Cerebral Palsy Research Network - CPRN

03/13/2026

We’re here to deepen understanding of cerebral palsy and raise awareness. 💚

Did you know?
About 1 in 3 individuals with cerebral palsy use a wheelchair.

Cerebral palsy affects everyone differently, and mobility needs vary across the CP community. Some people with CP use wheelchairs full-time and may rely on power or manual wheelchairs, and other people may rely on wheeled mobility only for greater distances and to prevent or address fatigue.

03/12/2026

🌼 Today is National Plant a Flower Day! Help us seed new discoveries by making your donation today!

When you give to CPRN, you are investing in community-driven research, shared knowledge, and a future where every person with CP can thrive.

For this CP Awareness Month, we are hosting a fundraiser all month long!

💚 Donate to our fundraiser and help us to seed hope today!: https://givebutter.com/cp_awareness_month

ID: A wide field of bright yellow sunflowers stretches into the distance beneath a sky filled with large, soft white clouds. Several tall sunflowers in the foreground face slightly downward, their large brown centers surrounded by vivid petals. Bees can be seen on some of the flowers collecting pollen. Green leaves and stems fill the lower half of the scene, while a tree-lined horizon borders the field in the background. The overall image captures a vibrant summer landscape with sunflowers blooming across the countryside. 🌻

03/11/2026

Did You Know?

Cerebral palsy is the most common movement disability in children, but overall, there are still more adults with CP than children in the US.

Learn more about the work to improve healthcare for adults with CP, and check out our new Adult CP Toolkit available through our website: https://cprn.org/.

Learning the facts helps create a more informed and supportive world for people with CP.

03/09/2026

⏰ Last Chance! The CP Awareness Photo Contest Ends Tomorrow

Our Cerebral Palsy Awareness Photo Contest is a chance for the CP community to share real stories and real experiences. Your photos and captions not only raise awareness about CP, they also help us grow a meaningful, authentic community photo library.

Together, we can increase visibility, deepen understanding, and celebrate the strength, resilience, and diversity within our community.

🏆 $1,500 in prizes will be awarded across four categories, recognizing the many unique ways life with CP is lived and expressed.

Don’t miss your chance to participate — submissions close tomorrow!

Share your story today:
👉 https://cprn.org/photo-contest/

ID: A green graphic from the Cerebral Palsy Research Network promotes the final day of the CP Awareness Photo Contest. The design features three polaroid-style photos pinned to the background. One shows a child wearing glasses and a curly gray wig, looking at the camera. Another shows two men smiling together outdoors, both wearing matching white caps and red shirts, with one seated in a wheelchair. The third photo captures a graduation moment, with a graduate in a blue cap and gown receiving a diploma on stage. The CPRN logo appears at the top, and bold text at the bottom reads: “PHOTO CONTEST LAST DAY!” The design highlights community stories and experiences from people living with cerebral palsy.

03/09/2026

CP Fact 💚

Did you know that people with cerebral palsy may use 3 to 5 times more energy to perform movements than someone without CP?

What may be a simple movement for other people can require much more effort and endurance from someone with CP.

Understanding CP helps build a more informed and supportive community.

ID: A graphic with the headline “Did You Know?” at the top. The text explains that it takes more energy for a person with cerebral palsy to perform everyday movements. It states that the energy used in movements by a person with cerebral palsy is three (3) to five (5) times more than that of a person without cerebral palsy. The design features green and pink text on a light background with abstract green brush accents. The CP Research Network logo and website cprn.org appear at the bottom.

03/06/2026

March is CP Awareness Month and we want to spread the word about our work in the CP community! Help us share information about what we do and invite people to learn more about cerebral palsy, and where education, research and support are needed. We have an Awareness Month fundraiser this year where you can share your story and ours and help us raise money to advance our work. Learn more here to start your own fundraiser or to give to our staff team's fundraiser this month! Prizes are available!

To learn more visit our website: https://cprn.org/share-your-story-cp-awareness-fundraiser/ or share our staff fundraising page: https://givebutter.com/cp_awareness_month

Share your story. Show your world. Support research.

03/04/2026

Our Cerebral Palsy Awareness Photo Contest invites the CP community to share their stories! Your photos and words build awareness about CP while helping us gather authentic images for our community photo collection. Let's raise visibility, build understanding, and celebrate the strength and diversity of our community.

🏆 $1,500 in prizes will be awarded across 4 categories, honoring the many ways life with CP is experienced and expressed.

Ready to share your story and help spread awareness?
👉 https://cprn.org/photo-contest/

A green graphic from the Cerebral Palsy Research Network announcing a “Photo Contest Now Open!” features several photos of people with cerebral palsy engaged in everyday life and activities. One image shows a wheelchair basketball moment where a player lifts a child in a wheelchair toward the hoop for a dunk. Another shows a smiling man using a wheelchair outdoors on a scenic ride. A third photo features a young dancer in a wheelchair wearing a festive red and green tutu with reindeer antlers, smiling brightly at the camera. The CPRN logo with the message “10+ Years of Partnership in Research (2015–2025)” appears at the top of the graphic.

03/03/2026

March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month. Are you ready? 💚

Show up. Speak out. Wear your support.

When you shop CPRN merch, you are directly supporting research, education, and stronger connections across the cerebral palsy community. Every order helps move the mission forward.

Community powered. Research driven. Impact focused.

🛍️ Shop now: https://cprn.myspreadshop.com/all
💚 Give today: https://cprn.org/donate/

03/02/2026

March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month — a time to celebrate our community and deepen understanding about CP. 💚

Help us spread awareness by sharing your stories and our posts with your friends, family, and social networks.

We have four different ways you can participate in our awareness activities this month, including our annual photo contest!

Check them out! https://cprn.org/share-your-story-for-cerebral-palsy-awareness/

ID: A bold green graphic for March Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month featuring a large abstract green and white ribbon made of circular shapes across the center. The words “March Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month” appear in light lettering on the right, with the Cerebral Palsy Research Network logo in the bottom left corner.

Share your story for Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month. March is CP Awareness Month and we have four ways for you to increase awareness.

03/01/2026

Today begins CP Awareness Month! Join us in celebrating our community and sharing reliable educational information all month long!

https://cprn.org/share-your-story-for-cerebral-palsy-awareness/

Share your story for Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month. March is CP Awareness Month and we have four ways for you to increase awareness.

02/28/2026

Today is Rare Disease Day 💚

In the US, a rare disease is an official term that refers to a health condition impacting less than 200,000 people. Rare Disease Day is focused on ensuring that people who have rare conditions can get a diagnosis, treatment and social support.

Some movement disorders that are part of the CP umbrella are considered rare diseases, as well as cases of CP caused by a genetic change (approximately a quarter of our CP population). A rare disease classification opens up additional funding opportunities for medical research and drug development. These opportunities can improve healthcare management and treatment options for conditions that are less frequently seen and understood by healthcare providers.

Visit our website for more information on movement disorders in CP and genetic causes of CP. https://cprn.org/genetic-cerebral-palsy/ https://cprn.org/types-of-cerebral-palsy/

ID: A green Rare Disease Day graphic from the Cerebral Palsy Research Network featuring the CPRN logo and the Rare Disease Day logo at the top. Large text reads “Rare Disease Day.” Below, the graphic explains that a rare disease refers to a health condition impacting less than 200,000 people. Additional text notes that some movement disorders under the cerebral palsy umbrella are considered rare diseases, including cases caused by genetic changes, which affect approximately a quarter of the CP population. The graphic states that rare disease classification can open additional funding opportunities for medical research and drug development. A link at the bottom reads: https://cprn.org/genetic-cerebral-palsy/

02/27/2026

Black History Month Spotlight: Dr. Helen Octavia Dickens

A trailblazer in women’s health, Dr. Helen Octavia Dickens was the first black woman to become board certified in OB/GYN in Philadelphia and a professor in the OB/GYN Department at the University of Pennsylvania.

She pioneered cervical cancer screening programs for Black women, trained more than 200 physicians to perform Pap smears, and even provided free community screenings herself. Her life’s work focused on breaking down barriers to care.

Cervical cancer screening remains an important topic in women's health today, especially for adults with cerebral palsy and other disabilities.

Check out our Adult CP Toolkit pages 87-88 for more information on this subject and other health topics.

🔗 https://cprn.org/the-adult-cerebral-palsy-tool-kit/

ID: A green and white Black History Month graphic from the Cerebral Palsy Research Network featuring a black-and-white portrait of Dr. Helen O. Dickens. She is seated at a desk, wearing glasses and a blazer, looking toward the camera with a calm, confident expression. The text reads “Black History Month Spotlight” and “Dr. Helen O. Dickens,” followed by the caption: “Trailblazing physician advancing equitable women’s healthcare.” The CPRN logo appears at the top of the graphic.