Cerebral Palsy Research Network - CPRN

11/18/2025

Targeting Pain Without Medication

Managing pain doesn’t always mean turning to medication—there are many effective, non-pharmacological approaches that can support your health and wellbeing, and some strategies may help you reduce how much medication you may need to take. Small changes in daily habits can make a meaningful difference over time for many different symptoms.

Here are a few strategies that may help people living with CP reduce or cope with pain:

➡️ Physical activity — Aerobic movement and resistance training *consult with your healthcare providers before beginning any new exercise or activity
➡️ Psychological approaches — certain methods, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and other approaches, can help adjust how you think about and relate to your pain
➡️ Stress management — Mindfulness, relaxation techniques, and more
➡️ Physical Therapy — Tools and practices that can help you cope with ongoing pain
➡️ Nutrition — Improving your daily intake and supporting a healthy weight-consult with your P*P or ask for a referral to a dietician
➡️ Sleep hygiene — Establishing consistent, restorative sleep habits

Everyone’s journey with pain is different. Talk with your healthcare team about which approaches may be right for you.

📘 Looking for more practical tools like this?

You’ll find this resource—and many others—in our Adult Toolkit, created to support adults with CP in their daily lives.

👉 https://cprn.org/the-adult-cerebral-palsy-tool-kit/

ID: Four graphics highlight non-medication strategies for managing pain, featuring the Adult CP Toolkit, tips like exercise, stress management, nutrition, psychological approaches, therapies, and sleep hygiene, along with a reminder to talk with your healthcare team.

11/17/2025

💚 Motivational Monday 💚

Today, we're inspired by Lilly's move to a new home and the changes her family has been making to their house to create a more accessible environment where she can feel more at ease.

Here's a glimpse of Lilly's joy as she explores her new space — a moment that captures the power of possibility and the relief, support, and freedom that a barrier-free space can provide.

*Lilly wanted to let you all know that she made this video for a friend, but her feelings about having more space to navigate were something she felt was important to share with others who may not understand why creating accessible environments in society and offering resources to make them possible in people's homes should be a priority.

11/07/2025

✨ ✨

When we talk about treatments for cerebral palsy, it’s important to be specific about what it is you are interested in treating. CP isn’t one-size-fits-all—symptoms, movement differences, health concerns and personal goals vary.

Your treatment decisions should reflect your unique health picture and personal goals. Our original cerebral palsy toolkit and the new adult toolkit both include a treatment checklist to guide these conversations wih your healthcare team. 💚

Here are some examples of what you can consider when making treatment decisions:

✔️ Discuss evidence for each treatment
✔️ Clarify your personal goals: such as pain or functional improvement
✔️ Weigh benefits vs. risks
✔️ Keep in mind that no treatment works for every person all of the time

📥 Download the complete CP Toolkit: https://cprn.org/tool-kit-subscription-form/

📖 Find the Treatment Checklist: Original CP Toolkit p.50 | Adult CP Toolkit p.68

11/06/2025

💬 : What’s one small thing that makes a big difference in your daily life with CP?

Whether it’s a helpful tool, a routine that works for you, or a simple act of kindness to yourself or others—your insights can help others in our community discover new ways to make everyday life a little easier. 💚

Share your thoughts below ⬇️

ID: A young woman wearing a pink shirt and floral leggings practices at a ballet barre in a dance studio, raising her arms with determination as an instructor supports her from behind. The text on the image reads, “Join In: What’s one small thing that makes a big difference in your daily life with CP?” The Cerebral Palsy Research Network logo appears above the text.

11/03/2025

💬 You spoke, we listened!

We recently asked: “What area of CP research do you feel deserves more attention, or would you like to hear more about?”

Your responses were insightful, motivating, and show just how passionate our community is about advancing cerebral palsy research. 💚

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on !

ID: This graphic from the Cerebral Palsy Research Network highlights responses from our community about the areas of CP research that deserve more attention — from aging and back pain to relationships, menopause, and post-anoxic CP. 💬💚

10/31/2025

Happy Halloween from all of us at the Cerebral Palsy Research Network!

10/27/2025

👏 October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)

The UNM Center for Development and Disability’s valuable resources that help advance employment access, self-determination, and opportunity. 🌟

Explore their collection and training tools to help support meaningful employment for people with disabilities.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)!

This month, we honor the contributions of workers with disabilities and advocate for integration in the workplace. At the UNM CDD Library, we’re proud to support this mission with resources that promote employment access, self-determination, and productivity.

Check out these titles from our collection:
- "The Way to Work: How to Facilitate Work Experiences for Youth in Transition" by Richard Luecking
- "Advocacy & Supported Employment for People with Disabilities" by Michael Barcus
- "Abilities at Work" (DVD)

Find more disability employment resources in our online database at NMFinder.org
- Partners for Employment Training Portal: https://www.nmfinder.org/view/resource/2746/partners-for-employment-training-portal
- Employer Assistance Referral Network (EARN): https://www.nmfinder.org/view/resource/2746/partners-for-employment-training-portal
- Getting a Job Toolkit for People with Autism: https://www.nmfinder.org/view/resource/2746/partners-for-employment-training-portal
- Vocational Skills IEP Goal Idea Bank

Don't forget to check out NM Finder's Events page as well!
- Introduction to Employment Services
- Concept to Action: Job Development Outside the Box and Beyond
- A Caregiver’s Guide to Supporting Career Development for Adults with Down Syndrome

10/23/2025

🧠💬 Upcoming Webinar: Understanding Falls in People with CP

Join us Monday, October 27 at 8pm ET as clinical scientist Liz Boyer, PhD, shares findings from her study, “Consequences of Falls in Individuals with Cerebral Palsy.”

Based in part on data from our MyCP Community Registry, this research explores how falls change as people with CP age and how mobility methods—such as walking or wheeling—affect fall risk. Our community members with lived experience (people with CP or their families) helped shape the study, interpret results, and plan how to share the findings.

Dr. Boyer’s goal: to develop practical tools for fall-risk screening, prevention, and safe-fall techniques, while also addressing the physical and social barriers that contribute to fall risk and stigma.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how research and community insight are coming together to create more supportive and inclusive environments for people with CP.

Register Today: https://cprn.org/new-research-webinar-consequences-of-falls-in-individuals-with-cerebral-palsy/

ID: Graphic promoting a live webinar titled “Consequences of Falls in Individuals with Cerebral Palsy.” Features speaker Dr. Liz Boyer, PhD and includes the date Monday, October 27th at 8PM ET | 5PM PT. Design includes green, gray, and pink accents with the CP Research Network logo at the bottom.

10/20/2025

Everyday researchers and clinicians at the CP Research Network are improving health outcomes and wellbeing across the lifespan. 🌱 Whether you’re starting the week with a slow stretch or a gym workout, people with CP can have varying levels of activity and needs from day to day depending on their symptoms such as pain and fatigue. Activity will also vary from person to person depending on how CP affects their body and how they move. Some people walk, some people roll and other people may do a combination of both! 💚

10/17/2025

📢 Live from the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy & Developmental Medicine (AACPDM) Meeting!

Yesterday, during the AACPDM meeting, the CP Research Network hosted a special mid-year research update — bringing together our leaders, researchers, and community members both in-person and via Zoom.

Joyce Trost, PT, PhD, our VP of Research & Quality Improvement, shared a comprehensive mid-year report highlighting our research accomplishments, ongoing projects, and opened discussion around shaping our strategic direction for the next five years.

The research presented is made possible through a combination of funding from the CP Research Network, partner CP organizations, and external grants. These studies are actively being executed through our collaborative network of clinicians, institutions, and community stakeholders.

We’re proud to support research that reflects the real-world needs of the CP community. 💚🧠

10/16/2025

📍 We’re live at the 2025 American Academy for Cerebral Palsy & Developmental Medicine (AACPDM) Meeting!

Our team — including Joyce Trost, Vice President of Research and Quality Improvement — is proud to represent the CP Research Network and unveil our new Adult CP Toolkit for the first time to physicians, therapists, and community attendees!

We’re excited to share our resources and connect with professionals dedicated to improving health outcomes for people with cerebral palsy.

Stop by our booth and learn how we’re advancing research and care across the lifespan!

To access our toolkits: https://cprn.org/our-toolkits/

ID: Joyce Trost smiles while seated at the Cerebral Palsy Research Network booth at the 2025 AACPDM Meeting. The booth features a large CP Research Network banner, brochures, tote bags, and information about the new Adult CP Toolkit.

10/15/2025

💡 Thinking about living more independently?

If you or someone you know is living with a disability and wants to explore independent living, this FREE virtual session from Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute's Community Transition Trainers (CTT) could be a great resource!

Hear from people with lived experiences, ask questions, and learn about your options for living in the community. 🌟

📅 Thursday, October 30
⏰ 1:00 – 2:00 PM
💻 Online via Zoom
🔗 Register here: https://tinyurl.com/3w5a6kup

💡 Looking for more tools to support adults with cerebral palsy? Check out the CPRN Adult Toolkit for tips on independent living, health, and community resources: https://cprn.org/the-adult-cerebral-palsy-tool-kit/

Are you or someone you know living with disabilities and thinking about living alone or becoming more independent?

Join MI-DDI’s Community Transition Trainers (CTT) for a FREE virtual session designed specifically for people with disabilities who want to explore independent living. Whether you're planning to move out, looking for more control in your current living situation, or just want to learn about your options, this session is for you!

Hear from others with lived experiences, ask questions, and get helpful insights on living in the community.

Thursday, October 30th
1:00 – 2:00 PM
Online via Zoom

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/3w5a6kup

[Alt Text] Flyer for the Community Transition Trainers online workshop. The top section has the title 'Community Transition Trainers' in large green text with a simple green house icon on a black background. Below is a photo of a man with a disability standing in a kitchen, holding a mug and looking out the window. Text at the bottom reads: 'Online workshop on living independently with a disability. October 30th, 1–2 PM.' The logo for MI-DDI (Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute) appears in the lower right corner.