Nutrition Assistance

Eating healthy and exercising regularly are advisable for all. Because individuals with Cerebral Palsy may have oral motor dysfunction, a move towards a specialized diet and meal plan can be immensely helpful, but expensive.

That diet may include consuming specialized foods and liquids, or it may involve preparing foods in a specific way. All food decisions, however, are made taking into consideration a child’s physical condition and dietary preferences. In the event that a child needs a feeding tube to supply essential nutrients, a whole other set of safeguards and precautions come into play.

Registered dieticians, speech and language pathologists and other health professionals can help a parent make decisions about a child’s diet that will ensure his or her overall health.

The government recognizes that families touched by Cerebral Palsy may find themselves in need of government assistance to afford proper nutrition for their child with special needs, and the family as a whole. These programs were developed to help families in need.