Families, children and adults with CP have the same rights as everyone in the community. This includes being able to access the best healthcare and disability support, education, leisure, recreation and community spaces, and the right services that are culturally appropriate.

Most importantly, all families, children and adults with CP should feel welcomed and supported in these environments. Being acknowledged is the first step to feeling included.

Parents and other family members advocate for their child with CP often without even realising it. When you are explaining about your child’s needs to those around you and making sure they have a safe environment to be in, you are advocating on their behalf.

Sometimes, you may need help to fight for your child’s rights, and a disability advocate can support you and your child with this.

Advocacy means standing up for your rights or having someone else stand up for you (an advocate). It is speaking up about issues that affect you or others to create positive changes, like getting more support and raising awareness of an issue.

There are different types of advocacy, including:

• self-advocacy – finding information and resources from various organisations that can help you advocate on your own behalf
• family advocacy – finding organisations that can help you to advocate on a family member’s behalf
• individual advocacy – where a professional advocate provides you with support on a particular issue, such as accessing a particular service
• legal advocacy – where a professional advocate with legal experience helps you and your family with a legal issue.

Advocacy can lead to significant and positive change for children with CP and their families, and it can improve their independence and inclusion in the community.

In this section you will find more resources about inclusion for your child.