In this episode of The Cerebral Palsy Perspective, Chad Williams and co-host Daryl Perry are joined by cerebral palsy advocate, author, motivational speaker, and support group founder Shaniah Gunter.

Shaniah shares her experience growing up with cerebral palsy, which affects both of her legs, wearing AFO braces, having a learning disability, and navigating an IEP throughout school. She also opens up about experiencing bullying, struggling with low self-esteem, comparing herself to other people, and eventually learning to become more confident in who she is.

A major part of Shaniah's story is refusing to allow other people's expectations to determine what's possible for her. Despite people questioning whether she would graduate with a regular diploma, she did. Today, at 24, she's using those experiences to encourage other people through motivational speaking, advocacy, life coaching, her support group, and her work as an author.

Shaniah also discusses the importance of parents advocating for children with disabilities. She shares how much her mother's involvement and encouragement meant throughout her childhood and encourages parents to participate in IEP meetings, understand their child's needs, and continue advocating for the support that can help them succeed.

Faith is also central to Shaniah's life and message. She explains how her relationship with God helped her stop being afraid of who she was, develop confidence, find purpose in her experiences, and begin sharing her story with other people.

Throughout the conversation, we talk about disability, education, employment, family support, self-confidence, faith, advocacy, and the importance of moving through life at your own pace.

Shaniah's message is simple.

Don't give up because you're different. Don't look down on yourself because your life doesn't look like somebody else's. Keep going at your own pace and continue becoming who you're meant to be.

Connect With Shaniah Gunter

Find Shaniah Gunter's Books on Amazon:

https://us.amazon.com/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_book_4?ie=UTF8&field-author=Shaniah+Gunter&text=Shaniah+Gunter&sort=relevancerank&search-alias=books

Follow Shaniah on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/mybabygunter/

Connect With Shaniah on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/shaniah.gunter

Connect With the Hosts

Follow Chad Williams on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/chadwillia1/

Follow Daryl Perry on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/daryltperry/

Sometimes the biggest impact begins with one simple decision.

In this episode, Chad Williams and I are joined by Vito, founder of Strides for Gianluca, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness for cerebral palsy while supporting individuals, families, research, and community initiatives through running events and fundraising.

Vito shares how his son's cerebral palsy inspired him to combine his love of running with a mission to give back. From local 5Ks to the New York City Marathon, charity hockey games, and community partnerships, Strides for Gianluca continues to grow while bringing people together around a shared purpose.

We also reflect on meeting at the Spring Lake Five Mile Run, discuss why community matters so much in the cerebral palsy world, and talk about how one person's passion can create opportunities for countless others.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The story behind Strides for Gianluca

• Raising awareness for cerebral palsy through running

• Supporting families, research, and community initiatives

• The Spring Lake Five Mile experience and why it has become such a meaningful event

• Organizing races, charity events, and fundraising throughout the year

• The upcoming Cerebral Palsy Awareness 5K and virtual race

• How community partnerships help expand awareness

• Why every conversation about cerebral palsy helps make a difference

Whether you're part of the cerebral palsy community, a runner looking for a meaningful cause, or someone who believes in using your passions to make a positive impact, I think you'll enjoy hearing Vito's story and learning about the incredible work Strides for Gianluca is doing.

Learn More About Strides for Gianluca

Website

https://strides4gianluca.com/

Follow Strides for Gianluca

https://strides4gianluca.com/follow-us-on-social-media/

Charity Hockey Game

https://strides4gianluca.com/charitygame/

Cerebral Palsy Awareness 5K & Virtual Race Registration

https://runsignup.com/Race/NJ/Hamilton/CerebralPalsyAwareness5K

The Doing Hard Things My Way 5K is back for its second year, and we're excited to share what makes this event so special.

In this episode of the Cerebral Palsy Perspective Podcast, Chad and Daryl discuss the inspiration behind the annual Doing Hard Things My Way 5K, how it grew from a personal running journey into a community-focused event, and why inclusion remains at the center of everything it represents.

What started as an idea to give back through the running community has evolved into an opportunity for people from all walks of life to come together, get active, and support one another. Whether you run, walk, jog, roll, or participate in your own way, this event is designed to meet you where you are.

Chad shares how the race came to life, the impact of last year's event, and the partnership with Cerebral Palsy Strong. Daryl discusses how the event aligns with the Your Level Fitness philosophy of creating accessible opportunities for movement and community.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The origin of the Doing Hard Things My Way 5K

• How running became a life-changing part of Chad's journey

• Why inclusive fitness opportunities matter

• The benefits of a virtual race format

• How participants can complete the event from anywhere

• Building community through movement and shared experiences

• The role of social media in connecting participants

• Race week details, team participation, and event goals

The 2026 Doing Hard Things My Way 5K takes place from August 30 through September 5, giving participants an entire week to complete their 5K in whatever way works best for them.

Ready to join us?

Sign up here:

https://runsignup.com/Race/Register/RaceGroup-1?raceId=187209

Whether you're participating individually, joining a team, or creating your own, we'd love to have you be part of this year's event.

Use #DoingHardThingsMyWay and #CerebralPalsyStrong during race week to share your experience and connect with the community.

Thank you for listening, and we'll talk to you again next week.