Every year on 6 October, ‘World Cerebral Palsy Day’ is celebrated all over the world. Cerebral Palsy (CP) Day highlights its impact on individuals, families and communities.

Celebrated on October 6, the day serves as a platform to raise awareness about cerebral palsy, support people suffering from the condition, and foster greater inclusion and understanding.
Children and adults affected by cerebral palsy often face challenges that hinder their full participation in society.

Theme of World Cerebral Palsy Day, 2023:

The theme of World Cerebral Palsy Day, 2023 is "Together Stronger".
The theme Stronger Together highlights the importance of unity, collaboration and mutual support within and beyond the cerebral palsy community.

By whom is it celebrated in India?

The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPWD), under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, is celebrating World Cerebral Palsy Day on 6 October 2023 with the aim of creating awareness about Cerebral Palsy among the public. Under this, this day is being celebrated by organizing various programs through associated institutions across the country.

What is Cerebral Palsy (CP)?

CP is a kind of muscle-related disease, which affects the physical balance of the sufferer as well as hinders the development of the brain.
CP has been placed in the category of disability because this disease disables the victim mentally and physically and destroys the ability to see, hear, speak and learn.
According to CP experts, this disease is seen in many newborn babies every year.
CP is a serious disease which affects more than 70 lakh people in the world every year.
Different types of symptoms and problems are seen in CP sufferers, due to which it is very difficult to take care of it.

Some common symptoms of CP:

Symptoms of CP may be different for each child.
Symptoms of CP in a newborn baby are such as less crying, slow breathing, no special reaction to talking and feeding compared to other babies, that is, the baby is not active.
Children ages 1 to 3 years commonly have symptoms of CP;
- Delayed development of the child's body,
- Starting to speak later than other children,
- There may be difficulty in swallowing while eating and drinking.