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March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month

Posted on February 24th, 2026 News

Every year, March is dedicated to spreading awareness about cerebral palsy. March 2026 marks 20 years of this important awareness month!

Take a look at the infographic below for an overview of cerebral palsy facts and figures.

Health Awareness

Cerebral
Palsy

Key facts, statistics & insights about the most common
motor disability in childhood

1 in 345

Children in the U.S. has Cerebral Palsy

Approximately 764,000 children and adults in the United States live with one or more symptoms of cerebral palsy — making it the most prevalent childhood physical disability.

Prevalence & Diagnosis

17M
People with CP worldwide
350M affected including families
2–3
per 1,000 live births globally
Prevalence rate worldwide
10K
New cases diagnosed each year in the U.S.
Plus 1,200–1,500 pre-school age children
35%
More common in premature babies
Born before 37 weeks gestation

Types of Cerebral Palsy

Spastic CP
80%
Dyskinetic CP
6%
Ataxic CP
6%
Mixed Type
8%
58%

Can walk independently

More than half of people with CP can walk without assistance. About 11% use hand-held mobility devices, and 31% use a wheelchair.

1 in 2

Experience intellectual disability

Roughly 50% of children with CP have an associated intellectual disability. CP affects each person differently — many have typical or above-average intelligence.

Common Co-occurring Conditions

⚡
41% of children with CP have co-occurring epilepsy
👁️
28% experience vision impairment — the most common sensory disability in CP
🗣️
25% are non-verbal — communication augmentation is critical to quality of life
😴
1 in 4 children with CP have a sleep disorder, affecting development and wellbeing
🍽️
Over 40% experience feeding and swallowing difficulties requiring ongoing support
🧠
Up to 75% live with chronic pain, often undertreated

Causes & Risk Factors

🤰
About 85–90% of cases are congenital — caused by brain damage occurring before or during birth
👶
Low birth weight (under 5.5 lbs) is a significant risk factor — the lower the weight, the higher the risk
🦠
Infections during pregnancy (rubella, cytomegalovirus) can cause CP by damaging the developing brain
⚕️
Acquired CP (after birth) accounts for 10–15% of cases, often from injury, meningitis, or stroke

Sources: CDC, United Cerebral Palsy (UCP), Cerebral Palsy Alliance, American Academy of Pediatrics. This infographic is for educational purposes.

Additional Resources

Types of Cerebral Palsy

More Information

Legal & Financial

External Sources