Yesterday’s World Cerebral Palsy Day celebrated people with the most common physical disability in childhood. While the disability presents in many ways, from issues balancing to complete lack of voluntary movement, roughly 500 babies are born in Australia each year with cerebral palsy (CP). 

 Although technology and research advancements have seen a reduction in the numbers of people born with CP, there are miles to go in research, inclusion, and local services for the 34,000 Australians living with CP.

Sixteen-year-old Coonamble local Harry Peters was born with CP, rendering him wheelchair bound and non-verbal. His disability, according to his mother Kim Peters, is one of the more severe cases of CP. It is yet to slow him down. 

Harry Peters (left) after being presented with a Clay Target Shooting prize at a competition in Coonamble earlier this year.

“I think he’s more well known in Coonamble than I am,” said Mrs Peters. 

It’s no wonder, being heavily involved in the local football club, gun club, and a keen swimmer at the local pool. 

“He’s a really valued member of the community, and I think that’s a wonderful indictment on Coonamble,” she said. 

Despite the inclusiveness from locals, the severity of Harry’s disability has revealed where the weaknesses in support lie. 

For the Peters family, it’s the lack of disability support staff available locally.

“I would encourage anyone to have a look at going into those caring and support roles. While people might find it a bit daunting, you get so much out of it,” Mrs Peters said. 

Disability support workers have been crucial for Harry and other people living with CP to interact with the community. 

“Like any 16-year-old boy, Harry doesn’t want to spend all his time with his mum.”

The challenge comes from finding people not only with the teachable skills, but with the passion and care to help Harry enjoy as normal life as possible. 

“It’s the difference in having someone who sees Harry as a person before they see a disability,” Mrs Peters said. 

While locally, there aren’t a lot of families facing the same challenges, Mrs Peters said she is involved with online support groups where she can connect with other parents. Additional to the support she has garnered, she noticed that not every community has been so accommodating to the needs of CP. 

“One of the things the council did was to make sure there was a hoist that could get Harry in and out of the pool, and a disability change room which has been wonderful to Harry and hopefully for other people within the community.”

At the Cerebral Palsy Alliance (CPA) in Dubbo, around 30 clients across Dubbo and the Western Plains are treated, offering physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech pathology to assist in mastering skills and activities. 

“We can say quite proudly that the quality of the services that you receive in Dubbo are as good a service as you would receive in the city,” said CPA Manager for Dubbo Anne Burns. 

It’s a testament to the local services and a win for Western Plains communities at a time when postcode too often rules the quality of life and standard of care someone has access to. 

World Cerebral Palsy Day this year launched the #millionsofreasons campaign, highlighting the scale and prevalence of the condition and multitude of reasons the condition deserves increased attention, funding, and support. 

“Just because you have cerebral palsy, it doesn’t mean you can’t be a valued member of the community,” Mrs Peters said.