CP Social 2022 - Outdoor Edition
Below is an excerpt from an previous entry about our second CP Social held in 2022, where we originally planned to meet at Kelly Point Park in Portland, OR but due to extreme heat, we moved indoors and made the most of our short time together —
The CP Social is a community-building event for young adults with cerebral palsy and their family & friends — a celebratory meeting place where those who identify with #CPstrong and disability can gather to connect in person but also to explore topics and address issues that are important to our community.
We'll host an informal dialogue, chat about all things CP, share food & drink, and have FUN! For those who are inclined, there'll be plenty of space to wander, hike around, and explore the wilderness of this beautiful public park, but we'll also have a dedicated place to chill in our reserved picnic area. There will be some seating available and light food & drinks provided. Bring your favorite chair or blankets to sit on and we'll take care of the rest! For those who don't want the fun to end, or can't make it to the outdoor gathering, we'll meet back up at Arc'teryx PDX for an evening happy hour after-hours.
In 2021, Arc'teryx granted us the opportunity to bring our CP Social outdoors, "so everyone can experience the transformative power of nature." Historically, many marginalized communities, especially people with disabilities, have been excluded from nature. Whether the barrier is cost, accessibility, cultural & social, or otherwise — there are many reasons why exclusion takes place. This is Arc'teryx's goal; to remove some of these barriers so that we can all enjoy the beauty of nature and "find Outer Peace."
Check out this short film that explores this idea.
Post-CP Social Recap: We were originally supposed to meet at a more remote, outdoor location where we could share in the experience of enjoying nature together but the climate had other plans with 100+ degree heat... while many outdoor spaces remain inaccessible, I think there's still value in talking about the idea that being outdoors doesn’t necessarily mean hitting the trail or being active —
Much like disability, there's a slowness to nature. It can provide a space for growth and quiet contemplation. It can be whatever you want it to be. Both ideas for how we "exist" in nature are personally transformative, but the latter is not grounded in the idea that the outdoors belong to non-disabled people — all bodies belong in nature.
Our afternoon was full of rich conversation about topics that we collectively desired to discuss and questions we pondered aloud as a group —
How do you talk to other people about your CP?
How have you advocated for your healthcare needs as an adult?
What are some of the positives to life with CP?
How do you feel your CP impacts the decisions you make in life, in positive and/or negative ways?
What ways could your CP be accommodated for better, by family/friends or society?
How do adults with CP build better communities; how do we think/plan for aging with CP?
Building community and connections between people with CP and other disabilities.
Parenting with CP
After we explored some of these questions in the safety of air conditioning, we migrated over to Arc’teryx Portland in Nob Hill and enjoyed some snacks, drinks and conversation! For some who didn’t want the night to end, we had a late-night snack at McMenamin’s across the street.
There’s something I haven’t put in writing yet about these early CP Social events but I think it’s because it’s hard to articulate and express the level of gratitude and sense of belonging I feel when I’m among others with cerebral palsy or other disabilities. There’s an unspoken bond between us all — a lifetime of understanding our shared experiences, challenges, and fears about the unknown. It’s an emotional experience to be in a room full of disabled people, our allies, and friends. It’s emotional for me, because I didn’t have this community growing up. Many of us felt isolated and alone in our experience but that’s all changing. We’re building the community we want to belong to and creating space for our future selves to exist in. One that’s supportive, inspired, and kind.
Our CP Social events represent a culmination of this work — and it’s a beautiful thing to witness. I’m dreaming big and I hope you’ll join me for the journey.
Thank you to everyone who came out for this event, and thank you to Arc’teryx for sponsoring this experience and hosting us in their retail space. Learn more about their community grant program now known as, No Wasted Days
