I’m a Cerebral Palsy Warrior. What’s Your Superpower?

My name is David LeBaron. I am on the board of directors as the community service coordinator and the young adult representative for Circle of Friends and I have Cerebral Palsy. The Month of March is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month. National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month started in March of 2006. Cerebral Palsy is the most common motor disability of a child. 50-60% of children and adults can walk independently. About 75-85% Spasic Cerebral Palsy. Cerebral Palsy is typically diagnosed during the first or second year after birth. If symptoms are mild, it is difficult to determine or diagnose until the child is a few years older. The specifics of how Cerebral Palsy is caused are typically unknown.  

Living with Cerebral Palsy is particularly challenging. I work full-time in the Publix Bakery, and I am working towards becoming a manager. When I work, I use a lot of my hand-eye coordination and am not extremely fast when it comes to packing. My hand-eye coordination improves each time I package some of the baked goods. Even though I have Cerebral Palsy I do not let it bring me down. I see it as an ability to keep on going and overcome more challenges. Cerebral Palsy affects me in many ways. I have short-term and long-term memory loss. I lack muscles in my hands and back. When I was in school it was a challenge when it came down to learning. I had a challenging time trying to concept the lesson and my tests. Despite these challenges, I became an Eagle Scout on September 26th, 2013, I have a job, a car, and an incredible girlfriend, Maddie. 

My disability does not define me or deter me from my goals. One day, I hope to own my own home and live independently, become a manager for Publix, and eventually get married. Cerebral Palsy may shape parts of my journey, but it does not dictate its course.

So let us embrace this month not just as a time for awareness, but as a celebration of triumph over adversity. Together, let us foster a world where individuals of all abilities are empowered to follow their dreams, defy expectations, and rewrite the narrative of what it means to live with a disability.