| Children with cerebral palsy are eligible for a number of | | | | TechGuide website offers low-interest, technology |
| federal and state benefit programs -- from Social | | | | loans and state grants to help kids with spastic |
| Security and Medicaid to reduced rent and low-interest | | | | cerebral palsy get the necessary medical devices they |
| loans for technology devices to assist them. Dealing | | | | need. |
| with cerebral palsy can be challenging for families, | | | | New mothers who need to take time off from work |
| especially since the child will need so many services, | | | | to care for their child are eligible for supplemental |
| such as doctors, surgeons, physical therapists, | | | | income (50-60% of their standard salary) from |
| occupational therapists, speech pathologists, dental | | | | Temporary Disability Insurance for up to 12 months. |
| hygienists and mental health counselors. Luckily, help is | | | | Once your child reaches school age, the Individual |
| just around the corner. | | | | Education Plan (through the Individuals with Disabilities |
| Your first stop for financial aid for your cerebral palsy | | | | Act) can provide your child with a team of therapists |
| child should be to apply for Social Security benefits. If | | | | and educators, as well as the proper devices to |
| you or your child has become disabled before the age | | | | ensure your child learns all he/she can. |
| of 22, then you are eligible for Adult Child Social | | | | Later in life, as the child with this disability grows into an |
| Security benefits. If your child is under 18, you can | | | | adult, he or she may decide to live on his/her own. |
| apply for Supplemental Security Income benefits | | | | Through Section 8 HUD, patients with this disability can |
| through your local Social Security office. | | | | get housing assistance vouchers and reduced rent |
| Children with cerebral palsy are admitted easily to this | | | | based on their income and demonstrated need. |
| government aid program, which is designed for people | | | | Through the Krysti Bingham Cerebral Palsy Foundation, |
| with life-long disabilities or who are too old to work any | | | | eligible residents will only pay 30% of their living |
| longer. Sometimes Medicaid health insurance coverage | | | | expenses, with the rest funded through a government |
| automatically comes with SSI, but other times you | | | | grant. |
| must apply separately for these benefits. Be sure to | | | | According to the Foundation, "Too often, people in the |
| ask your SSI representative what your state's rules | | | | prime of life have been forced to live in nursing homes, |
| are. | | | | rehabilitation centers and hospitals, or at home with |
| There are other resources for those with cerebral | | | | aging parents. The KBCPF 'Hope Houses' transforms |
| palsy. For instance, the United Cerebral Palsy | | | | the lifestyle of those with this disability from one of |
| Community Resource Funds offer emergency money | | | | social isolation and dependency to one of dignity, |
| for living expenses and technological needs. The USA | | | | shared experiences and community involvement. |