March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness and celebrate the lives of individuals living with cerebral palsy (CP). It’s an opportunity for all of us to better understand the condition, challenge misconceptions, and work toward a more inclusive society. As we reflect on the lives of those living with CP, it is important to recognize their achievements, strength, and resilience. One such person is Meghan Forte, an accomplished writer who lives daily with cerebral palsy. Through her work in literature and media, Meghan challenges the stereotypes surrounding CP and advocates for a world where disabled people are represented accurately and inclusively.
Meghan’s Journey: Strength, Resilience, and Community
Meghan Forte’s story is one of perseverance. “I have a physical disability and neurological disorder called cerebral palsy, which affects movement, including both fine and gross motor skills,” Meghan explains. “For me, this means that using my legs and lower body muscles can sometimes be challenging.” Like many people with CP, Meghan’s journey involves a combination of ongoing therapy, resilience, and self-advocacy. “To maintain my mobility and muscle strength, I attend physical therapy sessions each week as part of my ongoing treatment plan,” she shares.
Though the physical challenges of CP are real, Meghan’s outlook on life has always focused on the connections she has made and the opportunities she has seized. “One aspect of my journey that I always cherish is the social connections I’ve made within the disability community,” Meghan notes. “Growing up, I looked forward to attending summer camps specifically designed for people with disabilities. The camp counselors’ main goal was to ensure that we, as campers, had fun while being safe. These experiences allowed me to participate in activities I might not always have access to at home—things like singing, dancing, camp-wide scavenger hunts, and, most importantly, forming lifelong friendships.”
Through her college years, Meghan’s determination to succeed remained strong despite the physical demands. “College was a great experience for me. It was really physically demanding, but I also wanted to push myself to continue and achieve a higher education,” she recalls. Today, she proudly works in her community, using her education and experiences to advocate for disability inclusion.
A Career That Breaks Barriers
Meghan’s career as a writer further challenges societal views of people living with disabilities. “I studied at a small university in New Jersey. Originally, I wanted to focus on working with children, so I majored in Teaching with English Literature. I still work within the education industry, and I am also honored to be a writer,” she shares. Meghan’s work spans multiple genres, from contributing to Social Lifestyle Magazine to authoring children’s books. “My hope is that the children’s book I wrote will inspire teachers to promote kindness and friendship among all children,” she explains. “We all have different interests or abilities when we are still learning at an elementary or preschool level. However, with the right teaching tools, we can also learn kindness and empathy at the same time.”
Her focus on inclusivity also extends to her work in entertainment. As someone deeply invested in the media, Meghan is passionate about the way disability is portrayed on-screen. “I feel like the representation of people with disabilities in today’s entertainment industry has become much more positive compared to when I was growing up,” Meghan says, acknowledging the progress made in recent years. “More people now recognize disability-related awareness months, and individuals with disabilities are increasingly being featured in commercials, movies, and even in products like Barbie dolls.”
However, she also highlights areas where improvement is needed. “One thing I would personally change is the frequent portrayal of disabled characters experiencing tragedy or death,” Meghan observes. “While I understand that these storylines can be valid and reflective of some people’s experiences, it often feels like characters with disabilities are disproportionately given tragic endings. For example, in Simon Birch, Simon passes away, and in Of Mice and Men, Lennie is shot. Why do these characters so often meet such unfortunate fates? I would love to see more stories where people with disabilities thrive, succeed, and lead fulfilling lives—just as they do in reality.”
Meghan believes the solution lies in offering more opportunities for people with disabilities in media. “More people who have and live with disability should be cast and/or work behind the scenes more in film and literature,” she advocates. “I appreciate shows like Speechless and Breaking Bad, along with models like Ellie Goldstein—the first model with Down syndrome to be featured in British Vogue—because they’re making a real impact. It’s inspiring to see this shift because, when I was younger, I didn’t often see people with disabilities in mainstream media. Now, younger generations can grow up seeing themselves represented and dreaming big.”
Empowering Change Through Awareness
Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month is a call to action—a chance to acknowledge the achievements of individuals with CP while advocating for a more inclusive world. Meghan’s personal and professional journey demonstrates that people with disabilities not only have the potential to succeed but also to make significant contributions to society.
As we reflect on this month, consider how we can all support the disability community:
- Amplify the voices of individuals like Meghan, whose experiences challenge and inspire.
- Advocate for representation in all forms of media—on screen, in literature, and beyond.
- Support policies and initiatives that foster inclusivity and accessibility for all.
The world of entertainment is shifting, and as Meghan Forte’s story shows, people living with disabilities can thrive in every area of life when given the opportunity. Let’s continue to change the narrative, ensuring that all people, regardless of their abilities, are seen, heard, and valued.
Exclusive Interview:
1. Please share a little about yourself, your disability, and your journey!
Meghan Forte: “I have a physical disability and neurological disorder called cerebral palsy, which affects movement, including both fine and gross motor skills. For me, this means that using my legs and lower body muscles (gross motor skills) can sometimes be challenging. Fine motor skills involve hand movements, and when I was younger, I worked with an occupational therapist to strengthen my hands and improve skills like tying my shoes and writing with a pencil.
Primarily, my gross motor movements are more affected. To maintain my mobility and muscle strength, I attend physical therapy sessions each week as part of my ongoing treatment plan.
One aspect of my journey that I always cherish is the social connections I’ve made within the disability community. Growing up, I looked forward to attending summer camps specifically designed for people with disabilities. The camp counselors’ main goal was to ensure that we, as campers, had fun while being safe. These experiences allowed me to participate in activities I might not always have access to at home—things like singing, dancing, camp-wide scavenger hunts, and, most importantly, forming lifelong friendships.
College was a great experience for me. It was really physically demanding, but I also wanted to push myself to continue and achieve a higher education. So, today, I can be more involved in my community.”
2. With consideration to your previous response, would you tell us about your career as a writer? Elaborate on your expert focus on entertainment & share your book/other career accomplishments!
Meghan Forte: “Thanks again, Bridget for thinking of interviewing me today. I studied at a small university in New Jersey. Originally, I wanted to focus on working with children. So, I majored in Teaching with English Literature. I still work within the education industry, and I am also honored to be a writer.
I have also been learning about additional industries for writing for Social Lifestyle Magazine, and I am also a children’s book author. My hope is that the children’s book I wrote will inspire teachers to promote kindness and friendship among all children. We all have different interests, or abilities when we are still learning at an elementary or preschool learning center. However, I feel that with the right teaching tools, we can also learn kindness and empathy at the same time.”
3) How do you feel about the way people with disabilities are represented in today’s entertainment industry? What do you like?/What do you dislike? – What would you change and how would you change it?
Meghan Forte: “I feel like the representation of people with disabilities in today’s entertainment industry has become much more positive compared to when I was growing up. However, there are still certain health conditions, levels of severity, and abilities that the general public may be less familiar with. One of the most valuable lessons I learned at camp was the importance of empathy—understanding that every person’s experience with disability is unique.
Each family’s experience with disability is different. Abilities vary from person to person, and what works for one individual might not work for another—and that’s okay.
I’m proud of how much awareness has grown over time. More people now recognize disability-related awareness months, and individuals with disabilities are increasingly being featured in commercials, movies, and even in products like Barbie dolls.
While I love films and all stories that explore the disability perspective and experience, one thing I would personally change is the frequent portrayal of disabled characters experiencing tragedy or death. While I understand that these storylines can be valid and reflective of some people’s experiences, it often feels like characters with disabilities are disproportionately given tragic endings.
For example, in Simon Birch, Simon passes away, and in Of Mice and Men, Lennie is shot. Why do these characters so often meet such unfortunate fates? I would love to see more stories where people with disabilities thrive, succeed, and lead fulfilling lives—just as they do in reality. To change the narrative, I think more people who have and live with disability should be casted and or work behind the scenes more in film and literature.
I also appreciate that more television characters with disabilities are being represented in the media. Shows like Speechless and Breaking Bad, along with models like Ellie Goldstein—the first model with Down syndrome to be featured in British Vogue—are making a real impact. It’s inspiring to see this shift because, when I was younger, I didn’t often see people with disabilities in mainstream media. Now, younger generations can grow up seeing themselves represented and are dreaming big!”
Thanks! Meghan Forte https://socialifestylemag.com/author/meghanf/
Links:
Children’s Specialized Hospital: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ugxns0hYZqo
The Girl With the Walker: https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Walker-Meghan-Forte/dp/B0CRZ3SFLJ
