Introducing Creating Connections: Bringing Evidence-Based Cerebral Palsy Education to Communities Across the Country
Healthcare professionals working in community settings play a critical role in the lives of people with cerebral palsy — but access to specialized education and expert guidance isn’t always easy to find.
That’s why the Cerebral Palsy Foundation is launching Creating Connections, a new continuing education initiative designed to bring practical, evidence-based cerebral palsy education directly to local communities.
Developed in partnership with leading clinical and academic centers across the Cerebral Palsy Foundation network, each one-day Creating Connections program connects community-based providers with multidisciplinary experts in cerebral palsy care. Participants leave with practical tools they can immediately apply in everyday practice while building stronger connections to local specialist services, research, and resources.
Whether you work in early intervention, rehabilitation, primary care, education, or adult services, Creating Connections is designed to help strengthen cerebral palsy care across the lifespan.
What You’ll Learn
Each program is tailored to the needs of its local community while focusing on core principles of evidence-based cerebral palsy care. Participants will:
- Strengthen knowledge of evidence-based care across the lifespan
- Translate current research into everyday clinical practice
- Build skills to address the changing needs of children, adolescents, and adults with cerebral palsy
- Learn alongside multidisciplinary experts and local colleagues
- Strengthen connections between community providers, specialist services, and CPF network sites
Continuing Education certificates will be available following completion of the post-course evaluation.
Who Should Attend?
Creating Connections is designed for professionals supporting people with cerebral palsy in community settings, including:
- Physical and occupational therapists
- Speech-language pathologists
- Physicians
- Nurses and advanced practice providers
- Early intervention providers
- Social workers
- Educators
- Rehabilitation professionals
- Other members of the multidisciplinary care team
Upcoming Events
Creating Connections: Team Care in Pediatric Disabilities
Saturday, September 26, 2026
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Co-hosted by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM), and the Cerebral Palsy Foundation, this one-day course focuses on practical, multidisciplinary care for children with cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities.
Participants can choose from four educational tracks covering early detection, assessment, movement disorders, clinical decision-making, and complex care, while learning from regional, national, and international experts — including Professor Iona Novak and Dr. Cathy Morgan.
Registration includes:
- Free Tickets to the AACPDM annual meeting welcome reception and product exhibition hall at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown on Sunday, Sept. 27th ($50 value)
- Selection of Implementation Skill-Based Workshops
- Limited sessions of Training Opportunities for the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE) and Cerebral Palsy Early Detection for Nurses
- Networking Opportunities with Local, National and International Experts
- Learn more about the AACPDM multidisciplinary professional organization and benefits of membership
- Breakfast and Lunch
- Continuing Education Credit
This continuing education has been approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners for 6.75 (6.75 GEN, 0.00 DA) CE hours.
A Cerebral Palsy Foundation Certificate of Attendance is available to verify hours of participation up to 6.75 hours for attendees who engage in this professional development activity.
Creating Connections: Lifespan Care
Saturday, October 24, 2026
Riverview Terrace, Vivian and Seymour Milstein Family Heart Center
New York-Presbyterian Hospital
Presented in partnership with the Weinberg Family Cerebral Palsy Center, this unique program explores cerebral palsy care across every stage of life.
The morning continuing education program offers three clinical learning tracks focused on early childhood, school-age care, and adulthood, with sessions covering topics including early diagnosis, genetics, orthopedic care, spasticity and dystonia management, mental health, adult musculoskeletal care, and preventive healthcare.
There will be a complimentary lunch hosted by the Weinberg Family Cerebral Palsy Center with the prestigious Lindenauer Lecture starting at 1pm.
Following lunch, the program expands into Cerebral Palsy Connect, bringing together healthcare professionals, individuals with cerebral palsy, families, researchers, and community organizations for an afternoon of education, discussion, and connection. Together, participants will explore emerging topics such as AI in healthcare, multidisciplinary care, and navigating treatment decisions across the lifespan.
- Continuing Education Credit
The Cerebral Palsy Foundation is recognized by the New York State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners to approve up to 4.5 CE hours.
A Cerebral Palsy Foundation Certificate of Attendance is available to verify hours of participation up to 4.5 hours for attendees who engage in this professional development activity.
Creating Connections is about bringing the entire CP community together: connecting clinical expertise with lived experience, evidence with practical decision-making, and families with the people and resources that can support them throughout their lifespan.
We hope you’ll join us at an upcoming event and become part of a growing community committed to advancing evidence-based cerebral palsy care.