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Texas Cerebral Palsy Lawyers

Texas welcomes more babies each year than any state except California, with roughly 380,000 to 400,000 births annually. Unfortunately, between 600 to 900 children are newly diagnosed with cerebral palsy in this state each year. Behind those numbers are families adjusting to therapy schedules, medical appointments, educational planning, and often, difficult questions about how the injury occurred.

Texas has developed a strong reputation for pediatric subspecialty care, particularly in Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio. Large academic medical centers and freestanding children’s hospitals offer advanced neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), pediatric neurology programs, and multidisciplinary cerebral palsy clinics. Many of these institutions participate in national research initiatives focused on early brain injury detection, spasticity management, and mobility technologies.

Well-known treatment facilities include Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Children’s Health in Dallas, Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin, and University Health in San Antonio. These centers combine neonatology, neurology, orthopedics, rehabilitation medicine, and developmental services under coordinated care models.

At the same time, Texas presents unique challenges. Its vast geography means families in rural West Texas, the Panhandle, the Rio Grande Valley, and East Texas may travel hours for specialized care. Insurance coverage limitations, Medicaid eligibility rules, language access issues, and staffing shortages can also complicate consistent therapy.

If a child’s cerebral palsy was caused by preventable medical errors during pregnancy, labor, or delivery, Texas law allows families to pursue a medical malpractice birth injury claim. However, Texas has specific procedural rules and damage caps that make early legal guidance critical.

Reviewed by Chris Schroeder, Esq.
Updated September 2026
5 min read
Texas
Texas cerebral palsy resources

Medical facilities for diagnosing cerebral palsy in Texas

Early diagnosis often involves pediatric neurologists, developmental pediatricians, and high-risk infant follow-up clinics.

Texas Children’s Hospital
Address: 6621 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77030
Phone: (832) 824-1000
Website: www.texaschildrens.org

Texas Children’s offers comprehensive pediatric neurology services, advanced MRI imaging, and neonatal follow-up clinics for infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and other risk factors.

Children’s Health (Children’s Medical Center Dallas)
Address: 1935 Medical District Drive, Dallas, TX 75235
Phone: (214) 456-7000
Website: www.childrens.com

Children’s Health provides developmental evaluation clinics and multidisciplinary neurological assessments.

Dell Children’s Medical Center
Address: 4900 Mueller Boulevard, Austin, TX 78723
Phone: (512) 324-0000
Website: www.dellchildrens.net

Dell Children’s operates high-risk infant clinics and pediatric neurology services serving Central Texas.

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Treatment and therapy for cerebral palsy in Texas

Ongoing treatment typically includes physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, orthopedic consultation, and spasticity management.

TIRR Memorial Hermann – Pediatric Rehabilitation
Address: 1333 Moursund Street, Houston, TX 77030
Phone: (713) 797-5942
Website: www.memorialhermann.org

TIRR provides pediatric rehabilitation programs for children with neurological injuries and mobility limitations.

Scottish Rite for Children
Address: 2222 Welborn Street, Dallas, TX 75219
Phone: (214) 559-5000
Website: scottishriteforchildren.org

Known for pediatric orthopedic expertise, Scottish Rite treats children with neuromuscular disorders affecting mobility and posture.

University Health – Pediatric Rehabilitation
Address: 4502 Medical Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229
Phone: (210) 358-4000
Website: www.universityhealth.com

Offers therapy services, orthopedic care, and developmental support.

Organizations that support cerebral palsy in Texas

United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Houston
Address: 7115 West Tidwell Road, Houston, TX 77092
Phone: (713) 682-7231
Website: https://www.ucphouston.org

United Cerebral Palsy of Texas
Address: 1023 Springdale Road, Austin, TX 78721
Phone: (512) 476-7211
Website: https://www.ucptexas.org

The Arc of Texas
Address: 8001 Centre Park Drive, Austin, TX 78754
Phone: (512) 454-6694
Website: www.thearcoftexas.org

These organizations provide case management, respite care, advocacy, employment assistance, and family support.

 

Fundraisers for cerebral palsy in Texas

UCP Houston Walk, Run & Roll
Website: https://www.ucphouston.org

Easterseals Walk With Me Texas
Website: www.easterseals.com

These annual events help fund therapy programs, adaptive equipment, and community inclusion initiatives.

Legal rights for those with a cerebral palsy disability

Families in Texas benefit from multiple layers of legal protection and public assistance:

  • Medicaid and CHIP: Texas Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) may cover therapy, medical equipment, and specialist care for eligible children.
  • Early Childhood Intervention (ECI): Provides therapy services for infants and toddlers with developmental delays.
  • Education rights: Under federal IDEA law and Texas Education Code, children with cerebral palsy are entitled to an Individualized Education Program (IEP), and free appropriate public education.
  • Employment protections: The Americans with Disabilities Act and Texas Labor Code prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities.
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI): Provides financial assistance for qualifying families.
  • Community-based waiver programs: Texas offers Home and Community-Based Services (HCS), and Medically Dependent Children Program (MDCP) waivers for long-term support.

In addition, Texas medical malpractice birth injury law typically gives 2 years for damage claims filed by parents, and until just before the child’s 10th birthday for cases filed on behalf of the injured child. However, due to expert opinion requirements, damage caps and comparative negligence standards, it’s recommended that families speak with a Texas cerebral palsy lawyer as soon as possible to learn their legal options.

Helpful information for families dealing with cerebral palsy in Texas

Because Texas is geographically expansive, families should identify a primary coordinating provider (often a pediatric neurologist or developmental pediatrician) who can oversee referrals and therapy planning.

Telemedicine has expanded significantly in recent years, helping bridge access gaps in rural regions. Parents should also apply early for Medicaid waivers, as waiting lists can be lengthy.

Maintaining organized medical records, therapy notes, and school documentation can improve care continuity and support educational advocacy. Transition planning to adult services should begin during adolescence, particularly for families relying on long-term Medicaid programs.

Texas offers both advanced medical expertise and strong disability advocacy networks. With early intervention, coordinated therapy, and informed legal and educational guidance, families can build meaningful, supported futures for children living with cerebral palsy across the Lone Star State.

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Texas statute of limitations for birth injury claims

The general deadline

Texas requires a health care liability claim to be filed within two years of the breach or tort, or within two years of the date the medical treatment or hospitalization the claim concerns was completed.

Claims brought on behalf of a child

Children are given longer on paper, though not as long as the statute first appears to say. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code section 74.251(a) gives “minors under the age of 12 years” until their 14th birthday, but subsection (b) bars every health care liability claim 10 years after the negligent act, and the Texas Supreme Court applied that limit to a child injured at birth in Tenet Hospitals v. Rivera (2014). For a birth injury, the child’s claim must be filed before the 10th birthday, and sooner if the negligence happened during prenatal care, as the Texas row of our state deadline table shows. A family who assumed the two year deadline had already run may still have time to file the child’s claim.

Two notice rules come before any filing. Each doctor or hospital must receive written notice by certified mail at least 60 days before the lawsuit is filed. A public hospital, such as Parkland in Dallas, Harris Health in Houston or University Health in San Antonio, is a governmental unit, and the Texas Tort Claims Act requires written notice of the claim within 6 months of the incident, which for most birth injuries is the delivery.

Limitation periods turn on facts particular to each case, and Texas law changes. Confirm the deadline that applies to your child with a Texas cerebral palsy lawyer rather than relying on a general summary.

Sources

Cerebral palsy resources. Texas project first. (November 3, 2025). Retrieved from texasprojectfirst.org

Resources. Cerebral palsy awareness transition hope. (May 1, 2026). Retrieved from cpathtexas.org

Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 74, Section 74.251. Texas Legislature Online. Retrieved from statutes.capitol.texas.gov

Cerebral palsy resources by city in Texas

Cerebral palsy lawyers in nearby states