Celebrating World Cerebral Palsy Day with Stevie
Stories | Published: October 6, 2026
Today, October 6th, is World Cerebral Palsy Day. Today, we celebrate the unique stories and contributions of people who live with cerebral palsy. It is a worldwide movement, challenging negative assumptions and mobilising inclusion and accessibility for people who live with cerebral palsy.
To mark World Cerebral Palsy Day, we are sharing Stevie’s top five tips for inclusive development.
Stevie is a performance poet, writer and advocate for the inclusion and empowerment of people with disabilities, and is a long-term friend of CBM. She has been working with us in various capacities since 2009. Through her business, Inclusion Vibrancy, Stevie delivers workshops that equip young people with the skills and confidence to include their peers with disabilities.
We asked Stevie to share her top five tips for creating more inclusive communities.
Be curious
People with disabilities have unique strengths, talents and perspectives. They have experiential knowledge of the barriers they face, and how they could be removed. Inclusive development can only be effective when it is in consultations and partnership with people with disabilities. Adopt a curious spirit to learn from people with disabilities.
Understand people’s and adopt preferred ways of communication preferences.
It might be speaking or writing, in person or online. Some people with disabilities have better energy at specific times of the day. Ask people with disabilities what they need in their environment in order to communicate most freely and efficiently.
Don’t assume capacities
Disability is not a one-size-fits-all experience. The capacity of people with disabilities vary greatly. For some people it can vary on a daily basis. A person’s attendance at one event, doesn’t mean it will be easy for them to attend another. A person with a disability may be easily able to participate in one task but may find a seemingly similar task difficult.
Relate to people in age-appropriate ways.
Speak to adults as if they’re adults! And speak to teenagers as if they’re teenagers. When people are related to as if they’re somehow childlike it’s easier for them to withdraw and become passive. I have found this to be true in my personal life, as well as in academic research. In inclusive development there are great power dynamics, so it’s crucial to relate to people age-appropriately.
Embrace advancing technology
Advancing technology can transform the lives of people with disabilities. AI has transformed my writing and creativity. People with disabilities have a right to access the assistive technology that can enable them to be all that they can be. Inclusive development can be greatly expanded by incorporating advancing technology.
Follow Stevie @steviewillsvibrancy on Instagram and Facebook.
https://www.cbm.org.au/stories/world-cerebral-palsy-day
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