Aideen Blackborough

11/03/2026

A couple of weeks ago my back spasms were so bad I could barely move.

Logically I knew I needed to rest.
But when you're self-employed — and disabled — stepping away from your desk can feel almost impossible.

During Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month I've been reflecting on that pressure to keep going, even when your body is clearly saying stop.

Rest isn’t failure. Sometimes it’s how you keep going.

I wrote about it here:

https://aideenblackborough.com/2026/03/11/when-your-body-says-stop-but-your-brain-says-no/

When Your Body Says Stop but Your Brain Says No A personal reflection on working with cerebral palsy, the pressure to keep going, and why learning to rest is essential.

09/03/2026

Tomorrow evening – parent session

Just a quick reminder that my online session for parents of children with cerebral palsy is tomorrow evening (Tuesday) from 7:30–9:00pm.

It’s a small, supportive space where I’ll share an adult perspective on growing up with CP — the long view, from lived experience.

No pressure to speak.
No preparation needed.
You’re very welcome to simply listen.

There are around 10 places left, so if you were thinking about joining, now’s a good time to take a look.

Details are in the comments.

05/03/2026

I nearly didn’t publish the video I shared this week.

Not because I didn’t believe in the message — but because filming it was harder than I expected.

I have Cerebral Palsy, and when I’m relaxed I don’t think much about it. But put a camera in front of me and everything tightens. My speech slows, my muscles stiffen, and suddenly I’m concentrating on every single word.

There were also some very real behind-the-scenes moments — recording one sentence at a time, accidentally nudging the camera between takes, and rewriting parts of the script when certain words just wouldn’t cooperate.

In the end, I pressed publish anyway.

I’ve written a short blog about why making the video was harder than it looks.
You can read it here:

https://aideenblackborough.com/2026/03/05/why-filming-my-cerebral-palsy-video-was-harder-than-it-looks/

Why Filming My Cerebral Palsy Video Was Harder Than It Looks Filming my Cerebral Palsy awareness video wasn’t easy. A personal reflection on vulnerability, speech, movement and choosing visibility.

02/03/2026

Yesterday was International Wheelchair Day and I wrote a blog about the small, relatively easy changes that can make a big difference for wheelchair users:

https://aideenblackborough.com/2026/02/28/international-wheelchair-day-small-changes-that-make-a-big-difference/

International Wheelchair Day: Small Changes That Make a Big Difference On international wheelchair day, Aideen shares small changes that can make a big difference

02/03/2026

March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month 💚

For me, CP awareness has never been about a single day or a ribbon.

It’s about conversations.
It’s about expectations.
It’s about making things easier for the next generation.

This month, I’m focusing on two things that feel especially important.

👨‍👩‍👧 A Parent Session
A small, supportive online space for parents of children with cerebral palsy.
No pressure. No spotlight. Just an honest adult perspective on growing up with CP — the challenges, the grief, the pride, and the possibilities.

📚 A Teacher Resource
A practical, accessible guide to help school staff feel more confident talking about cerebral palsy and disability in the classroom — because language, assumptions and expectations really do shape children’s experiences.

I know how much difference it makes when:
• Parents are supported
• Teachers are informed
• Disabled children are seen with high expectations

If either of these feel helpful, details are in the comments.
And if you’d like to share, I’d be genuinely grateful.

Here’s to a month of raising awareness — and raising standards. 💚

26/02/2026

I've been working on this for weeks and I'm so excited to share this free Cerebral Palsy Awareness Resource for Schools! My latest blog explains what it is, why I decided to put it together and what's included. Please feel free to share with any teachers in your life!

https://aideenblackborough.com/2026/02/26/cerebral-palsy-awareness-resource-schools/

A Free Cerebral Palsy Awareness Resource for Schools Free Cerebral Palsy awareness resource for schools with video, teacher fact sheet and discussion prompts to support inclusive classroom conversations.

23/02/2026

My Cerebral Palsy Parent Session:

A quick note about this parent session.

You don’t need to prepare anything.
You don’t need to turn your camera on.
You don’t need to share your story.

You can simply listen.

It’s a small, supportive space to hear an adult perspective on growing up with cerebral palsy — nothing more, nothing performative.

A supportive evening for parents, offering an adult perspective on cerebral palsy, childhood, and what the long view can look like.

13/02/2026

This photo was taken on the day I graduated.

Years earlier, my parents had been given some very narrow predictions about what my future might look like.

None of this was guaranteed. None of it was obvious.

What made the difference wasn’t certainty. It was belief, time, support, and the willingness to look beyond early assumptions.

I share this not as a blueprint, but as perspective. Early predictions are rarely the whole story.

That’s the long view I’ll be sharing in a small online session for parents during Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month

Details in the comments.

09/02/2026

Early predictions aren’t always the whole story.

As an adult who grew up with cerebral palsy, I’m sharing the long view in a small, supportive online session for parents this March — focused on reassurance and lived experience, not advice or comparison.

Details in the comments 💛

22/01/2026

People often avoid accessibility audits because they imagine long checklists, legal jargon or complex compliance language.

In reality, a good accessibility audit should be practical, supportive and focused on what will make the biggest difference.

My audits follow a simple process:
*Initial conversation
*On-site walkthrough
*Identify barriers & agree priorities
*Practical Actions

Accessibility isn't about perfection. It's about a commitment to making things better, one step at a time.

Many of the most effective improvements are small and affordable changes which can make a big difference to accessibility.

If you'd like help to review your accessibility, I'm always happy to chat.

20/01/2026

For parents of children with cerebral palsy 💛

I’ve been asked a few times who the parent session I’m running in March is actually for, so I wanted to say this clearly.

It’s especially for parents who:

feel overwhelmed by predictions

are tired of advice and comparisons

just want a bit of perspective from someone who’s lived the long view

It’s not medical advice.
It’s not a checklist.
And there’s no expectation to talk or have your camera on.

It’s a small, supportive online session where I’ll share my experience of growing up with CP — what mattered, what didn’t, and how life unfolded over time.

🗓 Tuesday 10 March
🕢 7:30–9:00pm (online)
💻 £10 per household
👥 Limited to 25 households

Listening is enough. Leaving early is fine.
Details in the comments if it feels useful.

And if now isn’t the right time, that’s okay too 💛

20/01/2026

March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month, and I’ll be offering a limited number of school assemblies during the month.

These sessions are led from lived experience and are designed to:

*Build understanding of cerebral palsy and disability in general
*Challenge assumptions about disability
*Support inclusive attitudes in a calm, age-appropriate way

They’re suitable for:

*Primary
*Secondary
*SEND / alternative provision

Assemblies focus on real life, not inspiration clichés — helping pupils understand that disability is part of everyday life, not something to pity or fear.

I have limited availability in March, so if your school has been thinking about marking CP Awareness Month in a meaningful way, now’s a good time to get in touch.

If you’re a teacher, SENCO, or school leader — or if you know a school that might be interested — please feel free to share.

Happy to chat informally and answer questions before booking.