World Cerebral Palsy Day 2025

Key Facts for 2025

• Date of Observance: October 6, 2025
• Theme: #UniqueAndUnited
• Significance: The world day to create awareness about cerebral palsy and express support to the more than 17 million individuals with cerebral palsy.

About the Observance

• Purpose: The day will be held to make the world a more accessible and inclusive space to people with cerebral palsy, honoring their efforts and high-profiling their rights and opportunities.
• Focus Areas: It recognizes the necessity to have a better access to technology, education and access to healthcare and overturns the perceptions related to the condition.

Historical Background

• 19th Century Foundations:
  • The first doctor to take an in-depth study of the condition was Dr. John Little in 1853.
  • At around 1861, he described his discoveries, and he came up with the first definition and connected the condition with birth complications (such as troublesome delivery). During a few years, cerebral palsy was recognized as Little Disease.
• A Shift in Understanding:
  • This was later disputed by Dr. Sigmund Freud who suggested that the condition might as well be caused by abnormal brain development during prenatal stages.
• Modern Establishment:
  • The World Cerebral Palsy Alliance and United Cerebral Palsy officially established the World Cerebral Palsy Day in the year 2012.
  • The project was inspired by the campaign named Change My World in One Minute that was used to get innovative ideas to dismantle the barriers faced by cerebral palsy victims.