Cerebral Palsy Quotes
Sometimes, families affected by cerebral palsy may feel they need some extra words of encouragement as they navigate their unique journey. These quotes can help others find inspiration and support when they need it the most.
Cerebral Palsy Quotes About Strength
Children and adults with cerebral palsy may feel they are different and unable to achieve their goals as easily as their peers. These quotes can help to inspire individuals with cerebral palsy to shoot for the stars and follow their dreams.
Here are some quotes for when you feel that you are in need of strength to get through the day:
“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ . . . You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”
-Eleanor Roosevelt
“Placing one foot in front of the other, I’ve climbed to higher lengths. Reaching beyond my own limitations, to show my inner strength. No obstacle too hard for this warrior to overcome. I’m just a man on a mission, to prove my disability hasn’t won.”
-Robert M. Hensel, world record holder with spina bifida
“Of course my education has been uniquely difficult – no one apart from Chickenshed believed that I was anything more than the label “cerebral palsy” – I was even described to my family as a vegetable. Who in this world would feel that they need to educate someone like me? This has held me back. If people had believed in me before we found Chickenshed then I don’t know what mountains I would have been able to climb.”
–Paula Rees, cerebral palsy patient, writer, producer, and performer at the Chickenshed Theatre
Cerebral Palsy Quotes When You’re Having a Bad Day
There may be some days when individuals with cerebral palsy and their families feel frustrated or defeated and when navigating life with cerebral palsy. These quotes can help families feel supported by relating to others on the same journey as them.
Here are some quotes for when you feel discouraged and need to know that it is OK to have a bad day:
“There are times during this journey that are so challenging and you may feel lost and discouraged. These are times when ‘showing up’ for the day and having an open mind and a prayer on your breath are the best tools you have to work with. It’s very humbling and most of us parents have been there. May love and hope hold you until this time passes.”
-Michele Shusterman, founder of CP Daily Living
“Sometimes it seems too hard. Sometimes I wonder if I can do it. Therapy for years to come. How does anyone survive it? Then in a quiet moment of contentment, my son cradles my face with his tiny hands, looks deeply into my eyes, and gently kisses me. It’s more than words could ever say.”
-Beatrice Song, mother, occupational therapist, and blogger
“When you find yourself in a dark state of mind perhaps recall a time when you genuinely reached out and offered words of support or encouragement to someone you cared about. If those words came from a place of truth within you then you can connect with them again within yourself. Even if you can’t feel or think with hope right now, know that it lived within you before and it can live there again. Feed that place where hope once lived until it takes root and grows again.”
-Michele Shusterman, founder CP Daily Living
“Part of the problem with the word ‘disabilities’ is that it immediately suggests an inability to see or hear or walk or do other things that many of us take for granted. But what of people who can’t feel? Or talk about their feelings? Or manage their feelings in constructive ways? What of people who aren’t able to form close and strong relationships? And people who cannot find fulfillment in their lives, or those who have lost hope, who live in disappointment and bitterness and find in life no joy, no love? These, it seems to me, are the real disabilities.”
-Fred Rogers, educator, minister, songwriter, and television host
Cerebral Palsy Quotes for Caregivers
Parents and caregivers of children with cerebral palsy may feel alone in the journey raising a child with their condition. These quotes can remind parents they are not alone and there is a lot of encouragement and support available.
Here are some quotes for caregivers of children with cerebral palsy:
“Our children may never be ‘normal’ in the world’s eyes but they can be better than normal — they can be extraordinary. … I’m not going to lie to you — there will be times when you get discouraged and afraid for the future but don’t ever give up!”
-David Juliano, father of a child with cerebral palsy
“They [your child with special needs] will find and show you what they are going to be excited and passionate and joyful about. And your job is to take a machete and carve the path in front of them. Find out what they love to do and carve it and let them experience all of the world.”
-Actress Laura San Giacomo, mother to a son with cerebral palsy
“If your child’s Teacher tells you, “Your child doesn’t belong in my class,” it’s time to find a new placement. It’s time to find a new placement not because your child doesn’t belong but because your child deserves better.”
-Doug Goldberg, special education advisor
“Motherhood is about raising and celebrating the child you have, not the child you thought you would have. It’s about understanding that she is exactly the person she is supposed to be. And that, if you’re lucky, she just might be the teacher who turns you into the person you are supposed to be.”
-The Water Giver by Joan Ryan
Quotes for Cerebral Palsy Allies
It is important for allies to understand what life is like for individuals with cerebral palsy. Allies should be supportive and understanding, not judgmental and doubtful of their abilities. These quotes are a great resource for those who want to become better cerebral palsy allies.
Here are some quotes for cerebral palsy allies:
“Look past the disability and see the person. If you have questions, ask them. Be patient because speech may be hard to understand, but carry on a conversation. Just because they’re difficult to understand doesn’t mean they don’t have something to say.”
-Dr. Gary Edwards, United Cerebral Palsy Birmingham executive director
“As a person with cerebral palsy who walks with crutches, people have the assumption that I've had to overcome a lot of obstacles in my life because of it, and to some degree, I have. However, the most difficult obstacle to overcome is other people's perception of who a person with a disability is.”
-Greg Walloch, comedian and storyteller with cerebral palsy
“Be curious, not judgmental.”
-Walt Whitman, poet
"The greatest repellant I have found to the unkind words and actions of others is deep self-acceptance. The challenge is doing the inner work to get there. And, as humans, we will spend our lives working on this puzzle in one form or another."
-Michele Shusterman, founder CP Daily Living
Living with cerebral palsy or caring for a loved one with the condition can present many challenges. These cerebral palsy quotes can help those living with cerebral palsy understand they are not alone on their journey. It can give them encouragement and inspiration to continue their fight to live a long, happy, fulfilling life.
Sharing these quotes can help you support friends and family members in the cerebral palsy community. Whether you want to be empathetic to others when they are having a tough day or you want to show others that they can be resilient and bounce back from a difficult situation, sharing quotes can be a great way to be a supportive ally.
Written by:Cerebral Palsy GuideCerebral Palsy Guide was founded upon the goal of educating families about cerebral palsy, raising awareness, and providing support for children, parents, and caregivers affected by the condition. Our easy-to-use website offers simple, straightforward information that provides families with medical and legal solutions. We are devoted to helping parents and children access the tools they need to live a life full of happiness
