Cerebral palsy refers to a disorder that occurs in childhood and typically remains stable throughout life. People with cerebral palsy have difficulty maintaining balance and posture and walking. They also have difficulty with fine motor skills such as writing. Cerebral palsy may cause muscles to be weak and floppy or rigid and stiff. Cerebral palsy is sometimes linked to other seizure or mental disorders. Babies born prematurely or who have birth trauma are at higher risk. Possible causes include: infections in utero or in the first few months of life, congenital defect, stroke, lack of oxygen, and severe jaundice. Therapies including occupational, speech and physical therapy are helpful in improving coordination in individuals with cerebral palsy. Symptoms that may be associated with cerebral palsy include: lowered IQ, abnormal behavior patterns, interference in communication due to speech, hearing, or visual defect, or disorganization of motor function.
In children's SSI cases Social Security will evaluate cerebral palsy based upon how it affects motor function, cognitive and communicative skills.
In order to prove your disability to Social Security, you need to either document that your condition or conditions meet or equal in severity the criteria found in the Social Security Commissioner's regulations or, if you are an adult, that your condition and symptoms are so severe that you are unable to work. If you are a child under 18, you must similarly show that your condition or conditions meet or equal in severity the criteria in the Social Security Commissioner's regulations or that your condition or conditions functionally equals the Commissioner's regulations. The law firm of Sheryl Gandel Mazur has experienced disability attorneys and has been representing individuals in their Social Security disability appeals for over twenty five years. Let us help you receive your Social Security disability benefits.
Our disability law firm represents individuals:
- In filing their initial disability applications
- In handling cases at the initial level including appealing initial denials
- In handling cases at the reconsideration level including appealing reconsideration denials
- In handling cases at the hearings level
- In appealing and handling cases at the Appeals Council level
- In appealing and handling cases at the Federal Court level
This firm also handles SSI child's disability cases at all levels.
Organizations: March of Dimes (http://www.marchofdimes.com/); United Cerebral Palsy (http://www.ucp.org/); in New Jersey: Cerebral Palsy of New Jersey (http://www.cpofnj.org/).
