Early Intervention
Providing babies with access to free critical early intervention therapy, ensuring they get the very best start at life.Â
Research
Our researchers prioritise projects and inform the development and direction of meaningful, impactful research for the CP community.
Advocacy
The community, lead by 28 CPActive Champions, is dedicated to creating positive, meaningful change for people with CP.Â
Services
Providing essential services and other supports, not currently funded by NDIS, for people with CP and their families.
Remarkable
Enables Remarkable Accelerator to seed-fund 120 disability startup companies who are solving challenges faced by people with CP.Â
Volunteering
The corporate volunteering program connects clients with Corporate Partners and supporters in a meaningful and engaging way.Â
Babies’ brains develop most rapidly in the first 1000 days, making early intervention crucial for those with cerebral palsy, like Billy. Early therapy helps develop communication, motor, and problem-solving skills. However, these services can be costly for families.
Thanks to the generosity of donors and philanthropic supporters, CPA is able to cover the cost of early intervention therapy, making a significant impact for babies like Billy and their families. Now, almost two years old, Billy has progressed from sitting to crawling to standing and is improving his speech with the support of his therapists. He is also learning to communicate independently through keyword signing and assistive technology—milestones his parents once worried might never happen.
Many babies are waiting for the same opportunity to flourish. You have the power to help them.
Did you know that 1 in 2 people with CP has spent time in a neonatal intensive care unit or special care nursery? We are dedicated to protecting and supporting these vulnerable babies.
Our research efforts are focused on four key themes: Epidemiology & Prevention, Early Detection and Early Intervention, Technology, and Regeneration.
Our research is dedicated to and has changed the lives of people with CP
Discover how our research programs are accelerating progress for the cerebral palsy community.
At Cerebral Palsy Alliance (CPA), we offer a range of essential services that are not currently funded by the NDIS, as well as therapies and supports for babies, children and adults with cerebral palsy, and their families.
One of those services include a sports program, featuring sports that can be played at a fun and recreational level, right through to an elite level, with enthusiastic coaches who will be with you all the way. These sports may include boccia, race running, table tennis, athletics, football, futsal, water polo, triathlon, volleyball, and more.
Aaryan Shah plays a sport similar to Lawn Bowls called Boccia for Australia. Without the help of the CPA, he would not have access to a training facility or coaching, which are vital for his enjoyment, competition performance, and continued improvement in the sport.
Boccia is a sport that caters to people with more profound physical impairments. So, if you can’t throw the ball, with the help of a ramp assistant, headgear, or a mouthpiece, athletes can still play the sport. Inclusion and sport are two integral parts of the Australian DNA, and Boccia is a perfect combination of the two. Therefore, donations to the Cerebral Palsy Alliance are vital to keeping activities like Boccia running.
CPActive, the grassroots advocacy arm of Cerebral Palsy Alliance, is dedicated to creating positive, meaningful change for people with CP and similar disabilities. Since being founded in 2021, it has grown to a community of more than 20,000 people.
CPActive is committed to the principles of disability justice and is led by a steering committee made up of CPActive Champions – activists like Sophie Geeves, whose lived experience of CP informs their advocacy and ensures the priority of the disability community are at the heart of our campaigns.
Since joining CPActive in 2021, Sophie has played a leading role in the ‘Blaze the Trail’ inclusive education and employment campaign, which has reached thousands of people and convinced the NSW Government to adopt new inclusive policies. In April 2024, Sophie was invited to share her lived experience at the NSW parliamentary inquiry into disability in education and continues to campaign for equality in schooling and employment.
Meet the CPActive community who are advocating to make Australia a more inclusive place for people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities.Â
Remarkable, an initiative of the Cerebral Palsy Alliance founded in 2016, empowers Disability Tech innovators by offering training, funding, and networking opportunities to support startups from ideation to scaling. Inspired by global competitions and hackathons, Remarkable focuses on creating accessible, equitable, and inclusive technologies. It provides various programs, including a fellowship for disabled entrepreneurs, and has expanded globally, including to the US, by collaborating with the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation.
One of Remarkables startups is PolySpine, developed by Riley Saban and his father Clint. They created a modular, customizable support system for individuals with moderate to severe physical disabilities. PolySpine features a lightweight, portable torso and head support that can be configured to the users spine by a trained occupational therapist. Designed to be easily swapped in and out of existing seating systems or recreational equipment, it facilitates participation in a wide range of activities from air travel to beach wheelchairs. PolySpine enhance mobility and inclusion, enabling users to engage in activities they might otherwise miss due to inadequate physical support.
Find out more about how Remarkable is harnessing disability tech to create a future that is accessible, equitable and inclusive for all.Â
Our CPA Lifestyles services empower young people and adults to design their own programs, develop social skills, learn new life skills, achieve their goals, and find employment. In 2024, participants showcased their talents at the Royal Sydney Easter Show by creating and selling items like trivia cards, framed artwork, sewn bags, designed t-shirts, candles, soaps, and vases.
Over 47 participants seized this opportunity to sell their products, share their passions, and engage with a community of over 920,000 attendees. This event was greatly enhanced by the support of corporate volunteers from Cisco, Salesforce, Fleetpartners, Apple, Mastercard, Clayton Utz, and Dexus.
The involvement of these organisations provided clients with unforgettable experiences, fostering a sense of community and inclusivity. The success of this year’s event, filled with joy, laughter, and lasting memories, highlights the tremendous impact of our corporate partners’ support, and we look forward to future collaborations.
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