Four Job Support Resources for People with Cerebral Palsy

A big misconception about cerebral palsy is that some think improvement is not possible in the lives of people with the disorder. Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that affects the brain and nervous system. It appears in infancy or early childhood and can affect the ability to control movement, maintain balance and coordinate muscles. Did you know actor R.J. Mitte from Breaking Bad and comedians Geri Jewell and Chris Fonseca have cerebral palsy?

Though CP can be difficult to manage, support is available for those who have it and want to work. If you have cerebral palsy and receive Social Security disability benefits, there are job resources available to help as you explore your employment options. In honor of National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month, the Ticket to Work program shares the following employment resources for those with cerebral palsy.

•    Find Help Tool - Some service providers, such as certain affiliates of United Cerebral Palsy, offer job support resources just for people with CP. Use the Find Help Tool on choosework.net to search for a service provider like United Cerebral Palsy near you. Type in your zip code and click "Search." You can refine your search to browse service providers that may offer services for people with CP by selecting, "Developmental Disabilities" under "Disabilities" on the left-hand side of the page.

•    Assistive technology - Assistive technology can open doors for people with CP, especially in the workplace. The UCP Elsie S. Bellows Fund provides grants for those with CP and their families buying or repairing assistive technology equipment. Contact your local UCP affiliate or the national office (info@ucp.org) for more information on how to apply for funding. You can also read this Choose Work Blog post for more tips on how to obtain assistive technology.

•    Job accommodations - Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act states that employers must provide reasonable job accommodations to qualified applicants or employees with disabilities. This includes people with cerebral palsy. Job accommodations are changes made to a job or work place. These changes allow someone with a disability to do their job duties. Accommodations may include supports such as assistive technology, changes to work settings, or adjusted work schedules. Figuring out how to ask for accommodations? Use these accommodations ideas and resources from the Job Accommodation Network for people with CP.

What job support resources would you recommend to someone with cerebral palsy? Post in the comments below.

To learn more about how Ticket to Work can help you find or maintain financial independence, call 1-866-968-7842 (V) or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY).