Podcast Episode 9: Chronically Candid with Nicole Luongo
In Episode 9 of Diversability Amplified, Nicole Luongo joins Marie Dagenais-Lewis for a chronically candid conversation discussing life as an adult with Cerebral Palsy to break the stigma that it’s only a childhood condition.
“People don’t think it all the way through...generally you’re diagnosed as a child, but those kids grow up. We have lives...we are worthy...our stories are worthy, our contributions to the world are worthy.”
About our guest…
Nicole Luongo is a disability advocate and the creator behind #WhatCPLooksLike. She is dedicated to raising awareness for Cerebral Palsy (CP) + selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR), a life-changing surgery for adults (like herself) and children with CP.
Here’s a little taste of her advocacy efforts throughout the years…
In 2021, she started a campaign to get the White House to light up in green on March 25 for National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day. Her efforts led to a tweet that has 60K+ views. This sparked a movement, and a Change.org campaign which received 40K+ signatures in less than two months.
In 2019, she created the Go Green for CP campaign. She became the first person ever — without compensation or prior experience; this was a solo endeavor) — to secure at least one building, landmark, etc. in almost all 50 states to light up in green on National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day (March 25) and on World CP Day (October 6), with lightings in three different countries.
World CP Day was the first to feature her campaign in Cerebral Palsy is Lighting Up the World. Go Green for CP was also featured on ABC6 in Rhode Island.
In 2014, Nicole created the the hashtag #whatCPlookslike to change perceptions, raise awareness for cerebral palsy and give a voice to people thriving with disabilities, many of whom often feel invisible.
To learn more, visit www.nicoleluongo.com