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Yay, Advocates!

3/25/2022

 
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Today is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day 2022!
 
What are you doing to celebrate?
 
This week, a group of parent and adult advocates, clinicians and researchers celebrated CP Awareness Day by travelling to Washington DC, to give a briefing to Congress about CP!
 
The trip was organized by the Cerebral Palsy Foundation (which is not part of UCP), and was supported by Senator Maggie Hassan (New Hampshire) and Congressman Steve Cohen (Tennessee).
 
Way to go, advocates!

And, speaking of advocates, did you know that National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day in the United States was created by two moms? They felt it was vital to increase awareness of cerebral palsy, and to improve quality of care and research across the lifespan. Go, moms!               

2022 World Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day

3/25/2022

 
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Today is March 25th, and you know what that means!

It’s World Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day—an event that is celebrated around the world.
In some places, entire buildings are lit up with green to celebrate. Even Niagara Falls has “gone green” to celebrate Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day!

In honor of the day, you can:
  • Share your cerebral palsy related photos or story with the world. (Use this link.)
  • Join a disability-related advocacy group.
  • Use the #GoGreen4CP hashtag on social media.
  • Wear the color green.

HAPPY 6 MONTH BIRTHDAY TO UCP MENTORS!

3/17/2022

 
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Hi, everyone! We just wanted to say… “Happy 6-month anniversary to UCP Mentors!”
 
As you probably know, UCP Oregon launched UCP Mentors (our second brokerage) on September 1, 2021.
 
Six months later, UCP Mentors is going strong… and so is our original brokerage (UCP Connections).
 
Here are some interesting facts about UCP Mentors:

  1. Current number of employees: 24.
  2. Current number of customers served: more than 530.
  3. Brokerage Director Sasha Vidales worked previously at The Mentor Network as a Personal Agent and Quality Coordinator.
  4. Some customers currently supported by UCP Mentors were originally enrolled with The Mentor Network when they opened in 2001.
  5. UCP Mentors recently added a Personal Agent who is bilingual in English and Spanish to support our Spanish-speaking community.
LEARN MORE ABOUT BROKERAGE SERVICES

Surprising Facts about CP

3/15/2022

 
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As you may know, March is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month.
 
But here are some facts about CP that you might not know!
 
  1. CP is the most common lifelong physical disability.
  2. CP affects more than 1 million Americans.
  3. 1 in 345 children are affected by CP.
  4. 17 million people worldwide have CP.
  5. More than 10,000 babies in the U.S. are diagnosed with cerebral palsy each year.

From the Desk of Katherine, 2022

3/11/2022

 
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Hi! I’m UCP Oregon’s Family Support Director, Katherine Ball.
 
Did you know that my department supports approximately 845 families?
 
During an average month, I directly work with 100 families. I am available to them via email, phone, social media, and in person as needed.
 
I often speak with parents who are dealing with a new diagnosis of cerebral palsy. I send them a “Welcome Packet” with self-care tips, books and resources. I remain in contact with parents, providing resources, information, and a shoulder to lean on as needed.
 
I also:
  • Coordinate several events a month, including a “Gimme A Break” Family Support Group and various other trainings and events.
  • Write 4-6 grants a year to acquire funds for the Family Support Department. 
  • Administer the Zetosch Fund through the Oregon Community Foundation. (The Fund assists low-income, school-aged children in Oregon who experience disabilities to acquire adaptive equipment that will help their education.)
  • Attend outside meetings and trainings to stay current on the world of Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD).
  • Lead a Family Support Task Force Committee for the UCP Board.
  • Manage a UCP Family Support Facebook page, sharing resources, trainings, articles, and information.
  • Procure and share local event tickets (Blazers, zoo, etc.) for the families in my department.
Learn More About Family Support

SHARE YOUR UCP OREGON STORY

3/7/2022

 
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Hello! If you're a customer of UCP, a family member of a UCP customer, or a UCP employee, we'd love to hear from you. We'd also love to share YOUR story with the world.

You can share almost anything:
  • A photo.
  • A story.
  • A tip or hack.
  • Or anything you'd like the rest of the UCP family to know.
SHARE YOUR UCP OREGON STORY

March Is Women’s History Month

3/4/2022

 
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Hey! Did you know that March is Women’s History Month?

As journalist Melissa Young says, “Women have been making history for centuries; for some, this was the only choice they had.”

Women with disabilities make history, too.

As Melissa Young says, for many women “it was either live the way others expected them to or fight for the lives they knew they (and all people with disabilities) deserved.”

Famous women who experience/experienced disabilities include:
  • Agatha Christie
  • Billie Eilish
  • Carrie Underwood
  • Caryl Simon
  • Cher
  • Ella Fitzgerald
  • Erin Brockovich
  • Fannie Lou Hamer
  • Frida Kahlo
  • Gwen Stefani
  • Halle Berry
  • Harriet Tubman
  • Joan Rivers
  • Keira Knightley
  • Liv Tyler
  • Marilyn Monroe
  • Maya Angelou
  • Millie Bobby Brown
  • Missy Elliott
  • Senator Tammy Duckworth
  • Simone Biles
  • Sojourner Truth
  • Solange Knowles
  • Zooey Deschanel​

Learn More:

  • ​6 Women With Disabilities Who Made History
  • Famous People with Disabilities

Happy National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month

3/1/2022

 
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March is a busy month! It’s (1) Women’s History Month. It’s also (2) National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. And it’s (3) National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month!

Since UCP Oregon’s roots are in cerebral palsy, we thought we’d start out by talking about National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month.

The goal of the month is to push for positive change in education programs, the healthcare system, and the employment world—to ensure that people who experience cerebral palsy have the opportunities they need and deserve.

UCP Oregon is busy doing advocacy on a local, state and national level. You can make a difference, too!

How To CELEBRATE:

  1. ​Share your cerebral-palsy related photos or story with the world. (If you want us to help you share your story, you can use this link.)
  2. Make your voice heard. Join a disability-related advocacy group.
  3. Donate to organizations such as UCP Oregon. 

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  • HOME
    • Mission & History
    • UCP'S Leadership >
      • UCP'S Directors
      • UCP'S Board
    • Annual Reports
    • Contact Us
    • Board Portal >
      • Board Meetings
      • Board Committees >
        • Development Committee
        • Executive Commitee
        • Family Support Task Force
        • Finance Committee
        • Human Resources Committee
        • Investment Committee
        • Recruitment Committee
      • Board Members
      • Other
  • SERVICES
    • Brokerage >
      • Brokerage Services
    • Supported Employment >
      • For Job-Seekers
      • For Employers
      • Be "Ability Aware"
    • Supported Living
    • Children's Services
    • Family Support
    • Bill Porter Memorial Fund: For Applicants >
      • Share Your BPMF Story
  • CAREERS
    • Why You'll Love UCP
    • Careers FAQ
  • NEWS
  • EVENTS
    • Family Support Workshops
    • OMSI Play Labs
    • Coffee Dates
    • Family Support Group
    • Skate & Roll
    • Walk, Roll 'n' Run
  • WAYS TO GIVE
    • Donate
    • Bill Porter Memorial Fund: For Donors
    • Raise Money While Shopping
    • Planned Giving
    • Corporate Partnership
    • Other Ways to Help
    • Give Parents a Break
  • This is Our Voice
    • Share Your Story
    • Be a Legislative Advocate
    • Formal Complaint
  • Share Your UCP Story
  • Join UCP Oregon's Board