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Information for Physicians
When doctors face concerned parents who have just learned that their child has or may have cerebral palsy, they want to offer the best advice available. United Cerebral Palsy of Michigan (UCP) has been active for 56 years as a comprehensive resource for people with cerebral palsy and their families.
Physicians who diagnose cerebral palsy in young children are usually the parents’ first source of information and are therefore instrumental in referring parents to the appropriate services and supports. UCP Michigan can answer the many non-medical questions of parents. Its staff is familiar with the programs, resources and supports available throughout Michigan to help individuals with CP and their families.
UCP Michigan can provide information about or help people link with the following programs and services:
- Children’s Special Health Care Services, Early On and other programs that offer services and supports to children with disabilities;
- Accessible child care facilities, and respite care for children who can’t be cared for by an untrained babysitter;
- Special education services for children ages 4-26;
- Ways to connect with other parents of children with cerebral palsy;
- Programs such as the Family Support Subsidy and Supplemental Security Income that provide financial assistance to qualifying children and adults with disabilities;
- Assistance to get physical, occupational and speech therapies covered by insurance or paid for by government sources;
- Assistive technology devices, from simple to complex, which can help people with disabilities function more independently. UCP runs an Assistive Technology Center in the Upper Peninsula and an Assistive Technology Loan Fund, which provides loans for technology devices to people with disabilities and their families;
- Counseling to adults on Social Security Disability or SSI benefits who are worried their benefits and health care might be cut off if they work;
- How to get help modifying a house to be architecturally accessible.
UCP National maintains Research Fact Sheets that may be useful to share with patient families.
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