People dealing with medical malpractice predicaments are often confused.  A couple living in Mississippi gives birth to a child, with all of the hopes and dreams that are attached to that experience. And, through the fault of a medical team, the baby is born with brain injury that results in cerebral palsy. In a situation of this sort, the family deserves the compensation that will allow them to care for their child –and to do so without the financial hardships that so many would face under these circumstances. And the child deserves compensation for the medical malpractice that has resulted in his situation.

Our job, at Gershon, Willoughby, Getz & Smith, LLC as doctors and lawyers trained to deal with medical malpractice in Mississippi, is to assist families in these situations.  We assist families who have experienced a devastating medical malpractice situation in receiving the financial recoveries that they are entitled to – and that they need for their future. Our law firm determines if the cerebral palsy is due to a doctor or nurse’s mistake and we can work to create accountability for the terrible, preventable error that has occurred.

Here, we offer a wealth of resources to assist families in Mississippi to deal with their situation when their child is born with or diagnosed with cerebral palsy or another disability as a result of medical malpractice.

Social Service Programs in Mississippi

Disability Rights Mississippi

This organization seeks to “promote, protect and advocate for the legal and human rights of all people with disabilities, and to assist them with full inclusion in home, community, education and employment.”    The programs that it offers for individuals with cerebral palsy include: Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities (PADD); Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI); Protection and Advocacy for Individual Rights (PAIR); Protection and Advocacy for [Individuals in Need of] Assistive Technology (PATT); Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS); Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury (PATBI).

Southeast ADA Center

The Southeast ADA Center – under the umbrella of the ADA National Network – provides “information, training and guidance on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).”  This means that those who are disabled, who need access to care, can approach the Center for this help.  As well, the organization is engaged in research to help “reduce and eliminate barriers to employment and economic self-sufficiency and to increase the civic and social participation of Americans with disabilities.” It does not regard itself as either an enforcement or regulatory agency but rather “a helpful resource…making it possible for everyone with a disability to live a life of freedom and equality.”

Cerebral Palsy Foundation of Mississippi

As they write on their website, “The mission of the Cerebral Palsy Foundation of Mississippi is to see all Mississippians with Cerebral Palsy enjoy the activities and opportunities of life to the fullest extent possible through treatment, education and rehabilitation. The term Cerebral Palsy refers to a group of conditions that affect the nerve and muscle functions of an individual and is caused by damage to the part of the brain that controls muscle action. CP may be characterized by one or more of these conditions: increased or decreased muscle tone; seizures; vision, hearing, speech, and learning difficulties; feeding difficulties; or cognitive disorders.”

Other Mississippi Resources for Assistance with Cerebral Palsy

Programs for Children with Special Health Care Needs
Mike Gallarno, Director
Children’s Medical Program, Department of Health
P.O. Box 1700
Jackson, MS 39215
(601) 987-3965; (800) 844-0898 (National/WATS)

State Education Agency Rural Representative
Walter H. Moore
Department of Education
P.O. Box 771
Jackson, MS 39205

Brain Injury
Brain Injury Association of Mississippi
P.O. Box 55912
Jackson, MS 39296-5912
(601) 981-1021; (800) 641-6442
E-mail biaofms@AOL.com

Cerebral Palsy
Marshall Magee, President
Cerebral Palsy Foundation of MS
PO Box 16924
Jackson, MS 39236
(601) 853-1961; (888) 852-1961 (toll free)
E-mail: cpsofms@AOL.com

Developmental Disabilities
Linda Bond, Executive Director
The Arc/MS Assn. for the Rights of Citizens with Dev. Dis.
1900 N. West Street, Suite C-100
Jackson, MS 39202
(601) 714-4830; (800) 366-5707

Learning Disabilities
Dr. Gloria Robinson, President
Learning Disabilities Association of MS
1220 Apple Park Place
Brandon, MS 39042
(601) 825-559

Jane Z. Siders, Director
MS University Affiliated Program
University of Southern Mississippi
P.O. Box 5163
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5163
(601) 266-5163; (800) 467-4488 (in MS only)
E-mail: jzsiders@ocean.st.usm.edu

Technology Related Assistance
Stephen Power, Director
Mississippi Project Start
P.O. Box 1698
Jackson, MS 39215-1698
(601) 987-4872; (V/TTY)
E-mail: spower@netdoor.com

Parent Training and Information Projects
Aretha Lee, Director
Parent Partners
1900 N. West Street, Suite C-100
Jackson, MS 39202
(601) 714-5707; (800) 366-5707 (In MS)
E-mail: ptiofms@misnet.com

Agnes Johnson, Director
Project EMPOWER
136 South Poplar Avenue
Greenville, MS 38701
(601) 332-4852
(800) 337-4852
E-mail: empower@techinfo.com

Bobby Cumberland, CEO
Easter Seals of MS
3226 North State Street
P.O. Box 4958
Jackson, MS 39296-4958
(601) 982-7051; (601) 362-2585 (TTY)
E-mail: msess1@AOL.com

Becky Tuttle, Center Director
Living Independence for Everyone (L.I.F.E)
301 Humble Avenue, Suite 197
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-2108; (800) 898-8977

Mark Smith, Director
Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities
754 N. President Street
Jackson, MS 39202
(800) 748-9420 (V/TTY); (601) 969-0601 (V/TTY)
E-mail: MsLife@tsbbso2.tnet.com
Web: www.ccd-life.org

Jorja Turnipseed, Executive Director
VSA (Very Special Arts) Mississippi
P.O. Box 80252
Starkville, MS 39760
(601) 323-8721
E-mail: vsams@netdoor.com