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We have some exciting news for our Adult Development Center in Manteca! Drum roll please…. We now have a second bus!!

Clients, parents, as well as staff are beyond thrilled to add this additional bus. We will now be able to take double the clients out to see different areas and volunteer in our community! What an honor! This will also allow us to have smaller classes at our program, giving more time to work with our clients. Our ADC program assists adult participants in gathering basic skills in the areas of self-help, personal needs, and functional skills which are critical to individual independence.

Thank you to all who were involved in making this second bus a possibility!

For more information about our Adult Development Centers in both Manteca and Stockton please call (209)956-0290

UCP’s Kitchen Remodel Nearing Completion

Work started January 12th 2015 and only 21 days later and we are getting close to completing our remodel.  We still have the tile to install and the ceiling panels.

Microwave installed.

Getting Ready for the Dishwasher

Abhi Sanghvi with parents Miraj & Raj

July 11^th was a day of remembrance for Miraj and Raj Sanghvi as it marked the one year passing of their beloved son Abhi.  The Sanghvi’s celebrated their son’s memory with the decision to raise funds for our Children and Family Services program.  Having used the services of UCP the Sanghvi’s understood and appreciated the value of our program and wanted to help others receive therapy and equipment services they would otherwise go without.  Through the Abhi Memorial Grant, we have provided families with SPIO garments and weighted blankets both used to assist children with sensory processing and supplies to help develop a child’s small motor and writing skills. With the help of the Sanghvi’s we are helping children to live a “Life Without Limits”.

UCP’s Kitchen Remodel Taking Shape

Our long anticipated kitchen remodel has begun.  Classic Design started work January

12th.  UCP Clients and Staff can’t wait to use the fully accessible kitchen designed by LDA Partners specifically for the people we serve.  The new design will enable the people we serve to learn how to prepare, cook and enjoy meals in a facility built just for them.

We still need your help with this project.  Join us in our passion to help people live “Life Without Limits” by helping us complete this vital project.

To donate to our cause online click our “Support UCP Donate Today” button.  If you will be paying by check click here for our donation form.

All Donor Names will be prominently displayed.

Michelle Francis now a Program Manager

for UCP will say the best advise her doctor could have given her parents was to “treat her as if she didn’t have CP”.  Her parents took the doctor at his word and at 6 months of age and diagnosed with cerebral palsy she was treated no differently than her siblings.  As a toddler she found her own way to accomplish how to walk and run…although it took her a little more time.  While in school she learned to rise above other kids who made fun of her by showing them their remarks didn’t faze her. While in school her first job was with Jack in the Box where the physical part of the job was difficult but she managed her own way and then became an excellent drive thru cashier.

It wasn’t until Michelle was in her 20’s when her family contacted UCP and this became a pivotal point in her life.  UCP recommended she go through the Dept. of Rehabilitation where she found herself being interviewed to become a Job Coach with UCP’s Supported Employment.  Once hired she assisted others with disabilities to learn their own way to accomplish what most people found as simple tasks.  She worked with local businesses to cultivate job opportunities for UCP’s program participants.  She helped in the development of the Supports to Achieve Independent Living program or SAIL.   In 1999 Michelle became the Program Manager for the SAIL’s program that is designed to empower program participants to live independently in their own resident in their own way.  Using a person-center approach all efforts are made to assist individuals to obtain and maintain living arrangements of their choice.  Michelle continues to follow her doctor’s advice; she lives her life as if she doesn’t have CP… a Life Without Limits.

United Cerebral Palsy of San Joaquin, Calaveras & Amador Counties (UCP), a 501 (c)(3) community benefits nonprofit organization has advocated for children and adults with cerebral palsy and other disabilities for more than five decades. Today, UCP programs and services make a positive impact to over 2,000 children and adults with disabilities and their families and nearly 310,000 education, advocacy and direct services hours are  provided. Programs and services include: Supported Employment (SE), Supports to Achieve Independent Living (SAIL), Respite Care, Clinical and Family Services, Assistive Technology, three Adult Day Centers (ADC), a Community Integration Day program (Program Without Walls), and UCP newest program (Applied Abilities Program) that just celebrated it’s 1 year anniversary in November is a community integration and behavior management day program. Our vision is that everyone is entitled to a “Life Without Limits”. Our passion is to make this vision a reality for the individuals we serve.

Mission: We support a “Life Without Limits” by creating systems that are progressive, accessible, and dependable, reflect quality outcomes and promote independence.

Support UCP by Donating Now

UCP Supports to Achieve Independent Living (SAIL) program created the Diner’s Club; a venue where customers and friends can gather on the first Friday of each month at a local restaurant to visit with friends and build new relationships. Not only does the Diner’s Club provide socialization but provides an environment where customers use other daily living skills such as reading, money management and use of appropriate manners and etiquette in a community establishment. Customers also have the opportunity to rate the restaurant on accessibility and overall customer service which is an important area to those who participate.

When asked, SAIL customer Becky Brott, stated, “I really enjoyed going to the restaurants and visiting with friends.” Becky is a Diner’s Club regular and has attended for over 15 years. Becky has made many friends through this experience. She now meets with other participants from the Diner’s Club outside of UCP on a regular basis. Respite customer, Anthony M., said, “It is one of the best things to do and I get to see all the people I like at UCP.” Michael likes attending because there are other young adults he can relate to and he gets to spend his money.

Through SAIL’s services, individuals with disabilities are able to live on their own. It is an essential program at UCP and promotes the agency’s mission that empowers people to live “Life Without Limits”. Last year, the program served 44 customers and provided 27,757 advocacy, training, education and direct care service hours.

UCP Respite Care Services is an essential resource for those caring for an individual that needs assistance with daily life skills. The program gives the care provider a break from the strenuous task of providing such care. The program served 99 families and provided 14,303 direct service hours and is expanding its services to various populations that need assistance in such areas as personal care, transportation to appointment or needing help with grocery shopping. For those who are not eligible for contracted service, UCP has established private pay services.

UCP’s Vision “We believe everyone is entitled to a Life Without Limits”.

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Tom Ligget

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Our Applied Abilities Program (AAP) celebrated its 1 Year Anniversary on December 16th. Troy Brown, City Manager of Tracy along with Council Member Nancy Young presented Sr. Program Manager Corinne Seaton with a Certificate of Recognition. The Office of Congressman Denham also sent a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for our 1 year anniversary. UCP Board Member Martin Herzog was in attendance. Interim CEO Leslie Heier thanked all in attendance for their continued support of our vision that “We believe everyone is entitled to a Life Without Limits”.

Program Participants, Corinne Crosby and Grace Gamus were greeters welcoming all attendees and handing out agenda and brochures. Our program was filled with program participants, staff and members of the community showing their support for UCP. Everyone enjoyed the live music provided by a participant’s family member and friend.

Tom Liggett, program participant & Henrietta Aldaco, parent of a program participant provided testimonials. Tom explained how he enjoyed the various classes offered as well as the socialization with individuals in the program and staff. Henrietta expressed her thanks to UCP for providing a much needed service in the Tracy community. According to Henrietta her son who was once shy and spoke very little now arrives home every day and talks nonstop about his day at our Applied Abilities Program.

Sr. Program Manager Corinne Seaton explained how the program has grown from 3 participants on opening day to just over 40. Participants are happy and parents are elated with the person center program where goals and objectives are made specific to each participant’s needs or wants.  Ms. Seaton thanked her staff for their dedication to the welfare and care of their program participants. She continued on to express her heartfelt thanks to the parents and the community for their support and faith in UCP to empower our program to live out our passion to teach and support our participants to become more independent and to use their own voice.

Holiday Greetings to UCP Friends,   

As this magical season approaches and we celebrate with loved ones, it’s a time to reflect on the many blessings that come to us throughout the year. More importantly, it is a time to reflect on those we serve at UCP with cerebral palsy, other disabilities and their families and how fortunate we are to work each day with these special and courageous individuals through our various children services and adult day programs.

How humbling, and yet rewarding to provide opportunities through our various daily activities that promote empowerment, growth, advocacy and independence; crucial activities that enable these individuals to be part of and integrated into their own community. Our programs reach over 2,000 individuals (birth to end of life) and nearly 310,000 advocacy, education and direct service hours were provided last year. Cerebral Palsy (CP) and the various disabilities of those we serve are not curable. As this population continues to grow, our community will feel the impact. The need for more services is on-going.   The opening of the UCP Adult Day/Behavioral program in Tracy last year has been a valuable and much needed resource for this community and we are grateful for all the support we have received.

Our customers depend on us every day and their lives are such an integral part of UCP; being with peers, socialization, friendships, sharing, enhancing life, vocational skills and celebrating their accomplishment; just like you and me.

As we look to this season, we continue to ask for your support in making a donation to help further our mission and for projects slated in the new year to enhance program areas and activities such as our Customer Kitchen Remodel project that is used for nutrition classes. Whatever you can give is deeply appreciated.  Your past support is very much valued as it has benefited and helped hundreds of individuals and the families we serve; giving every opportunity to focus on their “abilities” and to live “Life without Limits”.

Holiday wishes,

Leslie Heier

Interim Chief Executive Officers