From Fighting It to Finding My Voice with AAC

October was AAC Awareness Month. Augmented and Alternative Communication (AAC) refers to any tool or method that supports or replaces spoken language for people who have difficulties with speech. This can range from simple approaches like gestures, signs, and picture boards to more advanced technology like speech-generating devices, eyegaze systems, and text-to-speech software. It allows people to communicate in a way that works for them, on their own terms. I’ve always had mixed feelings about using AAC. It’s never been smooth or simple. At times, I hated it. It was bulky, slow, and frustrating. I spent years trying to avoid it, relying on people around me to speak for me. But deep down, I knew that wasn’t real independence.

This month changed things. Speaking at Cardiff Met – The Power of Lived Experience

I was invited to give a talk at Cardiff Metropolitan University by Katherine Broomfield, a Senior Research Fellow and Speech and Language Therapist, and Ria Bayliss, Programme Director, Bsc (Hons) in Speech and Language Therapy, as part of their Interprofessional Education Training and AAC Group. I spoke about my life with cerebral palsy, my experiences with communication, and how AAC has shaped my journey, the good and the bad. The students were brilliant. Open-minded, respectful, and genuinely interested. Their feedback? It’s been some of the best I’ve had. They didn’t just listen, they embraced it with enthusiasm. They understood what it means to communicate differently, and how much that matters in practice. That sort of response makes a difference.

Smartbox – Giving AAC a Real Purpose

Later in the month, I visited the Smartbox Assistive Technology team in Bristol, one of the leading companies in the AAC field. They’re the people behind Grid 3, the software I use. Grid 3 is a communication tool that supports people who can’t rely on speech. It’s fully customisable and works with different access methods, eyegaze, switches, or touch. It helps people express themselves clearly, whether that’s through pre-set phrases, full conversations, social media, emails, or presentations. During the visit, we looked at how I use Grid 3 now and how to tweak it so it actually works for me, not against me. I was treated like a professional wanting to improve how I communicate. It was so refreshing to visit such a forward-thinking company that gets how it feels to want to be able to communicate more effectively in today’s ever-growing and fast-paced society. That felt powerful. Properly empowering, in fact.

A Shift in Thinking

I’ve come a long way since the early days of bulky Lightwriters and feeling like an afterthought in conversations. These days, my device gives me control. I choose when and how I speak. I can hold the room. That matters, especially when you’ve spent most of your life being spoken over, ignored, or having people make assumptions before they even get to know you. Let’s be clear, AAC doesn’t make life easy. But it makes life possible. It’s not a luxury. It’s not an extra. It’s how I get my voice out, in my way, on my terms.

Where I Stand Now

I’m beginning to develop a genuine appreciation for AAC, as I continue to see how effectively it supports me in expressing myself clearly and independently. If you use AAC, or support someone who does, know this: it’s okay to feel frustrated by it sometimes. It’s okay to want to throw it all out the window. But it’s also okay to come back to it, to find your way with it, and to say, “This is how I speak.”

This AAC Awareness Month reminded me that communicating differently doesn’t lessen my voice; it strengthens it. However, when I speak, it’s still me being heard. That’s what truly matters.

Here are links for Cardiff Metropolitan University Centre for Speech, Hearing and Communication Research and SmartBox Assistive Technology if you wish to explore AAC further:-

https://www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/research/research-and-innovation-centres-andgroups/centre-for-speech-hearing-and-communication-research/

https://thinksmartbox.com/

AAC Awareness Month: Different Voice, Same Message

Living with cerebral palsy and a speech impairment, I’ve learned that being heard isn’t always as simple as having something to say. It’s about understanding, empathy, education, and becoming less assumptive. You can have a voice, but if people aren’t listening, or they’re looking for someone else to speak for you, it doesn’t mean much.

That’s where AAC, or Augmentative and Alternative Communication, and now AI-Voice, comes in. For me and many others, AAC isn’t a nice extra. It’s how we communicate, how we connect. How we’re understood, and sometimes how we make friends and combat loneliness.

What AAC Looks Like for Me

I started with an old Lightwriter device years ago. It was bulky and slow, and most conversations had already moved on before I’d finished typing. I used it less and less, not because I didn’t want to communicate, but because it made me feel like I was always trying to catch up.
Things are different now. Technology has moved on, and so have I. I use modern AAC and AI-Voice tools daily, including text-to-speech software, which helps me give talks in schools and to organisations, and interact with people confidently. Whether I’m answering a pre-recorded question at an inspirational talk or simply ordering some lunch, it gives me the chance to speak on my own terms.

It’s About Communication, Not Gadgets

AAC isn’t one-size-fits-all. It could be a phone app, a tablet, a symbol board, or something high-tech, like AI-Voice. Whatever it looks like, it’s about communication, pure and simple. The way someone expresses themselves might be different, but the message is the same: we all want to be heard, understood, included, and respected.
It’s not about making assumptions. It’s about slowing down and giving someone time to speak in a way that works for them.

School Visits and Breaking the Ice

When I visit schools, the children are often curious about how I speak. I use AAC and AI-Voice to share my story, and once they see how it works, the questions start, and that’s brilliant. Children are open, honest, and keen to understand. That’s the beauty of it.
In schools, I don’t just talk about disability. I talk about acceptance, kindness, and how everyone communicates differently. I show them that AAC or AI-Voice isn’t something to feel awkward about; it’s just another way of speaking. By the end of the session, the focus moves away from the technology and onto the stories, the learning, and the genuine connection.

Inspirational Speaking: Changing Perceptions Beyond the Classroom

Outside of schools, I also speak at events, conferences, and organisations, anywhere where people need to understand disability, accessibility, identity, and what genuine inclusion looks like. It’s all about the power of storytelling and opening minds through my lived experiences.
When I speak to professionals, carers, parents, or decision-makers, I use the same AAC and AI-Voice technology, but the message is tailored. It’s about raising expectations, not just of disabled people, but of the systems around us. It’s about making people reflect on how they communicate, who they include, and who gets left out of the conversation.
I speak honestly about what it’s like to live with cerebral palsy and speech impairment, not to be inspirational for the sake of it, but to show what’s possible when support, collaboration, understanding, and opportunity come together.
Whether I’m speaking to five-year-olds or frontline staff, I’m there to challenge assumptions, get people thinking, and prove, through action, that disabled voices belong at every table.

Getting AAC Support

Getting access to AAC and AI-Voice in the UK isn’t always straightforward. Services are stretched, and sometimes it takes a bit of patience to get the right support in place. But when it’s there, it makes a huge difference. It can be life-changing.

AAC or AI-Voice doesn’t replace speech, even if someone is nonverbal; it opens up communication in whatever way works best. It’s not about replacing anything. It’s about including people properly.

During AAC Awareness Month, Let’s Remember:
• Communication comes in many forms.
• Everyone deserves to be heard, in their own way.
• Taking a bit of extra time to listen makes a big difference.
• There’s no shame in using support; it’s about equitable access.

Final Thought

AAC and AI-Voice have given me the tools to speak clearly, confidently, and independently. It’s more than a device; it’s my voice, and it’s beginning to open up opportunities I would have never imagined undertaking years ago.
Every voice deserves to be heard. Every voice matters.
P.S. - If you want to explore my journey using AAC in more detail, download my eBook, Empowering Communication. It’s a personal and practical guide for parents, professionals, and anyone supporting AAC and AI-Voice users.

Download the eBook here - https://amzn.to/4gOmq3e .

Cover Reveal: Cerebral Palsy & Me, Second Edition

I’ve been sitting on this for quite some time, and it’s finally time to share it.

The second edition of Cerebral Palsy & Me is scheduled for release on October 6 2025, which also happens to be World Cerebral Palsy Day. Couldn’t have planned it better if I tried.

But before I tell you more about what’s inside, here it is, the brand new cover:

Cerebral palsy and me cover - This is the latest version og Gavon Cliftons Autobiography

What’s new inside

This isn’t just a quick reprint. I’ve added a new chapter, The Journey Continues: Life After Publishing, where I write about what changed once the first edition was out there. Having strangers read it and getting the reaction, feedback, comments, love, and reviews that I’ve received so far has been nothing short of overwhelming, allowing my self-acceptance journey to meander in life-changing directions. My confidence has grown significantly, and even though I still overthink and have moments of internalised ableism, I am much more resilient and advocacy-driven now than I was before chronicling my life story.

I discuss transitioning to become a solo self-published author and an inspirational speaker, and how finally falling in love with assistive technology has changed the way I communicate. I also write about being judged before I’ve said a word, about trying to carve out independence when your needs don’t always fit the mold, and about the moment people finally stop speaking on your behalf and actually listen with no judgment.

Why 6 October

World Cerebral Palsy Day isn’t just a date on the calendar. For me, it’s a chance to remind people that life with cerebral palsy isn’t all plain sailing, it’s a mix of the ordinary and the unexpected, it’s about co-independence most of the time, the tears, fears and the challenges and the small wins that don’t often get talked about.

Too often, the way disability is told feels limited, sometimes captioned as hard-luck or cheer-up versions that miss the middle ground. Neither really tells the truth. This book sits somewhere in the middle, straightforward, unfiltered, and splattered with humour. Publishing the new edition on 6 October 2025 portrays the right way to tie my story to a day that’s about visibility and change. It’s about educating others about disability and acceptance from lived experience, making a difference along the way.

It also keeps the conversation moving. Change doesn’t come overnight, but every time we speak up, every time we put our stories out there, the picture gets a bit clearer, opening the idea of creating a more accessible and inclusive world for everyone someday. Releasing Cerebral Palsy & Me, Second Edition, on World Cerebral Palsy Day is my way of taking part in that and hopefully giving others a nudge to do the same.

Looking ahead

Cerebral Palsy & Me, Second Edition will be available in paperback and Kindle on 6 October 2025.

If you read the first edition, thank you for walking alongside me. If this is your first time, welcome. This is my story, told in an unfiltered narrative, with humour and honesty that have carried me this far, and also into the future.

What readers said about the first edition

“Inspiring, thought-provoking, humorous and heartfelt. Had me laughing and feeling pensive in equal measures.” – Verified Amazon reviewer

“Humbling and insightful. Informative and emotive, lightened by humour. A true Welsh warrior.” – Amanda Aubrey-Burden

“An honest account that educates as much as it inspires. A must-read for anyone wanting to better understand disability and ableism.” – Lis

A small ask

Please share the second edition of Cerebral Palsy and Me on World Cerebral Palsy Day. Stories carry further when they’re passed on, and the more people read and hear them, the harder they are to ignore.

AAC and AI-Voice: Why They’re Shaping the Future of Communication

Communication is often taken for granted until it’s not there. For me, living with cerebral palsy and a severe speech impairment, the difference between being listened to and being overlooked these days is simple: Augmentative and Alternative Communication and advancing AI-voice technology.
They aren’t devices or luxuries. They are assistive technology that upholds our dignity and are the key to being part of conversations that shape our lives.

Although my relationship with AAC hasn’t always been plain sailing and I’ve had a love-hate connection with it over the years, it’s now clear that with assistive technology improving in accessibility, it is enriching my daily life and helping me educate others about disability and acceptance.

My Voice, On My Terms

Without AAC, my words are often second-guessed. People jump in, finish my sentences, or answer on my behalf. With my SmartBox TalkPad 8, I take back control. I tap, I speak, I’m heard.
AI-voice goes further. Instead of sounding like a machine, I can have a voice that carries personality, warmth, and identity. That’s not a small upgrade, that’s self-expression.

Why This Matters Beyond Me

AAC and AI-voice aren’t just about giving individuals tools. They change how society understands communication:

Every voice counts: Communication is not limited to spoken words. AAC shows that ideas, humour, and leadership can come through many channels.
Education and opportunity: In classrooms, AAC allows disabled students to answer, ask, and lead. It builds confidence and inclusion from day one.
Workplaces and public life: AAC breaks down barriers to employment, advocacy, and representation. When disabled people have tools to communicate, they contribute fully, not partially.
Changing attitudes: The more AAC and AI-voice are seen, the more they normalise difference. People learn that speech is not the only measure of intelligence.

What Needs to Happen Next

If AAC and AI-voice are to truly shape the future of communication, they must stop being treated as add-ons. That means:

Investment in access – Every child and adult who needs AAC should get it quickly, without long waits or endless assessments.
Training and awareness – Schools, organisations, workplaces, and communities must understand how to engage with AAC users.
Personalisation – AI-voice should give people the chance to sound like themselves, not a one-size-fits-all machine.
Representation – AAC users should be visible in classrooms, on stages, in the media, in politics. We need to hear these voices.

The Future We Deserve

The future of communication isn’t about technology replacing human voices. It’s about expanding what we mean by ‘voice’ in the first place. AAC and AI-voice carry the potential to make society listen more widely, more fairly, and more humanely.
For me, these tools are the difference between silence and leadership. For the next generation, they can be the difference between being spoken over and being truly heard.
But this future won’t build itself. Access to AAC and AI-voice must be recognised as a right, not a privilege. That means:

Grassroots action: Share these conversations, challenge old attitudes, and normalise AAC use in everyday life. The more visible it is, the harder it becomes to ignore.
Policy change: Push for better funding, quicker assessments, and personalised tech through the NHS, schools, hospitality, retail, and workplaces. Delays and one-size-fits-all approaches leave people voiceless.

This is a campaign that needs both individual voices and collective pressure. I’m asking you to stand with me, speak out about it, write about it, raise it in classrooms, offices, and communities. At the same time, call on leaders, educators, and policymakers to make AAC and AI-voice accessible for everyone who needs them.
Together, we can create a society that listens properly, one where no voice is left out of the conversation.

Why I’m Learning to Stop Apologising for My Disability

For years, I apologised for existing differently, moving slowly, being misunderstood, and holding people up, even for a few seconds. No one ever asked me to say sorry; it became a habit, an instinct formed from years of feeling like I was the inconvenience. It took me a long time to understand what the social model of disability explains so clearly: I am not the problem. My cerebral palsy and speech impairment aren’t barriers, an inaccessible society is, with its stairs instead of ramps, impatience instead of understanding, and systems built for everyone but me.

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The Invisible Weight of ‘Sorry'

Living with cerebral palsy and speech impairment makes you more aware of how the world reacts to you. A raised eyebrow when I take a little longer. A sigh in a queue. The awkward glance at my AAC device before I can even get my first words out.
I absorbed the message that disability equals inconvenience. My inner monologue was a loop of:
• Sorry for taking longer.
• Sorry for needing help with this bit.
• Sorry for making you uncomfortable.

I am starting to realise that carrying that is exhausting. It’s not just physical effort; it chips away at your confidence and sense of belonging.

The Turning Point

Writing my autobiography and my blogs has begun to help me to face a truth I’d been dodging; I wasn’t fully accepting myself yet.
• Some days, I feel proud and unshakable.
• Other days, one ignorant comment can undo hours of effort and leave me questioning my place in the world, but I remind myself that my value doesn’t shrink because of someone else’s discomfort. Each time I keep speaking up, I reclaim a little more confidence.

I realised that I didn’t create the barriers that make life harder. Society did.

I’m not the reason a building doesn’t have a ramp.
I’m not the reason someone avoids eye contact instead of talking to me.
My cerebral palsy isn’t the problem. The problem is the world is expecting me to apologise for its lack of inclusion.

Breaking this habit hasn’t happened overnight. Years of apologising don’t vanish instantly, but I’ve started to notice small changes in how I carry myself. Here’s what’s helping me take back that confidence.
Learning to Live Without Constant Apologies

I’m still working on this. Full self-acceptance is a journey, not a milestone. But I’ve started taking small steps:

Taking up space without guilt
a. If I move slower, speak slower, or need extra time, that’s life. I’m not a nuisance for existing on my terms.
Answering with honesty, not shame
a.If someone asks about my disability, I tell them directly.
Saving apologies for real mistakes
a. I’ll say sorry if I run over your foot with Scoot. Oops.
b. I won’t apologise for needing more time to speak or for asking for reasonable adjustments.

The Work in Progress

I’d love to say I never feel that old instinct to apologise. But I do. Some days, I feel like that young version of me who wanted to blend in, to not be noticed.
The difference now is awareness. I pause before every ‘sorry’ and ask: Do I really need to apologise, or is this just habit?
With each day, I notice the change, even a small step towards progress. I hold my head a little higher. I advocate for myself with less hesitation. I replace guilt with quiet pride, even if I’m not 100% there yet.
Final thought: Living unapologetically with a disability isn’t about being loud or defiant. It’s about recognising your right to exist without shrinking yourself to make others comfortable.
I’m not fully there yet, but every time I choose pride over apology, I take another step towards that freedom and happiness and step out from behind the mask of impostor syndrome and internal ableism.
Remember, accepting your disabilities will take as long as it needs to. It’s okay to be different, accept yourself as you are, and accept others too.

‘I’m learning that my existence isn’t an apology. The world needs to adapt, not me.’

July is Disability Pride Month

It’s Okay to Be Different: Why Disability Pride Month Matters

July marks Disability Pride Month, a time that often doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. For many of us who live with disabilities, it’s more than a date in the calendar. It’s a powerful reminder that it’s okay to be different, accept yourself, and be accepting of others. It's a time when we can feel empowered and proud of who we are, knowing that our disabilities never define who we truly are.

I’ve lived with cerebral palsy and a severe speech impediment all my life. So when I talk about pride, I’m not talking about pretending it’s all easy. It’s not. There are days when disability feels like an uphill slog. But Disability Pride Month isn’t about glossing over the difficult bits.

Growing up, I didn’t see people like me on TV, in books or anywhere much at all. When disabled people were shown, it was usually in a way that perpetuated stereotypes or made you feel sorry for them. Or they were expected to be some sort of inspiration just for existing. Disability Pride Month challenges that. It says our lives aren’t just something for others to misconcept. It's a time when we can challenge these stereotypes and show that our lives are worth living.

Why It’s Important?

Here’s why Disability Pride Month matters:

● Representation: It helps more people see disabled lives as ordinary, varied and valid. That visibility still makes a difference.
● Acceptance: It’s an opportunity to push back against underrepresentation. Too many of us have been made to feel like our disabilities are something to hide or apologise for.
● Community: Feeling connected to others who just get it, without having to explain everything, can be powerful.
● Action: Pride isn’t only about celebration, it’s also about demanding better access, inclusion, attitudes and opportunities. It's a time when we can come together as a community and commit to making these demands, knowing that our voices are powerful and can bring about change.

What Pride Looks Like

Disability pride is personal. It might involve speaking openly about your experiences, posting online, attending an event, or simply taking a moment to reflect on how far you’ve come. It’s
also about recognising that there’s no one way to be disabled, no single story that sums us all up.
For me, it’s in the little things: using my AAC or AI-Voice to share my voice, writing books with disabled characters, or having honest conversations that challenge assumptions. It’s choosing to stand up for inclusion, even when it would be easier to stay quiet.

How You Can Support

If you’re wondering what you can do this month (or any time), here are a few simple things:
● Listen to the voices of people with disabilities and share their work.
● Challenge ableist language and attitudes when you hear them. This could be as simple as correcting someone who uses the term' wheelchair-bound' or questioning why a building doesn't have a ramp for wheelchair users.
● Make spaces and activities more accessible. This could mean ensuring there are ramps and elevators for wheelchair users, providing sign language interpreters at events, or using plain language and large print for written materials.
● Treat disabled people as equals, not as tick box projects or inspirations. This means valuing their contributions and experiences, rather than seeing them as a token representation of diversity or as a source of inspiration for non-disabled people.

Disability Pride Month is about respect. It’s about making room for all of us to show up as ourselves, without shame or apology. However you choose to mark it, remember this: it’s okay to be different, accept yourself, and accept others.

Learning Disability Week 2025: It’s Okay to Be Different

Learning Disability Week isn’t just a themed social media post or a tick-box activity. It’s a moment to pause and properly listen. A time to understand that behind every learning disability label is a person, someone with thoughts, humour, quirks, opinions, frustrations, and dreams like anyone else.

A learning disability doesn’t define your worth.

It might change how you learn or process the world around you. Still, it doesn’t stop you from belonging and living life to the best of your abilities, even though my disabilities are more of a physical nature and not of a learning disability or academic nature. People are still quick to make incorrect assumptions about my capabilities.
I’ve lived my whole life being judged by what people assume I can’t do. Having cerebral palsy and a speech impediment, I’ve had people decide who I am before I even say a word. But what’s worse is when society assumes people with learning disabilities don’t have anything to say at all.
They do.
They just need the time, space and respect to say it in their own way.

This month is about:

● Support, not control. It’s not about 'fixing' anyone. It’s about giving people the tools, tech, time, and trust to thrive.
● Empathy, not sympathy. Don't feel sorry for someone with a learning disability. Learn from them. Ask. Listen. Respect.
● Inclusion, not just access. It’s not enough to be let into the room. You need to be included in what’s going on.
When I go into organisations and especially schools and talk with children about disability, I always say this: It’s okay to be different, be accepting of yourself and others. Because being different is what makes life interesting, and accepting yourself as you are, even when society tries to box you up, is where real strength lies. Life would be boring if everything and everyone were the same, right?
Whether your learning disability is visible or hidden, whether you’ve been labelled or not, you are not broken. You just do things your way, and that’s completely fine.
This week, don’t just post a graphic or chuck out a hashtag.
● Take the time to really understand what a learning disability is. Listen to the experiences of those living with it. This is how we can truly learn and grow.
● Take a moment to reflect on your own attitudes. Are you truly inclusive? It's essential to be aware of our biases and strive towards a more inclusive and accepting society.
● Ask people what support looks like to them.
● And if you’re a parent, carer or teacher, teach acceptance, not avoidance.

To every child and adult living with a learning disability, your voice matters. You matter. Your unique perspective is a valuable part of our world. We just need to stop and actually listen.

National Share A Story Month – Why Stories Matter

May marks National Share a Story Month, a time to celebrate the transformative power of storytelling, especially for young people. Instead of just praising the influence of books, let's explore the profound impact of stories on our lives.

Author Gavin Clifton, sits in front of a colelction of his books — Gavin Clifton, Author sits in front of his books

They show us we matter.

Growing up with cerebral palsy and a severe speech impediment, I rarely, if ever, saw characters like me in books. The heroes could run, speak clearly, climb mountains, fly rockets, and do all sorts of things that felt impossible for someone like me. When you're disabled, you don't always get to move or speak the way others do, and stories rarely show that. So, I started to believe that people like me weren’t meant to be the main character or the hero. That belief doesn’t go away easily. It sticks with you.
That’s why I write the way I do now, unfiltered, honest, sometimes cheeky, and to make a difference. Stories aren’t just entertainment. They’re validation. They acknowledge your experiences, they understand your struggles, and they affirm that your version of the world also belongs on the page.

What Sharing a Story Really Means

This month isn’t just about reading a story aloud. It’s about:
● Sharing lived experiences, not filtered ones.
● Letting children with disabilities see themselves as the main character not only encourages a sense of belonging and self-worth but it also boosts their self-esteem and confidence.
● Giving parents the confidence to talk openly about differences and disability is crucial. They play a significant role in shaping their children's perspectives and attitudes towards diversity and inclusion.
● Encouraging schools to invite disabled authors, rather than just talking about disability, is a step toward a more inclusive and diverse education system. It's about learning from those who have lived experiences, not just theoretical knowledge.
It’s about creating space for stories that challenge, educate, and connect.

Why I Keep Writing

I don’t write to be inspiring. I write because I want to educate the world about disability, acceptance, accessibility, and inclusion. Every time a child picks up Max and the Magic Wish or Paddy the Polar Bear Teddy and sees differences, I know I’m doing something right. I’m
not softening the truth, I’m making it easier to talk about not only within underrepresented communities, but beyond them.
Kids ask brilliant questions, and I love that they have the audacity and vulnerability to do so. They don’t dance around awkward topics. Adults could learn from that.

This Month, Share More Than Just a Story

● Share your truth.
● Share your challenges.
● Share your imperfections.
● Share what inclusion actually looks like.
● Share disabled voices – not just in May, but always.
Let’s raise kids who read stories that reflect the real world. Not some perfect, polished version. A world where everyone, regardless of ability, gets to be the hero, the explorer, the dreamer. The successor.
And to all the disabled kids out there who’ve never seen themselves in a book: You matter. Your story matters. And it deserves to be told.

Gavin Clifton

The Disabled Writer

What I Wish People Knew About Living With Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy isn’t a one-size-fits-all condition. It can be frustrating, and it's a lifelong journey. You might see a wheelchair or an unsteady walk, or notice a speech difference, and that’s as far as it goes. But living with cerebral palsy (CP) is a complex experience that goes beyond a diagnosis or a visible limp.
So here’s what I wish people understood. Not in a sympathy-seeking way. Just honestly.

It’s a lifelong condition, not an illness.

Unlike some other conditions, cerebral palsy is not progressive, meaning it does not get worse over time. It results from brain damage, usually before, during, or shortly after birth, and affects a person's movement, muscle tone, and posture.
I was born breech, not breathing, and left without oxygen for too long. That’s all it took. No two people with CP are the same; how it affects your body depends on the area and severity of the brain damage.
There are three main types:
● Spastic CP – stiff, tight muscles
● Ataxic CP – poor coordination and balance
● Dyskinetic CP – involuntary movements and fluctuating muscle tone
Some people have one type, and some have a mix like mine. There’s no upgrade, no fix. It’s a lifelong condition. We learn to adapt, not recover.

It affects your body in ways you don’t expect.

You’re not just dealing with mobility issues. There’s:
● Muscle stiffness that worsens in cold weather
● Pain from tight joints and spasms
● Fatigue that kicks in quicker than you’d think
● Communication difficulties (mine comes with a severe speech impediment)
● Extra diagnoses – epilepsy, cleft palate, poor coordination – many of us get a few ‘add-ons’

For me, right-side tightness makes walking harder as I get older. I’ve taken more falls in winter than I care to count, broken bones, bruised pride, the lot. It affects what I wear, where I go, even what time I leave the house. You don’t think about that when you hear 'CP.' But I live it daily.

Yes, it affects mental health too.

Imagine trying your hardest at something; your body just won’t do it. Or walking into a room and being judged for how you move or talk. It chips away at your confidence. Not always because of the CP itself, but because of how society reacts to it.
People sometimes talk over me. They ask my friends about me instead of speaking to me directly . Some assume I don’t understand or can’t reply. That’s not just annoying, it’s dehumanising.
I’ve had moments of anger, anxiety, and self-doubt. But here’s the thing, they’re not because I’m disabled. They’re because I live in a world not built for people like me.

Stop assuming you know what help I need.

I understand the impulse to help, and I appreciate it. But helping without asking first can sometimes do more harm than good. For instance, someone once grabbed me by the arm to 'help' me cross the road, even though the traffic had stopped and I had it under control . That sudden grab? It's not helpful. It's just scary. So, the next time you want to assist, just ask first.
You want to be kind? Great. Just ask, “Do you need a hand?” If I say no, respect that. If I say yes, excellent. It’s not rocket science.

My Final word

Cerebral palsy is part of me. It always will be. It affects how I walk, how I speak, how I move, and how I live. But it doesn’t define my intelligence, aspirations, or value. I can be stubborn, cheeky, witty, outspoken, and talented like anyone else.

So, next time you see someone with CP, don’t stare, don’t assume, and don’t talk to the person with them instead. Just treat them as you would anyone else. Offer your help if you think they might need it, but always ask first. And remember, they are not their condition. They have their own unique personality, interests, and talents. Acknowledge these aspects of their identity when you interact with them.
That’s all we want; to be treated like people.

I discuss all of the above in more detail in my autobiography, Cerebral Palsy And Me, which you can order here: www.thedisabledwriter.co.uk/books/

Embracing Empowerment

Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month - March 2025

March is #CerebralPalsyAwarenessMonth, a time to educate, advocate, inspire, and celebrate the resilience of those with cerebral palsy. As someone who lives with cerebral palsy, I know the trials and challenges, fears and tears, but I also experience the strength, determination, and incredible opportunities that arise.
This year, in addition to raising awareness on my social media, I am publishing a new ebook, Empowering Your Child: Building Confidence and Independence, to support parents of disabled children. The ebook provides guidance, personal experience, and practical tools to help parents nurture their children's strengths and encourage independence.
In this blog, I'll discuss:
● Why Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month matters
● The power of parental advocacy
● Breaking down societal barriers
● How you can get involved

Why Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month Matters

Cerebral palsy is one of the most commonly diagnosed disabilities, yet misconceptions still surround it. Many assume it's solely a mobility condition, but cerebral palsy also impacts muscle control, balance, coordination, speech and mental health. Despite these challenges, people living with cerebral palsy can lead independent lives with the proper support and have co-independent lives, meaning they can live interdependently with others, contributing to and benefiting from their communities.
Raising awareness means challenging stereotypes, advocating for better accessibility and inclusion, and pushing for policies prioritising disabled people's values and needs. This month, we remind ourselves that it's okay to be different. Societal barriers can include physical inaccessibility, a lack of understanding and acceptance, and discriminatory attitudes.

Parental Support and Advocacy: An Ally for Disabled Children

Parents play a crucial role in shaping a disabled child's future. I know first-hand. My parents fought for my right to a mainstream education. They saw my potential early on when the authorities thought differently, which made all the difference.

In Empowering Your Child, I discuss.
Focusing on strengths rather than limitations: Recognising and nurturing abilities instead of your child's struggles.
Encouraging independence: Small steps, such as involving children and family in decision-making, help build confidence.
Advocation with education and healthcare: Challenging outdated assumptions and flighting for acceptance, accessibility and inclusion.
Your belief in your child will shape their belief in themselves.

Creating a More Inclusive Society

Living with CP isn't just about physical challenges. It's about navigating a world that often overlooks the disability community. The Social Model of Disability highlights that it's not impairments that hold disabled people back but rather a society that fails to accommodate differences.

This is why change is needed.
Inclusive education: With appropriate support, disabled children should sometimes have access to mainstream schools. Inclusion nurtures better development and growth.
Accessible venues and environments: Buildings, workplaces, hospitality, retail, and transport must be designed with everyone in mind from a physical or sensory perspective.
Changing Attitudes: Disability doesn't mean incompetence. Everyone deserves to be valued for their abilities, not judged based on their differences.
Throughout my life, I have been misjudged and misunderstood. It's time to break these barriers and build a world where disabled people have the access, inclusion, and understanding they deserve.

How You Can Get Involved

Whether you have cerebral palsy, know someone who does, or just want to be an ally, you can help make a difference:
Educate yourself and others: Read personal accounts, follow disability advocates on social media, and share accurate information and resources.
Engage with Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month activities: Many charities and organisations, like Cerebral Palsy Cymru, run events, fundraisers, and awareness campaigns.
Support disabled voices: Follow and amplify the work of disabled writers, speakers and advocates.

Even small actions make a difference.

Looking Ahead: A Hope For Change

I hope to inspire a shift in perspective and attitudinal change regarding what disabled children can achieve, however small or big. Disabled children, like anyone else, deserve to grow, succeed, and thrive in whatever paths they take, whatever their abilities are.
This is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month, so let’s do more than raise awareness. Let’s take action. Advocate for inclusion, challenge barriers, and support policies that create a more accessible and inclusive world. Whether through conversations, education, or direct advocacy, every effort makes a difference. Change starts with all of us.

You can order my new ebook here:- www.thedisabledwriter.co.uk/books/.