All Posts

Sidorela Lleshi of Queens, NY I was born with a disability. I was born with cerebral palsy and a learning disability. I graduated from CUNY Queens College with my BA in English. I am an advocate as well as an author. I wrote Unbreakable and Other Short Stories. The entire writing process took me a decade. It's a short story collection that has plot twists as well as beautiful disability representation that my younger self wished I had growing up. You can find the book as a

This interview features Hannah Papenfuss. Hannah engages in public speaking and is active as an advocate on social media. She shares her experiences navigating the transition from high school to Concordia College. Now a graduate with her master’s in disability services, she offers guidance for students preparing for higher education. Follow her journey on Instagram: @H_Papenfuss, TikTok: @SpasticCP, Facebook: Hannah Papenfuss. Check out Hannah’s website at https://www.inclusi

Carmen Lai, Brooklyn, NY Spastic Diplegia Cerebral Palsy This piece highlights my best friend Carmen and the ways her lens illuminates her life. She shares how her passion for photography and film allows her to capture her experiences with cerebral palsy, celebrate her creativity, and challenge how the world sees disability. 1. What creative outlet has been most meaningful to you during young adulthood, and how did you discover it? As a young adult I have found the mos

As CP Awareness Month begins, I want to start moving beyond looking at awareness at the surface level. For me, that simply means sharing what living with cerebral palsy actually looks like as I grow into adulthood. CP has always been part of my story. It shows up in how I move, how I pace myself, how I access spaces, and how I advocate for myself. But it is not the only thing about me. I am navigating young adulthood, building projects, working towards independence, and conqu

I was first introduced to aquatic therapy through pool therapy at NYU. That experience showed me how different my body feels in the water and how much easier it can be to move when gravity is less of a factor As I have been taking steps toward transitioning to adult and care finding new ways to stay active, I decided to get an NYC Parks and Recreation membership.it was part of my goal to access more community based resources on my own. That is how I found NYC Parks Adaptiv

Reflections on daily life, advocacy, and hope for the future Parents often look for community and support as their children grow. Hearing from parents provides unique insight into the realities of raising adolescents and young adults with cerebral palsy, including the joys, challenges, and strategies that help children thrive while fostering their independence and confidence. This post features Colleen, a parent from Old Bridge, New Jersey, and her 13-year-old daughter, Zoe.

I recently celebrated my 23rd birthday and found myself reflecting on some of the lessons I learned during year 22. I grew academically personally and professionally but more than anything this year I continued to carve my own path as I’ve navigated the transition to adulthood. Lesson One: Transition Can Strengthen You This year marked my transition from undergraduate into graduate school. A different neighborhood, a different building and different people. I no longer had

My name is Sarah, and I’m the owner of Knit Wits Design! Throughout my life, I’ve been very fortunate to have access to supportive therapies, including therapeutic horseback riding. These experiences helped me build confidence and body awareness, and they played an important role in how I learned to navigate challenges and advocate for myself as I grew older. In 2022, during my final year of undergraduate school, I learned how to loom knit. What began as a creative outlet

Karen, Brooklyn, NY I interviewed Karen about her experiences navigating college and dorm life. She attends Stony Brook University. Karen majors in Technological Systems with a concentration in Computer Science. She is from Brooklyn, NY and was diagnosed with Spastic Cerebral Palsy. What factors did you consider in deciding where to go to college and what are some things other people with CP should think about? Some factors that I considered when I choose where to go for coll

I always knew college would be different from high school, but I don’t think I understood just how different it would feel until I lived it. In high school, my schedule was structured. Teachers knew me well. People were used to my needs and my routines. There was a sense of predictability. College, on the other hand, introduced a new level of independence I had never experienced before. Suddenly, I was managing assignments, long days, friendships, planning my own schedule, an

Tucker Salaavora Last year, I was speaking with another fellow alumni of SFAH and mentioned how much I missed camp. She suggested I could help out with SFAH’s life-skills program and I instantly thought about making a presentation about my journey from high school and camp up to now. I pitched the idea to SFAH and they invited me to speak at the Family Fun Day this past April. It was a great experience to feel as though I could give back to this amazing community that has hel

I interviewed my friend Kiarra who offered insights into navigating the complexities of CP during the transition to adult care and young adulthood Kiarra has Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy What do you wish you learned more about when going through the transition from pediatric to adult care? It would have been nice to know that specialists don’t always treat every condition, even within their fields. I realized that most specialized providers who treat CP are pediatric onc

Kiarra Boodram New York, NY Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy Outside of formal rehab I try to stay active, but I will admit that it’s difficult sometimes. A huge part of healthy activity is being conscious of my physical discomfort. I’ve gotten into the habit of yin yoga, a more stationary and less strenuous form compared to typical yoga. My exercise is targeted towards stamina and conditioning, so even if I’m doing something like going outside or running errands I am conscio

Kevin Zhu Brooklyn, New York Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy I’m 29 and currently work two jobs—one as a Campaign Manager for Walmart Connect, the largest private employer in the U.S., and another as an usher at Regal Cinemas. Balancing both keeps me busy, but I’ve always believed in working hard and staying committed to my goals. I grew up in a single-parent household with my mom and sister. My childhood wasn’t easy—we moved 19 different times across Brooklyn and Manhattan

Julia Giammona Brooklyn, NY To those living with cerebral palsy, I want to share my story with you. I know what it feels like to dream big while worrying about the obstacles that seem to stand in your way. I was born with cerebral palsy, and today I’m a speech-language pathologist. My disability has shaped who I am, but it has never defined my limits. Instead, it’s taught me creativity, empathy, and determination—qualities that have become my greatest strengths in both life a

Jessica Huang When I first started college at St. Francis (SFC), I used my wheelchair for almost everything on campus. It was familiar, efficient, and predictable. It made sense while I was juggling classes, commuting, and figuring out what college life was supposed to look like. I could walk, but I just felt like if I walked anywhere else, I couldn’t keep up with the world I was in. Everything changed in the second semester of my junior year. It was my second semester workin

Jessica Huang Brooklyn, NY Spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy I am 22 years old, a grad student , I walked across the stage and graduated from college, and I’m still being seen by a wonderful group of pediatric providers at NYU Langone. Before I ever stepped onto that graduation stage, before I fully understood what “transition” meant, there was a moment in a quiet hallway at NYU during one of my physical therapy sessions that changed the way I viewed my future. It was my