Cerebral palsy is a term used to describe a group of disorders that affect a person’s ability to move and maintain balance. “Cerebral” means having to do with the brain and “palsy” relates to the weakness or problems encountered with using the muscles. Cerebral Palsy is usually caused by a problem before or during birth, and can be the direct result of medical negligence.
Raising a child with cerebral palsy can be an incredibly rewarding and beautiful experience, but it does also come with extra challenges, such as your time and money. While some people are able to live relatively normal lives with few mobility issues, others are severely disabled and will require round-the-clock care.
In the UK, leading charities have revealed that life is significantly more expensive for parents whose children have cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy solicitors can go some way to helping parents affected, especially in the monetary sense. In this article, we’ll examine some of the costs involved, and the help which may be available to parents.
What Are the Costs of Raising a Child with Cerebral Palsy?
UK charity, The Chronicle Sunshine Fund, has estimated that it costs three times more to raise a child with a disability such as Cerebral Palsy than it does a child without impairments. This is something which is, of course, a financial worry for a lot of families – particularly those that are low-income. In this section, we’ll take a look at what some of the costs entail:
Specialist Equipment
In many cases, a child with Cerebral Palsy will require a specialist wheelchair with additional features which allow them to do things for themselves and attain a small level of independence. While government help is available to purchase a wheelchair, a considerable number of extras, such as risers, are not included in this help.
This means parents have to spend a considerable amount of money on extras to make their child’s life more comfortable and independent. Often, parents will also have to pay to adapt their homes in order to ensure that their child is able to move around as safely as possible.
Electricity
Specialist equipment required for a child with Cerebral Palsy almost always runs on electricity – which means that parents of these children have been hit particularly hard by the current energy and cost of living crisis. Equipment such as a wheelchair, communication devices, and specialist beds can result in astronomical energy prices for those living with a child with a disability such as cerebral palsy. While some of this equipment is designed to enhance the child’s life, other types may be more of a necessity.
Transport
For most parents, a trip to the shops or doing the school run is a simple matter of piling everybody into the car and setting off, however, this is rarely the case for parents of children with cerebral palsy. Often, these parents will either need to buy a specialist vehicle that is suitable for a wheelchair or have a vehicle expertly adapted. In either case, there are considerable costs involved, including the running of the vehicle.
Those who are unable to drive often find that they have to secure specialist transport for their child to take them to school and back and, depending on where you live, such transport may incur costs, although some government funding is usually available.
Childcare
If one or both parents of a child with cerebral palsy have to work, this can cause significant childcare costs. Unlike children without impairments who can attend reasonably low-cost daycare facilities, children with cerebral palsy require specialist care which can be expensive. In some families, one parent may find that they are simply working to pay for their child’s care.
What Help is Available for Parents of Children with Cerebral Palsy?
In some instances, you may be eligible for financial support from your local government, and this can include:
- Financial help in purchasing aids and adaptations
- Travel costs for hospital / GP visits
- Free home care
Your local council will also be able to give you information on other services such as holiday play schemes, support groups and short break services.
Raising a Child with Cerebral Palsy
As with anybody else, the parents of a child with cerebral palsy want no more than to ensure that their child has a comfortable and rewarding life but, unfortunately, this comes at a cost. Many parents say that the problem begins with the fact that they are simply not made aware of the help that is available to them.
If you’re struggling with the financial cost of a disabled child, your first port of call should be to contact your local council to find out what help they can offer. Groups like The Chronicle Sunshine Fund can also help to point you in the direction of some great resources which can make life a little easier for you and your child.
Please be advised that this article is for general informational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for advice from a trained legal professional. Be sure to consult a medical lawyer/solicitor if you’re seeking advice on medical negligence claims. We are not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.
Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels
Photo by Meruyert Gonullu from Pexels
Photo by Pixabay from Pexels