Mission

UCP’s mission is to advance the independence and full citizenship of individuals across a spectrum of disabilities, including Cerebral Palsy.

Timeline

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) may be one of the largest health nonprofits in the U.S. today, but that was not the case in 1949. In the 1940s, there were not many options for families of and people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities.

Medical professionals frequently urged parents to warehouse their children in institutions where they lived out their lives, segregated from the rest of society. Parents who chose to raise their children at home learned that few services and supports were available to help their children lead full, productive lives in the community. With little contact between families of children with cerebral palsy, many parents felt isolated, helpless and alone.

In 1948, Leonard H. Goldenson, then-President of United Paramount Theaters and ABC Television, and his wife, Isabelle, joined forces with prominent New York businessman Jack Hausman, and his wife, Ethel, to improve the quality of life for their children with cerebral palsy and for others like them. The two families placed an advertisement in the New York Herald Tribune to recruit families interested in improving available services to children with disabilities so that families could stay together, and people with disabilities could be part of the community.

In 1949 hundreds of parents of children with cerebral palsy and other disabilities responded to the advertisement and joined the Goldensons and Hausmans in their crusade to create an organization to improve service for people with disabilities. It was from this humble, grassroots beginning that UCP was born as a national organization in 1949. Several UCP affiliates opened across the country, quickly establishing the organization. Right at its inception, UCP brought issues about cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities to the forefront of the national media.

Fast forward to today and UCP of Eastern CT continues to work closely with individuals and their families on issues that open doors for people with disabilities. From home ownership to health care reform and inclusive education to competitive employment. UCP has established itself as a leader in the disability community and as a strong voice for individuals with disabilities and their families.

We have made these advancements while utilizing person-centered, individualized services to meet the specific needs of everyone we serve. Through the use of Assistive Technology (AT) we help people with disabilities in Connecticut to be more productive and independent in everyday activities such as communication, self-care, education, employment, mobility and recreation. Assistive technology provides a creative way to reduce barriers and increase skills and capabilities. At UCP of Eastern CT, our programs are offered by professional Assistive Technology Specialists at school, in the workplace, at home and on-site at UCP centers in Waterford and Old Saybrook.

Today, we are more than our name, we serve people with ALL types of disabilities, including CP: 80% of those we serve have disabilities other than Cerebral Palsy including Tourette Syndrome, Down Syndrome, Developmental disabilities, Bipolar disorder, Epilepsy, Dyslexia and others.

We’ve been pursuing our mission since 1947.

Celebrating 15 Years of Successful Independent Living.