Cerebral palsy is one of the most common conditions that people think of when they talk about the Canadian Disability Tax Credit and the work we do at Canadian Disability Benefits. While we feel it’s important for people to understand that benefits are available for a wide array of both mental and physical disabilities, there is no doubt that cerebral palsy makes up a large portion of our business. If you are caring for someone with cerebral palsy and are not currently receiving Canadian Disability Benefits, we can help you collect up to $35,000 right away.

What is a Cerebral Palsy?

Many people have a specific mental picture of what cerebral palsy is and what it looks like, but it is actually a blanket term for a large number of non-contagious and non-progressing conditions which affect the cerebrum and cause a physical disability. Medical and scientific consensus states that cerebral palsy is not genetic and that most cases happen at or very near the time of birth. However, in a minority of cases the damage or defect within the cerebrum may occur at any time during the pregnancy or even up to 3 years of age.

Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy

According the most widely accepted definition of cerebral palsy, the symptoms can include almost any physical disability which is caused by damage to the cerebrum either before, during or shortly after birth. In the vast majority of cases this includes abnormalities in posture and muscle development which limit physical activity. Additionally, due to the damage inflicted upon the motor control center of the brain, normal movement may be impaired even if there is no major physical defect in the musculature or skeletal system.

While there is no cure for cerebral palsy and many who suffer from it will require lifelong care, new procedures and treatments have shown significant progress in both the prevention of cerebral palsy and in limiting the severity of the disease’s symptoms. Regardless of the level of disability caused by cerebral palsy, it is going to cause significant hardships over the course of your life even in its mildest forms.

How Canadian Disability Benefits Helps

A 2003 study in the United States showed that the average lifetime cost of caring for someone with cerebral palsy is just shy of a million dollars. No matter how much money you make, that kind of expense is almost guaranteed to cause a financial hardship unless you receive some outside help. Canadian Disability Benefits can help you through the application process and make sure you collect the maximum benefits that you are entitled to. Give us a call today for your free consultation and to learn more about the difference the Canadian Disability Tax Credit program can make in your life.