UCP Lending Libraries Provide Opportunities to “Try Before You Buy”
UCP, through its Assistive Technology Services division–operates two distinct lending libraries from its Camp Hill Administrative Office.
Free Special Phone Program Puts the “Assist” in Assistive Technology
Do you miss phone calls because you can’t hear the ringer? Or don’t make calls because you can’t see the numbers to dial? Do you have difficulty hearing what others say on the phone? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you need to check out Pennsylvania’s Free Special Phone Program (also known as Telecommunication Device Distribution Program or TDDP).
If you are an eligible Pennsylvania resident with a disability that impedes independent access to telephone services, you may qualify to receive specialized equipment FREE OF CHARGE.
Abby Celesky DSP of the Year 2021
UCP was thrilled to receive word that our own Abigail Celesky was selected as the Central Region Direct Support Professional of the Year in the 2021 PAR “We Are Worth It” Awards! Abby was recognized for her ability to continue to provide home and community supports at a time when she was unable to meet with individuals in their homes or take them out into the community.
Recognizing the value of meaningful employment
At UCP, the concept of diversity and inclusion is nothing new. In fact, we’ve been promoting diversity and modeling inclusion—at home, school, work, and in the community—for nearly 70 years. That’s because we value the contributions made by people of ALL abilities in ALL aspects of life, including employment. So this October, in celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), our message is clear: inclusion means inclusion for all. And it begins with the employer.
Our DSPs ROCK!! And We’ve Got the Stories to Prove It.
“I have been working with an individual for over 20 years, and we have grown together in so many ways. The pandemic was a very different time for everyone. The individual that I work with and I sat down together and discussed this very important time. We talked about the importance of being safe and following all the new protocols for the seemingly new normal. We both decided that we were not going to let this scary time get us down or make us stop spending quality time together; in fact, it would do just the opposite. We decided that we were going to think outside the box and do fun things.” ~ Barb Feaser, DSP, Home and Community Services
Choice for Josh Means “He’s More Himself”
Josh Zimmerman is a participant in UCP’s Agency with Choice (AWC) service model which gives him the freedom to make choices that he believes are in his own best interest. That includes the ability to choose who he hires, what rate he pays, and what schedule he keeps. As a result, Josh chose his mother Vera to be one of his paid support professionals. She says the dynamic of their working relationship has been remarkable.
Jackie Wardle: Finding Her Purpose… Putting the “Assist” in Assistive Technology
UCP Assistive Technology Program Manager Jackie Wardle bounded into the Community Relations office and with great exuberance, asked “Got time to take some pictures?” Then she proceeded to describe the purpose of the proposed photo opp: to recognize Messiah Lifeways, a local network of senior services and residential communities, for their recent donation of 16 manual wheelchairs to UCP’s Changing Hands equipment reuse program. The chairs were either left behind or no longer of use to members of the Lifeways community. But in Jackie’s hands, they would prove to be life-changing gifts to 16 other individuals or families in need.
Sister Provides Powerful Testimonial on Impact of UCP Central PA
Carmen Henry-Harris was motivated to reach out to UCP when she saw the testimonial insert that was included with their recent participant and family survey. The questions got her thinking about how far her brother Ray had come since he made the move into a UCP home. So she decided to share their story.
Celebrating the Beauty That Surrounds Us
The rains that fell in April help us better appreciate the flowers that bloom in May. In the photo above, Blair–a participant in UCP’s modified At Home CPS–reminds us of that simple truth.
UCP Resident Spreads Joy
Recently, I was able to spend some time with Beth Catlin, a resident of one of UCP’s 16 community homes throughout Central PA. Beth moved into the Enola home after her mother, with whom she had been living, was moved to an assisted living facility in 2020. Beth is personable, engaging, and has an astounding gift for recall, in particular for sports-related statistics and for birth dates. She routinely exercises her capacity to remember dates–and at the same time blesses others–by crafting and sending homemade birthday cards to pretty much everyone she meets.