Celebrating Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month

March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month! Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a permanent condition that affects movement, balance and posture. It can range from mild to severe and can affect vision, speech and other functions.

Although it is the most common motor disability in childhood, CP is still widely misunderstood because it is so complex. Non-profit organizations around the world have responded by partnering to raise awareness of CP and to help people look beyond the disability.

Meet Shileta!

In honor of Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month, we introduce you to Shileta. Shileta is a Ticket to Work (Ticket) program participant with CP who has made a career out of guiding other young people with disabilities through self-discovery and life planning. With help from the Ticket program and mentors in her own life, Shileta was able to connect her passion for mentoring with a rewarding career. Read her success story today!

Accommodations for People with CP

Job seekers with CP can succeed with the right supports, such as mentors, training and education, and reasonable workplace accommodations. Reasonable accommodations are changes to a job, workplace or work process that help you perform required tasks in your role. You can talk with your employer about changes that will help ensure your success on the job.

Check out the Accommodation and Compliance Series: Employees with Cerebral Palsy (CP) from the Job Accommodation Network to learn more about workplace supports for employees with CP.

As you explore work, you may have questions about performing certain job duties or tasks. To make sure your needs are met, think about these important questions to ask yourself and employers:

• Can I telecommute?
• Is it possible to take additional breaks?
• Can the job requirements be changed to accommodate tasks I can’t perform?
• Can the current workstation or workspace be modified?
• Is the required technology available to perform the job?

The Ticket program has a variety of service providers that can help you consider these questions. Visit the Find Help tool to search for a service provider today.