Putting Myself On The Map

1 in 17 Million People have CP

CP stands for Cerebral Palsy, My name is Deb and I am 17 MILLION people around the world who have the physical condition known as CP. October 6th WORLD CP DAY the day we put ourselves on the MAP.

I live in Ipswich, Queensland Australia. I am an published author, poet, visual artist and small business owner.

My business is called Doodles and Dribbles,  last week I officially registered my business and my gift ware range is stocked by Limestone Emporium in the Ipswich CBD.  I have put myself on the Ipswich map as an artist and now I am putting myself on WORLD CP MAP.

WORLD CP DAY

Is an international awareness campaign to present the FACTS on Cerebral Palsy.

FACT # 1 we want people to know that CP is the world's most common physical disability.  It is not a learning disability or an intellectual disability.  People with CP have normal or above average level of intelligence. 

CP IS A PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT

So what is Cerebral Palsy?  It is the medical name for a group of impairments caused by damage to the brain at birth or in the early years of life.  The causes of the condition are still unknown. We now know it is not hereditary nor is it caused by lack of oxygen to the brain as once thought. 

It was also once thought that CP was an intellectual and physical disability. However CP is marked by a number of physical impairments.  People with CP appear to be more likely to have other types of disabilities, including epilepsy, hearing and vision impairments, speech impairments and intellectual impairments. 

Just like a brain injury in adults the impairments incurred depend on where in the brain the damage occurs. I am still unlearning what I believed about CP from what my parents told me about my diagnoses.  So here's a video that might help.

 

I feel privileged to have been born in Australia and given the same opportunities as my siblings. I was born at a time when it was recognised that not all children with CP were intellectually impaired and not all children with disabilities needed to attend special school.

I was fortunate enough to be one of the first children with CP to be integrated into mainstream school and went on to attend university and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Behavioural Science.  After uni I developed a lot of chronic health problems and floated around until I discovered my two life passions. Advocacy and visual arts. 

In addition to developing my Doodles and Dribbles gift ware range, I take part in group exhibitions, while working with two commercial galleries; have hosted three solo exhibition and I am an active member of the Ipswich art community. 

I may have CP, but nothing stops me!