Nearly 800,000 people suffer a stroke annually, making it the leading cause of disability in this country. Depending on which part of the brain is involved and how severe the damage is, specific body functions may be impaired to varying degrees or lost entirely. While stroke rehabilitation helps stroke survivors maintain their independence, research indicates that fewer than half of stroke patients who are referred for rehabilitation receive it. With this in mind, it is important to note that, in the days immediately following a stroke, acute-care therapists from physical, occupational, and speech disciplines will work to identify stroke-related functional impairments in different regions of the brain. They will then develop an individual plan that is designed to facilitate improvement.