerebral Palsy. In my latest blog, I will explain why this day is important, tell you what this year’s theme is about and mention how I plan to mark the day.

As many people will already know, World Cerebral Palsy Day happens on the 6th of October, every year. It is a day for raising awareness and getting information out there about the disability in support of the 17 million people who have Cerebral Palsy around the world. There are many different ways to get involved and show that you support World CP Day.

In recent years, we have seen people taking to social media and sharing their CP experience. World CP Day is a brilliant opportunity to get information out to people about what the disability means and more importantly that CP doesn’t stop anyone from achieving wonderful things in life.

Millions of Reasons

This year’s theme from the organisers of World CP Day is called ‘Millions Of Reasons’ which aims to encourage people to share their own reason for marking World CP Day as well as telling their CP story.

Here are ways that you can share your reason:

• Share your reason for marking World CP Day on social media to reach out to your followers. Tag @worldcpday and use the hashtags #MillionsOfReasons and #WorldCerebralPalsyDay. Please tag us too – we are @CpScotland on Twitter, @Cerebralpalsyscotland on Facebook and @cpscotland on Instagram – and we can share your post to our followers!
• Put your reason on the map by going to the ‘Word Cerebral Palsy Day’ website and adding why you are marking the day
• Wear something green for the day and if you are asked why by someone, tell them the reason

This is such an important date in the calendar for everyone who either lives with CP or supports someone who has CP; it is a good chance to highlight what support services are available too.

Personally, this annual day is always top of my list – I feel very strongly about World CP Day as I live with the disability. In support of the day, I’m hoping to share my reason by making a video using my speech device while getting the point across that living with CP can be challenging but it doesn’t stop me from doing what I set out to do. The video will be posted on my own social media accounts so look out for it on October 6th.

Get involved!

We at Cerebral Palsy Scotland would like to know what everyone is planning on doing to celebrate World CP Day and what your reason is for supporting the day.

Let us know by getting in touch via our social media channels and tagging us in your World CP Day posts – we are @CpScotland on Twitter, @Cerebralpalsyscotland on Facebook and @cpscotland on Instagram.

Bring on World Cerebral Palsy Day on October 6th and share Millions Of Reasons in support of CP!

In this blog, Barry shares his experience of using Headspace, a mindfulness and meditation app, and how he feels it has helped him in his day to day life.

My name is Barry Smith and I am 42 years old. Down to me having Cerebral Palsy what is a physical disability I use a power chair and I use a communication aid too. Sometimes in my life I get upset – we all do.

A few months ago I was talking to someone about how I was feeling. After the person heard, they told me about an app I could download that is called Headspace. You can download Headspace from the app store.

It asks you to do five mins or ten mins each day. For the first ten days it is free. After the first ten days people can pay for the app or go back to the start to do the first ten days again for free.

Outcome of doing this app

By using this app when you have something like Cerebral Palsy I personally feel it helps chill you out. In your head/body, by hearing this app it might stop some jumping movements – this supports my everyday life. Don’t worry if you find it hard to close your eyes when they tell you, just try to look at something when the app is on, and remember it is your time.

Cerebral Palsy Scotland volunteer Bernie Hunter examines how accessible groups have coped during Covid restrictions, and recommends three great accessible groups that you might like to try.

Things are looking a bit brighter this summer and we are on the road to activities restarting after being brought to a halt due to the pandemic. It has been a challenging time for accessible groups to find alternative ways of continuing to provide services. In this blog, I will explain what these obstacles were as well as suggesting groups that are suitable for people who have additional support needs.

In spring last year when the country went into lockdown due to Covid-19, a lot of services had to stop including accessible groups. There are a range of clubs that provide activities such as music, dance and art – not to mention the social aspect of people coming together, which is really important. Like everyone, organisers had to find a new way of keeping their groups going but they had to make sure that it was inclusive.

Many clubs had to accept that they couldn’t have a social environment during lockdown so they turned to the online video calling platform, Zoom. It was a totally different way of working for both organisations and participants which required learning but thankfully they found new ways that allowed them to continue services and people could participate in activities, safely at home.

Here are some accessible groups that are available for people who have additional support needs:

Paragon Music

Paragon is an inclusive music and dance organisation that creates an accessible pathway into the arts. Professional musicians and dancers bring people together to create music and dance, helping participants to learn new skills and perform in front of live audiences. During spring 2020, it was clear that the organisation was not going to be able to run music and dance workshops in person so they turned to Zoom. To begin with, it was a challenge as not everyone has musical instruments in their houses so Paragon had to provide instruments and equipment. Despite the difficulties they faced Paragon still managed to operate by running their workshops online and presenting a range of fantastic livestreams on YouTube.

The Glasgow based organisation is located in the CCA in Sauchiehall Street and is hoping to restart workshops in person in the next couple of months. Check out Paragon’s website for details.

I have observed that I dance more in one place mostly due to the fact that I no longer had a partner to assist me with moving my wheelchair- Eilidh McGrath (talking about dancing on Zoom in her bedroom)

PLUS

PLUS is a charity that supports children, young people and adults who have additional support needs along with their families. Working across the Forth Valley, they focus on breaking down barriers when it comes to social isolation that many young people can face, and even more so during the Covid-19 pandemic. PLUS provides a wide range of services from social events to community activities and specific groups such as after school events. One to one support is also available within family homes and out in the community, and the charity also offers support to families which happens via their parent & toddler and the parent support group.

Based in Stirling, the charity provides the service across the wider Forth Valley which includes Falkirk. People can join PLUS through a referral which can be made by families, health visitors, social work or education. The services that PLUS deliver can differ, depending on where people stay and this is due to funding in regions. PLUS members have to supply funding themselves which can be done through their own budget or from social work. You can get more information on the PLUS website.

Like many other charities, PLUS had to stop their services in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic which meant having to cut down to just three staff members. The charity was delighted to receive Covid-19 funding which allowed them to reopen with more staff in June 2021. There has been changes in the way PLUS works, ensuring everyone has confidence when attending the services, such as new safety measures. During lockdown, PLUS was providing online services via zoom. Activities such as signing, music & quiz sessions. As restrictions start to ease further, PLUS is now building up to restart larger groups and provide more services like they did before lockdown. There is a substantial waiting list with lots of referrals but the charity is hoping to reduce the list, over the coming months.

When I’m at PLUS I feel happy it’s a great place to meet friends and have a laugh. We are like one big happy family when I’m working, I feel like I have a purpose to take care of the young people that I support -Harris Menshawi (PLUS volunteer)

Nordoff Robbins Scotland

Nordoff Robbins is a charity that provides music therapy sessions to people who are living with disabilities, people who are isolated or have life-shortening conditions. The charity creates an opportunity for people to go along to music sessions and try instruments, play with others and enjoy music. Nordoff Robbins work in partnership with a range of different organisations including schools, NHS and other charities.

The charity offers an Open Access service where people can make direct referrals in order to attend the music sessions- find out more information on the Nordoff Robbins website.

Nordoff Robbins has four centres across Scotland- Fife, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow (currently closed to Covid-19 restrictions). The pandemic has had a big impact on the charity so Nordoff Robbins had to find a new way of providing music therapy to people. They have managed to continue a small service online using Zoom and Microsoft Teams.

I really enjoyed the music therapy sessions in school and online during lockdown. They were really fun and interactive and the people were so friendly! – Ryan Callaghan (Nordoff Robbins participant)