CDC Features

CDC Features

Resources for Paralysis

If you are living with paralysis or any kind of disability, you need health care and health programs for the same reasons anyone else does—to stay well, active, and a part of the community. Learn more about how the Paralysis Resource Center promotes the health and well-being of people living with paralysis and their families.

According to a recent study initiated by the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, there are nearly 1 in 50 people living with paralysis—approximately 6 million people. If you are living with paralysis or any kind of disability, you need health care and health programs for the same reasons anyone else does—to stay well, active, and a part of the community.

People with Disabilities

Today, about 50 million Americans, or 1 in 5 people, are living with at least one disability, and most Americans will experience a disability some time during the course of their lives. Anyone can have a disability. Some people are born with a disability, get hurt or sick and have disability as a result, or develop a disability as they age. Some people may have a disability that lasts a short time while other people have a disability that lasts a lifetime. Different kinds of disabilities affect people in different ways.

Since the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990, many improvements have enabled people with disabilities to become more independent and involved in their world. But are they healthier? CDC's research has shown that often they are not, and we need to know why. Understanding how many Americans there are with disabilities, such as paralysis, is an important piece of the puzzle.

People with disabilities go to school and attend places of worship. They also vote, marry, have children, work, and play. Having a disability does not mean a person can't be healthy. Being healthy means the same thing for all of us—getting and staying well so we can lead full, active lives. That means having the tools and information to make healthy choices and knowing the risk factors for illness.

For people with disabilities, it also means knowing that problems related to a disability can be treated. These problems can include pain, depression, and a greater risk for certain illnesses. To be healthy, people with disabilities require health care that meets their needs as a whole person, not just as a person with a disability. People with or without disabilities can stay healthy by learning about and living healthy lifestyles.

The Paralysis Resource Center

The Paralysis Resource Center (PRC) promotes the health and well-being of people living with paralysis and their families by providing comprehensive information resources and referral services. It focuses on health promotion after paralysis from any disease, injury or birth condition. The PRC is a program of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and is funded through a cooperative agreement with CDC.

The PRC was created to establish a single, focused national resource on paralysis. It provides information services for people who are newly paralyzed or living with paralysis for a long time. Support is offered for family members and caregivers as well. Information resources are organized into broad categories covering: