People living with cerebral palsy, families, advocates, creators, partner organisations and allies shared their priorities through the global #UniqueANDUnited campaign.
While final results are still being compiled, early figures show the campaign reached 45.5 million social media accounts, almost twice the reach achieved in 2025.
Cerebral Palsy Alliance’s change for 2026 was clear: formal United Nations recognition of 6 October as World Cerebral Palsy Day.
More than 50 million people around the world live with cerebral palsy. Formal recognition would help keep cerebral palsy on the international agenda and build momentum for better research, services, inclusion and opportunity.
The campaign also builds on Australia’s long history of leadership. Cerebral Palsy Alliance helped champion the first World CP Day in 2012, beginning a movement that now unites people and organisations around the world each year.
To ensure lived experience remained at the heart of this year’s advocacy, CPA partnered with actor, writer and disability advocate Hannah Diviney. Hannah brought the campaign to a national audience through television coverage on Seven, Nine, Network 10 and Sky News, as well as radio interviews and other media.
The Sydney Morning Herald also published a joint letter from Hannah and CPA CEO Rob White, highlighting the Australian origins of World CP Day and calling for the Australian Government to support formal UN recognition.
Radio coverage carried the message into metropolitan and regional communities, with more than 51 stations broadcasting Rob’s interview. To date, the UN recognition campaign has generated 262 media items across Australia.
The campaign translated national awareness into visible community action.
CPActive Champions, people living with cerebral palsy, families and allies gathered outside Parliament Houses in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra, as well as the council chambers in Port Macquarie.
Wearing green and holding signs calling for change, participants came together to show decision-makers that cerebral palsy deserves greater recognition at every level.
Approximately 500 people have also registered their support through the new UN recognition page on the World CP Day website, creating an engaged community that can help carry the campaign forward.
Around the world, people and organisations used the “My change for CP is…” campaign to identify the changes that matter most to them.
More than 25 partner organisations participated across countries including Zimbabwe, Brazil, Bangladesh, Poland and Indonesia. Their contributions demonstrated how one simple question can create space for many different experiences, cultures and advocacy priorities.
The World CP Day Instagram and Facebook communities also welcomed approximately 3,000 new followers during the campaign.
Individual advocates helped extend the message even further. A campaign video from United States ambassador Rachel Gordon received more than 64,000 views, while a TikTok video supporting UN recognition from creator and cerebral palsy advocate Jourdie Godley attracted 88,000 views.
These voices reinforced the central message of the campaign: people living with cerebral palsy are unique as individuals and united in calling for greater recognition, inclusion and opportunity.
At Cerebral Palsy Alliance, ConnectABILITY, our employee network for colleagues with lived experience of disability, hosted a World CP Day celebration at Allambie Heights.
Clients and colleagues came together for a group photograph and afternoon tea, with speeches from Sophie Marmont and Leisha Armstrong.
Marley Lyras-Hull also wrote a personal article reflecting on her experience of growing up with cerebral palsy and why World CP Day matters to her.
The celebration was an important reminder that although World CP Day has become a global movement, it remains grounded in the people and communities at its heart.
World CP Day has ended for another year, but the work continues.
CPA is engaging with the Australian Department of Health, Disability and Ageing to identify the best pathway towards formal United Nations recognition. We are also continuing discussions with the Australian Government about championing the proposal internationally.
The reach and participation achieved this year provide powerful evidence of the support behind the campaign and a strong foundation for the next stage of our advocacy.
Most importantly, the campaign has shown what is possible when people living with cerebral palsy lead the conversation and communities around the world come together to listen and act.
Support UN recognition of World Cerebral Palsy Day and share the positive change you want to see using #UniqueANDUnited.
