OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST YEAR, this column has highlighted the many ways UCP has evolved since 1953… in terms of the varying diagnoses of the individuals we support, the range of services we offer, and the many ways in which those services are delivered. Rapid, ever-changing advances in technology—coupled with the fact that…
The 2023 Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors of UCP Central PA was one for the history books, literally. UCP leadership and staff, Board and Committee members, and extended family and friends gathered together at the West Shore Country Club on December 7 to recognize and celebrate UCP’s 70 years of service to the…
The beauty of Assistive Technology is that its impact results in greater independence for the user. And with that greater independence comes increased self-confidence and, often, the development of enhanced social skills. The result is an all-around better quality of life… for the user and their families.
Each year UCP welcomes the opportunity to join the disability services provider community in recognizing and celebrating the tireless efforts of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) throughout our region, our state, and across the nation. In preparation for Direct Support Professional Recognition Week, which was celebrated Sept 10-16 this year, we asked our DSPs to tell…
Brandon, the subject of our lead story, is just one of countless individuals across Central PA who got the best possible start in life thanks to UCP services and supports, particularly our Early Intervention (EI) therapies. But it wasn’t just the children who benefited from their early years with UCP. Enduring friendships—often lifelong—developed among the…
“UCP Central PA. Good afternoon. This is Brandon. How can I direct your call?” That’s how Brandon Fisher, the Receptionist at UCP’s administrative headquarters in Camp Hill, answers the phone any given time it rings. And it rings a LOT. Brandon responds to, on average, upwards of 100 incoming phone calls a day. That says…
The months of May and June are widely recognized as key times of transition, beginning with toddlers moving on from preschool to kindergarten, then from elementary to middle school, middle to high school, and from high school to whatever comes next in life. Is it postsecondary education at a college, university or trade school? Is…
Nate Zimmerman was among the first class of residents to enter Pathways Academy on March 17, 2014. On that clear crisp Saturday morning. Nate unloaded his duffel from his father’s truck and made his way up the driveway. His first words were spoken with an earnestness and intensity that we’ve come to learn is pure…
The years following high school are a period of great transition for all young adults. That is particularly true of individuals with some form of disability or chronic condition. For many parents, it is an even more challenging time than when their child first received a diagnosis. Straight from the words of one who knows,…
Each person with autism has a distinct set of strengths and challenges. In the case of Bailey, a participant with Autism in UCP’s Community Participation Supports (CPS), one of his particular strengths—as well as his passion—is his remarkable ability to connect with music. For Bailey, age 24, there is no disability when it comes to…
