Background
United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee (UCP) was incorporated in 1985 by concerned parents of children with disabilities, adults with disabilities, and volunteers. Our guiding vision is to achieve a fully inclusive community, where people with disabilities have access and opportunity to achieve their fullest potential; a community where they and their families realize the promise of integration, self-direction, and quality of life choices. UCP serves persons of all ages with all forms of disabilities, with focus on disabilities that primarily affect mobility and developmental progress.
In recent years, UCP has dedicated our resources to the state’s under-served populations, i.e., persons with significant disabilities who are not served by the state’s system of developmental disability services, and persons who do not qualify for substantial governmental supports. These include children and adults with developmental disabilities who are disqualified from the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Medicaid Waiver Services because of diagnosis or who are on the extensive waiting lists for services in Tennessee's Medicaid Waiver Programs. The agency also serves a large population of individuals who have acquired disabilities as a result of conditions related to aging.
Impact
UCP has a very lean and efficient operation, with only 5 full time staff members and hundreds of volunteers. The services we have developed allow us to serve a substantial number of people at a low cost. These programs are sustainable, and they are to a certain extent scalable within the context of available funding. UCP programs provide targeted, essential relief that makes a measurable difference in the safety and independence of both the individual with a disability as well as their home-based caregivers. United Cerebral Palsy currently serves over 2500 people annually through the following initiatives (Each of these programs has waiting lists for services): Each year, UCP provides between $500,000 and $600,000 worth of durable medical equipment to persons with severe disabilities who could not otherwise acquire this equipment.
Our Rutherford County Family Support Program serves over 230 individuals annually, with focus on families with children who have developmental disabilities and limited supports
UCP, our volunteers and partner programs across the state have constructed over 2500 wheelchair ramps on to the homes of low income individuals with severe disabilities
The All Together Kids program annually provides integrated experiences in summer programs across Middle Tennessee for approximately 25 children with disabilities
Our sports and recreation programs serve approximately 50 children and young adults annually
When all other potential sources of funds are exhausted, and families are facing crisis, UCP provides financial assistance through special needs funding. These funds are difficult to acquire, so services are limited to the most critical cases. However, even a small amount of money, applied at the right time to address a critical need, can made a big difference.
UCP was recognized by the Tennessee State Legislature for our advocacy efforts which resulted in the creation of the Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
UCP does not represent that our programs meet all of the needs of the populations we serve; their needs are immense. UCP will continue to advocate for sound public programs that provide equity in services to all disability populations. Until that time, our primary goals are:
to continue to provide low-cost targeted services to relieve extraordinary needs
to address waiting list needs in our key programs of service
to expand our volunteer outreach, training and services,
to develop non-restricted funds to meet ongoing operational needs
Needs
Funding is needed to provided direct services to persons with severe developmental disabilities other than intellectual disabilities. These include disabilities such as cerebral palsy, autism, and other disabilities acquired at birth or during childhood.
Due to a gap in Tennessee's service structure, these individuals are not served by either the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities or by the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.