UP Co-Founder and CEO, Emma Livingstone, recently gave the keynote address at the CP-Achieve Symposium in Australia. Here are her reflections:
I’ve just returned from an incredibly energising trip to Australia, where I had the honour of delivering a keynote at the CP-Achieve Symposium—a landmark event marking the end of a five-year Centre of Research Excellence (CRE) focused on improving the lives of adolescents and young adults with cerebral palsy (CP).
A huge congratulations to Professor Dinah Reddihough, whose expert leadership not only guided the CP-Achieve project but also created a powerful platform for collaboration, critical thinking, and meaningful change. Her vision was evident in every part of the symposium, which brought together researchers, clinicians, lived experience experts, and policy leaders in a shared commitment to lifelong inclusion.
One of the standout features of CP-Achieve has been its deep commitment to knowledge translation. From the outset, this wasn’t just a research project—it was a movement. Every step was underpinned by the question: How do we turn research into real-world impact? Whether through co-designed resources, training tools, or changes to service models, CP-Achieve has shown how translation can be embedded at every level of research.
What’s more, the team provided a clear example of how to centre the patient voice in a way that enhances knowledge, deepens understanding, and drives meaningful change—never as a token gesture, but as a fundamental and respected part of the process. The young people and families involved weren’t just consulted; they were collaborators, thought leaders, and catalysts.
My final reflections at the event centred around a few key learnings:
🔹 We must support individuals across all stages of life to enable full participation.
🔹 Adult services should embrace habilitation models that promote independence and lifelong engagement.
🔹 Co-morbidities like pain, fatigue, and anxiety are major barriers to participation—and must be addressed.
🔹 Inclusive community participation must be a priority for all, regardless of GMFCS levels.
🔹 And above all—we need to keep asking questions that stretch us: How do we build systems that truly include, value, and empower disabled people across the lifespan?
But perhaps the most powerful takeaway for me were the sparked by the rich discussions and insights throughout the symposium:
❓How can we better support transitions into adulthood while keeping the whole person at the centre?
❓ How do we highlight and celebrate best practices to inspire wider systems change?
❓ How can we make inclusion not just a value, but a reality in higher education, employment, and everyday life?
❓ How do we bring this knowledge into training programs, shaping the clinicians and allies of tomorrow?
❓ And how can we build a global movement that reframes disability as something visible, valued, and vital to our shared humanity?
As the CP-Achieve team now awaits news on their application for a new CRE to extend this work into adulthood (18+), I want to wish them every success. The work you’ve already done is transformational, and I have no doubt that what comes next will continue to raise the bar.
Thank you again for the opportunity to join you. I left feeling hopeful, challenged, and incredibly inspired.