Happy CP Awareness Month! 💚

Lucy_Scope

I thought about sharing my own experience based on a recent project I have been working on.

Growing up, I loved drama; I took it at GCSE, Post-16, and even outside of school. I got top grades and was told I had talent. However, I was always dismissed for leading roles in school productions. Whether intentional or not, it quietly planted a belief in me that I didn’t belong in that space. And eventually, I stopped pursuing it.

People with CP deserve to be represented. Disabled media representation is painfully sparse. Visibility is powerful. It challenges negative attitudes and helps people understand disability. But that visibility needs to be co‑produced, with the lived experiences of people with CP right at the centre.

So much of our representation comes from non disabled people 'cripping up' to appear to have cerebral palsy. Many applaud this as 'good acting'. But why overlook people with CP who know and understand what it means to live with a challenging impairment?

Authentic representation matters. And if young people with CP can’t see anyone like them on stage or on screen… how are we supposed to shift that?

On a personal level, I am so excited to be working with The Rosie Jones Foundation and Embrace Space Arts. Collaborating to create an event for young people with CP about exploring pathways in creative industries. Showing it is possible to enter a space, traditionally excluded from people like us. I hope events like these encourage the little Lucys to be courageous and believe - "I belong here."

If you know anyone who would be interested in attending, they can book.

HelloYes

Hey Lucy

Thank you for this! It looks very interesting and i forwarded it to some that would be interested :-)

Andy243

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/144601/happy-cp-awareness-month

This is such a powerful and honest reflection. It really highlights how easily talent can be overlooked when representation isn’t taken seriously, and how that can shape someone’s confidence and path. Your point about authentic voices is so important—real change only happens when people with lived experience are given the space to tell their own stories, not just portrayed by others.

It’s inspiring to see you turning that experience into something meaningful through your work with the The Rosie Jones Foundation and Embrace Space Arts. Creating opportunities for young people with CP to explore creative industries is exactly the kind of initiative that can shift perspectives and open doors that once felt closed.

And you’re absolutely right—visibility can change everything. When young people see someone like them thriving in spaces they once felt excluded from, it builds belief. Projects like yours don’t just create opportunities, they help redefine who belongs in those spaces—and that’s incredibly impactful.

Lucy_Scope

Thank you @Andy243 for your lovely words. I am very proud of our work

Rachel_Scope

I'm sorry you had that experience growing up @Lucy_Scope. You're doing an amazing job now and you can help others feel like they belong anywhere ❤️