Financial impact of raising a child with Cerebral Palsy

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Charles E. Gluckstein /
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Financial impact of raising a child with Cerebral Palsy

In this blog post, I explain how the cost of care for children with Cerebral Palsy, which can appear deceptively manageable initially, starts to add up. I survey programs that help cover some of these costs and highlight how some parents must fundraise to pay for what's not covered. Finally, I suggest why launching a birth injury lawsuit, if you are eligible, can make an enormous difference to your life and your child's life.

When a parent first learns that their newborn or infant may have Cerebral Palsy, they usually focus on ensuring their loved one receives early interventions to assist in their growth, development, and pain management. In short, various therapies are the most significant initial expense.

As your child ages, the need for specialized equipment increases – and so do costs.

In addition to special tax credits, there are government programs every parent of a child with cerebral palsy should know about. While these programs will rarely provide all that you and your child need, they will help defray the cost of some of your expenses.

The Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities Program provides low to moderate-income families between $25 to $580 per month to help with disability-related costs. Funds are distributed based on income, family size, the severity of a child's disability, and extraordinary expenses related to the disability.

The Ontario Assistive Devices Program covers 75% of most equipment and supplies. Usually, the supplier bills the program for its portion of the cost of the device and the applicant pays the remaining 25% at the time of purchase. In other cases, the program sends a series of payments throughout the year to cover the cost of supplies.

The Ontario Special Services at Home program provides up to $10,000 per year to caregivers of children with special needs to cover primary caregiver relief and related supports and recreational activities to promote personal growth or development for the child. The amount an applicant receives is based on the type and amount of service your child needs, other community services available, and the kind of support they already receive. Many families tend to receive around $3,000-$4,000 per year.

The Ontario Medically Fragile Technology Dependent Children program provides funds (up to $3,973 per child for the 2022–23 fiscal year) to spend on respite care for caregivers of a medically fragile child and/or who depends on a technological device and requires round-the-clock care.

Finally, Home and Community Care Support Services, previously known as Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs), provide a certain number of hours for nursing care or personal support workers based on eligibility criteria.

If you've ever had a question about what caused your child's CP, it's worth reaching out to a lawyer. A child who acquired cerebral palsy through a medical provider's negligent breach in the standard of care may be eligible to file a claim for compensation and damages.

A medical malpractice lawsuit is not about vengeance but determining if your child deserves compensation for what happened to them.