Additional Complimentary Services
College Transition Counseling
This new project is focused on supporting students with paralysis who are transitioning to college. The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation is sponsoring a limited number of hours of free consultation with Accessible College so that there is no charge to the student or their family for the service.
Accessible College provides college preparation and transition support for students with physical disabilities and health conditions across the country. They understand the unique needs of students with paralysis and the challenges that may arise as they plan for their transition to college. Because colleges and universities provide varying levels of support and accommodations for students with disabilities and health conditions, Accessible College’s services help bridge the gaps, empowering students and families to effectively work together to create positive educational experiences for students and support college success. Through this partnership with the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, Accessible College will provide this support for eligible students and families through one-on-one meetings where students will receive assistance with:
- Considerations for college based on healthcare needs
- College accommodations
- Medication management
- Healthcare management
- Hiring and managing a Personal Care Attendant (PCA)
- Continuity of care (including the transfer of care)
- Self-advocacy skills
- Disability disclosure
- Communicating with the college’s Disability Support Office
- Disability specific questions for college tours and tour debriefs
Students and families can sign up for this free service by contacting an Information Specialist at the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation to see if they are eligible:
Phone: 1-800-539-7309 (Ask for an Information Specialist)
Web: www.ChristopherReeve.org/Ask
Pre-Employment Benefits Analysis
The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation is sponsoring a limited number of hours of free consultation with a pre-employment benefits analyst so that there is no charge to the person with paralysis or their family for the service.
One of the greatest challenges that individuals living with paralysis face is finding the accurate information to assist them in weighing the pros and cons of taking a job. Many individuals with paralysis require extensive home health care or nursing assistance which may be covered through Medicaid or Medicare. The potential loss of these life enabling services often creates a barrier that prevents individuals from seeking employment. The thought of abandoning these benefits or programs to return to employment after paralysis can be intimidating as numerous health care and financial factors need to be considered. Other items to be weighed include earnings potential, educational needs, age, and severity/complexity of paralysis.
The Reeve Foundation offers access to a pre-employment benefits analyst who assists with the evaluation of benefits that would minimize financial and health care loss when transitioning back to employment.This program does not aid one in locating a job but instead helps the person weigh the pros and cons of returning to work from a health care benefits and financial position. These are the situations that may be covered:
- Interested in working but worried about losing their Social Security disability benefits
- Receiving SSI or SSDI and wants to return to work but are unsure how to report earned income to Social Security and other agencies
- Interested in working but don’t want to lose Medicaid and/or Medicare
- Want to work but worried that they would not be able to receive Social Security disability benefits again if they are lost due to work
- College student with a paid internship who receives SSI or SSDI and is unsure how the paid internship may impact those benefits
- Recent college graduate who wants to work and receives SSI or SSDI but needs information on how to maintain the benefits they receive
- Wants to return to work after paralysis and needs help determining if returning to work is the best option and understanding the impact employment has on the Social Security disability benefits and/or public health insurance they receive
People living with paralysis can sign up for this free service by contacting an Information Specialist at the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation to see if they are eligible:
Phone: 1-800-539-7309 (Ask for an Information Specialist)
