Blog
Comprehensive Care and Research Needs in Cerebral Palsy (CP)
Dr. Mindy Aisen, Neurologist and CP Expert provides us with the definition of Cerebral Palsy and the challenges that come with it.
Why I Find Labels Powerful as a Person With a Disability
"I think it is only right that the person—adult or child--with a disability has a name for the symptoms that they experience personally."
CCPM Community Spotlight: Samantha Gray
This week, we talk with Kimberly Gray. Her daughter Sammie lives with Periventricular Leukomalacia, caused by Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy. Tell us a little bit about Sammie’s birth and the challenges she faces as a result. I had a perfect pregnancy. Delivery, on the other hand, was very difficult. I was in labor for 20 some ...
CCPM Community Spotlight: Leah and Malachi Carroll
The smallest acts of kindness can make an entire day brighter. This was the case with Leah Carroll and her four-year-old son Malachi when a simple hello in Chick-fil-A from another family made the pair’s day. Malachi has Cerebral Palsy, which often means other children aren’t quite sure how to act around him even though ...
The Power of a Mother’s Love
Portals into a Mother’s Heart There are distinct portals into a mother’s heart – specific things that touch, compel and drive a mother with regard to their children. Similarly, there are portals into a special needs mother’s heart, things that are uniquely very tender spots for her. To understand them, we first need to recognize ...
Wrestling With Cerebral Palsy: Ben Cummings-Jackson in the CCPM Community Spotlight
When it comes to determination, and succeeding with Cerebral Palsy, you don’t have to look further than Ben Cummings-Jackson. This 24-year-old native of Pocono Summit, Pennsylvania is thriving in life, fueled by a passion to inspire others with or without CP to chase their dreams. Doctors said that Ben, born with Spastic Athetotic Cerebral Palsy, would ...
A Different Lens: A Unique Cerebral Palsy Perspective
As a social worker in the NICU, people often question my career choice. “How do you do that every day? How do you work with parents of sick children? How do you know what to say and how to help them? How can you handle being surrounded by such sadness and heartache, day after day?” I’ve ...
The Web of Love and Life
Children’s Cerebral Palsy Movement works with both families in Orange County and Southern California and specialists like Pediatric Neurosurgeons, Pediatric Orthopedics and special needs counselors in the community and school system. This week we begin a recurring series with Dr. Kamyar Hedayat, MD, a doctor of Integrative Medicine. Introduction In my pediatric training, Cerebral Palsy ...
Finding Your Support System in the Special Needs World
Children’s Cerebral Palsy Movement (CCPM) works diligently to create a support system for families in Orange County and Southern California. This week, we’re hearing from Jennifer Puebla, CCPM supporter, donor, and special needs parent as she discusses the challenges of raising a child with Cerebral Palsy and the importance of having a strong community behind you. “Call ...
Understanding Children as Learners
Children’s Cerebral Palsy Movement (CCPM) is offering a new Academic Tutoring Initiative as part of our effort to create community and resources for CP families in Orange County and Southern California. This week, we’re hearing from Kate Anderson, Special Education Teacher & Program Director of CCPM’s Academic Tutoring Initiative about the program and its individualized approach ...
Juliana Ruggiero in the CCPM Community Spotlight
Children’s Cerebral Palsy Movement loves speaking with young adults in the Cerebral Palsy community who aren’t letting their diagnosis stop them from following their dreams. We recently spoke with Juliana Ruggiero, an incredibly positive and talented 18 year-old young lady with CP to ask her a few questions and better get to know her story. ...
Dyna Mitte in the CCPM Cerebral Palsy Community Spotlight
We’re so excited to share RJ Mitte’s story with our Orange County Cerebral Palsy community and the CP community across the world. RJ, and his mom Dyna are the two newest board members of Children’s Cerebral Palsy Movement. Their story, and others like them, have the potential of building hope and demonstrating that the future can be brighter for ...
A Letter to Maddie: A Cerebral Palsy Connection From Heaven
If you follow our Facebook page for the Children’s Cerebral Palsy Movement (http://facebook.com/childrenscerebralpalsymovement/) you know that while we are a growing organization in Orange County, acting as a resource for parents of children with cerebral palsy. We also unite with others with cerebral palsy across the world. We have seen a tremendous response, and we ...
Twins With Cerebral Palsy Break Barriers and Prove CP is a Diagnosis not a Destiny!
The Children’s Cerebral Palsy Movement is an organization that develops programming that is designed to improve the quality of life and future outcomes of children with Cerebral Palsy. We believe in taking a whole body/whole child/whole family approach to healing. We aim to unite the CP community and deliver a comprehensive set of Community and ...
Oliver Is Just 4 Years Old, But He Is Already An Amazing Inspiration!
Children’s Cerebral Palsy Movement loves speaking with families in the Cerebral Palsy community who work hard every day to prove the CP is just a diagnosis, not a destiny. We recently spoke with Michelle Jones about her son Oliver. Michelle’s story is beautiful, and Oliver is incredibly inspiring. Thank you Michelle for sharing your story with the community! ...
Join Maddie And CCPM October 14th At The 138th Bistango Art Exhibit!
Maddie will be presenting her art at the 138th Bistango Art Exhibit, so come celebrate art and generosity with us!
Katie Allee Proves That Cerebral Palsy Can’t Stop Her Desire To Help Others!
It isn’t easy having your voice heard. It’s even harder when you’re young. Imagine trying to convince others to listen to you as a teenager with a disability. That’s what makes kids like Katie Allee so incredible. The 15 year old from Minnesota was able to take a trip to Washington D.C. this year to ...
Kitty Cool Cards Have Made Their Way To DeNault’s Hardware In Southern California!
Maddie's Kitty Cool cards are appearing in more and more stores! Stop by to pick yours up!
We Cannot Let Congress Remove The Medical Deduction Credit! Act NOW!
Having a child with a disability can place a huge financial strain on parents, regardless of their income. The expenses are myriad, from medication, to specialist visits, therapies, specialized adaptive equipment, and in the worst cases, terrifying trips to the emergency room. One of the ways many parents survive is through the Medical Deduction tax credit. ...
Ode To A Mother’s Wisdom
If you feel you're at the end of your rope, remember that your instincts and knowledge about your child is your greatest ally.
The Children’s Cerebral Palsy Walk/Run: Where It All Started
Children’s Cerebral Palsy Movement was officially born in February 2016 with a mission to improve the quality of life and futures for children with Cerebral Palsy. The nonprofit was inspired by my 8 year-old daughter, Maddie, in the Fall of 2014. Maddie longed for normalcy, and had a dream to participate in physical activities previously ...
Mission Viejo Director of Recreation Is Here To Tell Us Why Helping Kids With CP Is So Important!
Mark Nix is Mission Viejo’s Director of Recreation and Community Services, and one of the biggest proponents of the upcoming Community Health Fair & 5K Fun Run, featuring Children’s Cerebral Palsy Movement. His tireless efforts have helped put this event together, and his desire to help children with disabilities is a huge reason why we expect ...
Community Spotlight: New Board Member Dr. Waters Is Using Chiropractic Care To Change Lives
Dr. Bradley Waters has joined the Children’s Cerebral Palsy Movement board of directors, and is passionate about CCPM’s mission to improve the quality of life for children with CP and for their caregivers. As an avid marathon runner, he has been instrumental in the planning of the CP Kids Walk/Run during the OSO Fit Community ...
Capo Valley Boys Cross Country Teams Up With CCPM For The OSO Fit Cerebral Palsy Kids Walk/Run
Matt Soto is the head coach for the Capo Valley Boys Cross Country team. His team will be attending the OSO Fit Community Health Fair & 5K Fun Run as running buddies for kids that need a little extra help crossing the finish line. Coach Soto sat down to let us know how he and his students became involved with Children's Cerebral Palsy Movement, and why the cause is so important to him.
How A Single Runner Inspired Him To Make A Difference
On June 9th of 2017 I received an email from a friend of my husband who had fallen in love with Maddie’s charmingly whimsical Kitty Cool cards. He had purchased some and wanted to reach out to me and relate a story about a man with Cerebral Palsy that he thought might interest me. This story is lovingly ...
CCPM Founder Debbie Fragner Talks About The Upcoming Cerebral Palsy Kids Walk/Run
CCPM founder Debbie Fragner joined host Richard Franzi on the Critical Mass Radio Show to discuss CCPM and our upcoming Cerebral Palsy Kids Walk/Run!
Community Spotlight: The Hsueh Family Difficult Journey To Better Care For Their Son
It took some time to find resources. I felt like I was pulling teeth every single time. Hours spent on the phone either to ask questions, follow up with something, or on hold to get a live person to talk to. Dealing with insurance is always been a nightmare. Have you ever dealt with private insurance only to get a non-coverage/denial letter? It’s sickening how every time I need documents I will get transferred to a different department and have to repeat myself.
A Child’s Dream. A Mother’s Love.
Cerebral Palsy doesn’t discriminate. It impacts every demographic in America; one out of every 323 live births. I should know because my daughter, Maddie, was one of those children
Making A Daughter’s Dream Come True For All Children
Read Debbie’s previous entry about how Maddie’s dream shaped an entire movement here. My quest to help honor Maddie’s dream revealed a critical gap in the realm of CP care and rehabilitation. Due to lack of government funding, precious opportunities remained untapped. Eureka! I had a vision: why not use highly motivating ‘exercise as medicine’? ...
One Family’s Desperate Search For Help In The Cerebral Palsy Community
Our son Jayden has severe choreoathetoid cerebral palsy. This type of cerebral palsy causes unpredictable involuntary changes in muscle tone which manifest to observers as constant movement. The diagnosis devastated us at first, and we went through some dark times.
Children’s Cerebral Palsy Movement and Tutto Fresco Team Up to Bring Awareness and Care to Our Community, And You’re invited!
A Daughter’s Dream and A Mother’s Love Cerebral Palsy is the #1 motor disability in America, yet it receives little dedicated federal funding for public research and rehabilitation. There is also a common misconception that it’s impossible to improve CP symptoms, yet that’s not true. Debbie Fragner, mother of Maddie, an eleven-year-old girl diagnosed with ...
One Family’s Discovers Help And Support In The Cerebral Palsy Community
Yu-Chen Hsueh is CCPM’s newest board member, joining us in April 2018. Yu-Chen wrote about his families struggles and triumphs with their son Jayden recently, and he wanted to continue their story, particularly how Orange County and CCPM have changed their lives for the better. Why Orange County? Rancho Santa Margarita has been more than ...
A Celebration Of Cerebral Palsy We Won’t Soon Forget!
There are countless moments that Children’s Cerebral Palsy Movement has been proud of, and countless more to come, but there are certain moments that stand above the rest that encapsulate who we are, and why we fight so hard for the Cerebral Palsy community. The gathering to kick off our “Recipe for Caring” program at ...
Back To School Time Shouldn’t Be Scary For Children With Cerebral Palsy Or Their Parents
School is one of the most important pieces of your child’s life, and not just because of the education. Making friends, socializing, taking part in extracurricular activities, and learning how to navigate life with some autonomy are all vital aspects to going to school. However, when your child has Cerebral Palsy, they will likely have a very different experience.
Father Of Cerebral Palsy Child Shows The Beauty Of Love On America’s Got Talent
The majority of people with Cerebral Palsy spend their lives being judged by their diagnosis. They are seen as their diagnosis, and viewed far too often, as being unable to accomplish great things. When caregivers unwittingly believe this lie, they stay locked in their place of trauma and hopelessness and don’t make the effort to dream big dreams for their children, and then set about making them come true.
How One Young CP Advocate Inspired An Even Younger CP Hero!
Having the courage to speak up can be almost impossible, and having the courage to do so for the first time can be even harder. Creating a better world for children with disabilities can be like moving a mountain, but with every step, we see a difference, and we certainly won’t stop trying! Imagine being ...
Calling All Dreamers! Share Your CP Dreams With Us!
At Children’s Cerebral Palsy Movement, we are dedicated to a dream of a brighter future for all children with CP… one not just of acceptance, but of understanding, joy and improved quality of life. In anticipation of an upcoming spring event, dubbed A Million Dreams, we are launching a campaign asking all those touched by ...
Dare To Dream Wrap-Up: What Dreams Are Made Of
Life is all about experiences… and at Children’s Cerebral Palsy Movement, we believe kids with Cerebral Palsy deserve them too! What began four years ago as a quest to transform the way children with Cerebral Palsy receive therapy, we focused on ways to give children the therapy they needed in ways that would bring their ...
When CP Children Become CP Advocates, They Can Change The World!
[et_pb_section][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type="4_4"][et_pb_text]My daughter Maddie has a heart for the lost, for the marginalized, and for the broken in our world. I am not sure if it is because she herself has Cerebral Palsy and, in reconciling that, learned to find joy and promise in life that she now gifts to everyone around her. I cannot ...
The Greatest Gift We Can Give CP Children Is The Chance To Dream Again!
There is likely only 10 degrees of separation between you and someone with Cerebral Palsy. 1 in every 323 children born has some form of Cerebral Palsy. Despite being the number 1 motor disability in the world, there is precious little help and assistance for families struggling to provide for a CP child. Medical costs ...
Runway Of Dreams
Most people don’t give too much thought about getting dressed every day. While putting on pants can seem like a mindless task, people with disabilities such as Cerebral Palsy have had to improvise. As parents with CP children, it is heartbreaking to watch our children struggle with simple tasks that most of us take for ...
CCPM Helps Create a ‘CP Friendly’ Easter Egg Hunt in Orange County
Easter egg hunts can be wonderful events for children. But not all kids experience them the same. Running around, bending over and reaching up to look for their treasured eggs in a hidden spot can leave many children with Cerebral Palsy feeling completely defeated. As challenging as it is for them to perform regular daily ...
Hannah Grace Doesn’t Let Her Disability Define Her
Children’s Cerebral Palsy Movement has been honored to interview the gorgeous Hannah Grace and her family. Hannah Grace proves that living with Cerebral Palsy doesn’t mean she cannot live out her dreams. She is pursuing her passion for tennis by playing on the club team at Texas A&M. We are so moved by her ...
Cerebral Palsy Is A Lifelong Endeavor For Every Single Family Member
As a parent, raising a child with Cerebral Palsy comes with unexpected twists and turns. Because of the lack of social awareness and support for CP, the challenging lifestyle that this diagnosis brings can make parents feel alone and misunderstood. What many do not realize is that Cerebral Palsy does not just affect the diagnosed; ...
Supporting The Siblings Of Children With Cerebral Palsy
There is a special bond between siblings. As one of life’s greatest joys, siblings are ours to love, to bicker with, and to learn from. As we grow with them throughout the years, they are truly among the limited few who can understand our lives from a personal point of view. They understand the obstacles ...
How To Travel For Summer Vacation With Cerebral Palsy
Traveling is a way to escape from our normal daily lives and discover new places. Whether you are vacationing at the next city over or the next country, traveling is a great way to create new memories with the ones you love. For CP families, traveling is not as simple as packing a few bags ...
Rancho Family Fest: Joining Forces For A Greater Community Cause
At CCPM, one of the greatest facets that helps drive our mission is our community involvement. Many CP families struggle with the lack of support from others who don’t understand this diagnosis. This struggle can create feelings of loneliness, helplessness, and hopelessness. Without our community’s help, we cannot accomplish what we set out to do: ...
Coping With Cerebral Palsy As A Parent: The Unspoken Battle
As a soon-to-be parent, it is natural to envision the future of your child, wondering what the child will look like, how their personality will evolve, and what will they accomplish in their lifetime. It is an exciting time for both parents to look forward to new experiences as a family. Raising your very own ...
How The Perseverance Of A Parent Can Change A Child’s Life Forever
From the moment of diagnosis, Cerebral Palsy parents have the most important job in the world: doing everything they can to improve the quality of life of their child. While doctors, specialists, and therapists may see the child intermittently, the people who understand every detail of the child’s life are their parents. As a CP ...
How To Help Your Child With Cerebral Palsy Transition Into The New School Year
As summer comes to a close, and the new school year begins, a mixture of emotions arises for both parents and children. There are feelings of excitement for new experiences, but also feelings of anxiety and fear of the unknown. For CP families, going back to school requires much more preparation emotionally, socially, and physically. ...
How To Cope With Stress As A Caregiver
Caring for a child with Cerebral Palsy is a lifelong and challenging task. Every single day, their needs are put before your own. As rewarding as it is to be a caregiver, there are natural emotions of frustration, exhaustion, and stress. Being a caregiver creates more vulnerability to these emotions and if not taken care ...
The Journey To Accessible Vehicles | By Ethan Stone
This past summer, we attended AbilityFEST in Los Angeles, California. Along with sharing our mission of helping Cerebral Palsy children and their families, this event was a great opportunity for us to build relationships that benefit the disabled community as a whole. One of the gracious people we connected with was the manager of MobilityWorks ...
How Parenting Changes For Each Stage Of Life
Parenting a child with Cerebral Palsy is a journey in which nobody can fully be prepared. From the moment of birth to their adulthood, there are obstacles one must face that make everyday life more complicated. Accepting and embracing life with CP requires adaptation, resilience, and strength. This parenting journey is different than most, and ...
