HIGHLAND, CA – Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation (CPARF) was awarded a two-year $300,000 grant from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians to develop actionable solutions to health disparities and improve health equity for Native Americans with disabilities.
The funds support assistive technology development and distribution through CPARF’s Remarkable U.S. program, including sponsorship of two companies through the accelerator with either Indigenous founders or a product that meets an immediate need for Native individuals.
“CPARF is grateful to partner with San Manuel,” said Chris Olver, Executive Director of Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation. “Disability rates are among the highest in Indigenous communities, and we know that systemic change is needed to better address the needs of Native Americans with disabilities. We are committed to incorporating tribal perspectives and recommendations into the design of our programs to ensure greater equity and representation in our work.”
Additionally, CPARF will host a dedicated series of multi-stakeholder roundtables to gain deeper insight and prioritize assistive technology needs of tribal members with disabilities and caregivers. The organization will amplify Native American voices to encourage co-creation practices and the proactive development of technology that meets the needs of tribes.
Through this work and collaboration with tribal communities, CPARF seeks to make meaningful progress towards addressing disparities and improving health outcomes for disabled people in Indigenous communities across the U.S.
