Disability Medical Condition: Friedreich’s Ataxia
Friedreich’s Ataxia is a disease that causes nervous system damage. It is an inherited, slowly progressing disease, causing problems such as speech problems and heart disease. Symptoms usually appear in an individual between the ages of 5 and 25. After 15 years of being diagnosed with the disease, individuals lose the ability to walk. Friedrich’s Ataxia can lead to death around age 40. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke states that Friedreich’s ataxia is rare and is found among 1 in every 50,000 people in the United States. Currently, 6,000 individuals in the U.S. have Friedrich’s Ataxia. There is no cure for Friedreich’s Ataxia.
The disease is listed as one of the medical conditions in the Compassionate Allowances Program. The program expedites the application process so that individuals with severe medical conditions can apply for disability benefits quickly.
Under the Compassionate Allowances program, those suffering from certain medical conditions and impairments will have their application processed quickly through the “fast track” program which helps administrators rapidly identify and process medical conditions on the program’s list of medical impairments.