National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Week, 1 - 7th August 2010

National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Week will take place between 1 - 7 August 2010.

Scope, a leading disability service provider in Victoria works to make our community more inclusive, more accessible and more welcoming for people living with Cerebral Palsy.

Cerebral palsy is the most common form of childhood disability, affecting about 34,000 Australians. (Read more in Access Economics, The Economic Impact of Cerebral Palsy in Australia in 2007.)

The current annual financial cost of cerebral palsy is about $43,000 per person, with the cost to the individual estimated at 36.7% of the total – or $306 per week.

Most people with CP are healthy and have the capacity to participate in meaningful studies, hobbies and employment.

The important message for our community is to focus on seeing people with cerebral palsy firstly just as people, and to work together to achieve full social inclusion.

Viviana Ortolan is a Scope disability educator who has cerebral palsy, affecting her mobility, speech and ability to do daily tasks.

Viviana works to reduce the misperceptions and negative attitudes often faced by people with cerebral palsy. 

Viviana is a talented poet; and uses poetry to communicate her dreams and aspirations.
‘Tapestry’, a poem Viviana wrote is one of her pivotal works that has opened people’s eyes and hearts.

“National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Week highlights that with the right support people with Cerebral Palsy can and do reach their potential, despite the economic, physical and attitudinal barriers often faced,” said Diana Heggie, CEO, Scope

-ENDS-

To arrange a profile with someone living with Cerebral Palsy in your local area or for further media enquires please contact: Melissa Hay, Media Communications Manager, Scope: 9843 2031 or mhay@scopevic.org.au. 

Tapestry by Viviana Ortolan

Is life for me so different?
Of course it is. But different to what?
Different to whose…
How is it not the same?
I breathe the air everyone does,
I’ve learned painful lessons
I’ve experienced love and loneliness.
I become angry
And feel foolish as everyone.
I’ve been hurt and caused pain
To the people I care most for.
I’ve shed tears in the middle of the night
Over the smallest and silliest memory.
My life is just that… Life
Every experience you have,
Every good one, every bad one
Will sew your own tapestry.
Lay your unfinished tapestry next to mine
And compare it…
Is life for me so different?

Scope supports National Disability Insurance Scheme 

Scope has recently joined the growing list of organisations supporting calls for a National Disability Insurance Scheme. A National Disability Insurance Scheme would provide funding for early intervention, essential care, support, therapy, aids and equipment, home modifications and training.

The scheme would provide assistance to all people with a significant disability, no matter how their disability was acquired. It will put an end to the current inequities that see people receiving different levels of support depending on how, when and where their disability was acquired.

After decades of providing supports to people with a disability, Scope is proud to be part of an advocacy campaign supporting equity and entitlement for all Australians with a disability.