Waivers, trust funds, and disability programs are run state by state. Pick where you live to see the resources that actually apply to you.
Before looking elsewhere, check every insurance policy that might apply to how the injury happened — homeowners insurance, auto insurance, and workers' compensation can all potentially help cover rehabilitation and equipment costs alongside your regular health insurance, depending on the circumstances.
If insurance doesn't cover everything you need, a number of non-profit organizations award grants to individuals for rehabilitation and medical equipment, though funding levels and eligibility rules vary a lot from one organization to the next. The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation's information specialists maintain up-to-date knowledge of grant programs and organizations that donate wheelchairs and other equipment, and can help match you to ones that fit your situation — call 800-539-7309, Monday–Friday, 9am–8pm ET.
HelpHOPELive is another option worth knowing about — they help individuals launch and run personal fundraising campaigns for catastrophic injuries through their Catastrophic Injury Program, handling the logistics so donated funds go directly toward your care. Call 800-642-8399.
Once a person has stabilized after a physical injury, or is ready to begin intensive therapy for a developmental disability, the next step is often a specialized rehabilitation hospital. The closest facility might be the most convenient and keep you near family and friends, but convenience isn't the same as capability — complex conditions deserve a facility with real, specific experience treating them, since the right fit can make a genuine difference in how much function someone recovers.
A child's age plays a big role in which facility makes sense — growing bodies and developing minds need a different approach than adult rehab. A few programs built specifically for pediatric patients:
For more guidance as a parent of a newly injured child, the Reeve Foundation has a dedicated resource: For Parents of Kids with a New Injury ↗
Sometimes you just need to talk to someone who gets it. Schedule a free one-on-one video consultation — from setting up your first Alexa device to navigating the waiver application process.
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