About Me

The Cerebral Palsy Vigilante Zachary Fenell aims to make a positive difference in others' lives.
Zachary in full vigilante gear!

Thank you for wanting to get to know more about me, you stalker! Wait! Do not click away. I am joking. I sincerely appreciate your interest. As probably well established by now either via the URL, website header, or the site copy I am Zachary Fenell, aka “The Cerebral Palsy (CP) Vigilante.” Said moniker provides a fun and quick way to say and describe my CP/disability advocacy efforts. After all, I am actively advocating multiple ways.

I am an author, blogger, speaker, Youtube creator, community facilitator, shirt designer, athlete, and the list goes on. See! Saying “Cerebral Palsy Vigilante” proves much less a mouthful. However, no matter the venture a common bond ties everything together. A drive to make a positive difference in others’ lives!

Getting Personal

My motive to make a positive difference in others’ lives extends back to my own personal experiences. Long before embracing my spastic hemiplegic CP diagnosis and becoming The Cerebral Palsy Vigilante, I displayed a different attitude and demeanor. I allowed CP to negatively impact my self-esteem, leaving me quite shy. I detail this journey from embarrassment to embrace inside my teen memoir Off Balanced.      

Once I published Off Balanced my development into The Cerebral Palsy Vigilante came naturally. To correspond alongside my memoir, I launched a CP blog. Within a year I added a Youtube channel. Eventually the opportunities to speak and tell my tale emerged. Simultaneously I continued establishing connections amid the CP and larger disability communities.

Towards 2013’s end Handicap This recruited fellow advocates John W. Quinn and myself to host a live cerebral palsy Twitter chat using the hashtag “#CPChatNow.” Quickly #CPChatNow became a weekly deal. The weekly Twitter chat continues to serve as the core to what has essentially become an online community active across various platforms. Co-hosting CPChatNow perfectly fulfills my own goal to make a positive difference in others’ lives. Actually, “goal” feels an insufficient descriptor. Purpose works better.    

Mike Berkson, Tim Wambach, and Zachary Fenell
Onstage with Mike and Tim after the two performed their show Handicap This.

Purposeful

Making a positive difference in others’ lives goes beyond a mere objective I wish to complete. Rather I am driven to help where possible. Perhaps that means finishing marathons, stimulating people to rethink the seemingly “impossible.” Yes, MARATHONS! Every inch along those daunting 26.2 miles!

Less dramatic yet equally powerful, I am eager to simply communicate. Happily I share my experiences living with cerebral palsy. Heck, to the extent I worry someone might yell “SHUT UP ALREADY!” A request I am ready to grant so I can instead listen to you. Whether you seek advice or just need to vent, I am one message away. Hopefully afterwards you feel less alone.    

Besides diffusing isolation, I aspire to boost confidences. Give you assurances, enabling you to move around feeling confident. Assurances and the gear to wear your pride! The latter speaks to the intentions behind my t-shirt designs encouraging “Run, walk, roll, limp, however you move, MOVE!” and educating “Normal is a myth.”

Join the Fight!

Admittedly I am nothing without you. Through reading my writing, you supply power to my words. Albeit watching my Youtube videos or enlisting me to speak at your school or organization, you assist expanding my audience. Similarly, wearing a “However you move” or “Normal is a myth” shirt you create an echo, further spreading the uplifting messages I aim to instill.

My younger brother and I proudly wearing our "Normal is a myth" shirts.
Alongside my brother Nick, the artist who created the “Normal is a Myth” shirt design.

Considering the above I must ask. Please join my fight to dispel cerebral palsy misconceptions and furthermore positively impact the CP community. Like my Facebook page. Follow me on Instagram and Twitter. Connect on Linked In. Subscribe to my Youtube channel. Finally subscribe to my blog here. Use the form below. Thank you!

As always remember. Don’t blend in. Blend out!

-Zachary

Like What You Just Read?

Subscribe and get new blog posts sent straight to your email inbox.

1.Fill in your email address and hit “Subscribe!”

2. Check your email for a confirmation notice. Open and follow instructions to confirm your subscription.

5 responses on “About Me

  1. David Nemec

    Born with cerebral palsy my mother was told I would never walk or go to college. I was accepted to law school ,won a state power lifting title against men without a handicap.
    and retired as a domestic violence probation officer and I’m interested in writing a book. You input is appreciated.

  2. Jordan Richardson

    Hi I’m Jordan. I’m 21 and I have epilepsy cerebral palsy and speech problems. I was thinking about being a club for those have cerebral palsy. If you wanna help with that. Email me at the email attached to the comment.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.