From a simple dream, to a life-changing reality.

Once upon a time, a child with cerebral palsy needed help to walk, talk and lean, tasks that are easy to many of us. Soon, more children needed help. Wanting to offer hope to these children with special needs, a group of parents in Central Florida got together and began to dream.

1955

Like many great stories, the story of UCP of Central Florida began with a simple goal: offering hope to children, particularly those with cerebral palsy. Discovering that very few options outside of institutions existed, this group of parents began a small program. In a remodeled house on Colonial Drive, this program provided an early intervention classroom and therapy services. The dream of offering hope to children began to take shape. More importantly, it started to grow.

1980

In 1980, thanks to the generosity of Jack Holloway (founder of ABC Fine Wine and Spirits) and some of his friends, UCP moved to a larger facility on South Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando. UCP needed more space, and because there was a decrease in the number of incidences of cerebral palsy and an increase in others, children with other types of disabilities and developmental delays, including Down syndrome, autism, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, speech and hearing delays also needed help.

1990

In the 1990s, to meet the growing needs of the community, UCP opened campuses in East Orange County, Winter Garden, Lake Mary and Kissimmee. In 1999, the community helped UCP raise money through a capital campaign to build and furnish a 20,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art children's center which was designed pro bono by the architect firm SCHENKELSHULTZ. To honor the contributions of Jack Holloway it was named the Holloway Center.

2000

In addition to opening more campuses, UCP opened its educational programs to children without disabilities. This inclusion model creates an open society where children of all abilities learn, play and socialize without limitations or fear of being excluded. Because of the uniqueness and quality of UCP’s programs, families began seeing UCP as an alternative for their child.

In 2003, UCP opened a small campus in Pine Hills and in 2006 relocated to a new, larger facility off Silver Star Road. This larger facility allowed UCP to fulfill the need of an area of Orlando that lacked effective educational services for children in a safe environment where they are taught the proper skills by highly qualified staff.

In 2009, UCP relocated its East Orange campus to a new, state-of-the-art campus in Central Florida Research Park.This new campus was named the Bailes Campuse after the the family of Jackie and Chaelie Bailes for their dedication to helping improved the lives of UCP students and families. Designed in partnership with the University of Central Florida, this new campus expanded its charter school to third grade and integrates technology and the arts into their daily lesson plans. Most importantly, UCP eliminated a waiting list of more than 180 students who were waiting to enroll into education and therapy programs.

2011

A dream that continues to inspire.

Today, UCP provides the best support, education and therapy for children with and without disabilities. Unlike similar organizations, UCP provides a comprehensive SET of services — Support, Education and Therapy — to more than 2,400 children, teenagers and young adults. Services are provided at six locations throughout Central Florida: Downtown Orlando, Lake Mary, East Orange, West Orange, Pine Hills, and Kissimmee, as well as in their home and at local community centers.

The UCP story has provided happy endings to tens of thousands of children and their families; however, it will never be over. Like the way a candle lights many others, the hope of one child enlightens the community, inspiring each of us to reach higher.

UCP of Central Florida is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit agency and is responsible for a three county service area, including Orange, Seminole and Osceola Counties. We are an affiliate of UCP National; however we are independently owned and operated with all funds raised staying in our local community.

Our Mission and Vision

For more than 55 years, UCP has been the experts for children with special needs. By providing the best support, education and therapy, we offer hope to everyone touched by a disability.  We began our journey helping children with cerebral palsy. Over the years and as needs changed, we began helping children with a variety of disabilities and developmental delays, including Down syndrome, autism, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, speech and hearing delays.

Over the last ten years, our vision has carried us further.  We have  opened our doors to children without disabilities and embraced an education model called Inclusion. Our children, families and team members have experienced the positive outcomes that are a result of having children with and without disabilities learn and develop in the same classroom, where differences are embraced. Our vision is not only based on research that supports children with and without disabilities achieve the same or better academic outcomes when part of an inclusive classroom, but a desire from families and educators to have children of all abilities co-exist in a school environment together.

As we look forward, our efforts are based on the belief that every child should have the right to participate in a broad range of activities and contexts as full members of families, communities, and society.   Our hope is to collaberatively organize and support all schools and teachings so that each child receives a learning experience that fits their unique and individual needs. Our goal, which is already beginning at UCP,  is for  “inclusion” to be something that isn’t even noteworthy because it happens all the time anyway.

Please share in our mission and vision and celebrate with us all the children whose hands we have held over the years.

Together We Can Believe…
Meet the Lumm Family

When Andrew was born at 35 weeks alongside his twin sister Katelyn, who was born without a disability, his mom and dad were unsure of his future. Their dreams for him were the same as their other two children, but his challenges at birth left room for more questions than answers. Andrew was born 4 pounds, 2 ounces with Spina Bifida, hydrocephalus and club feet. Their older brother, Ryan, was thriving at age 2. Because Andrew’s spinal nerves were exposed, he required immediate surgery. Ten days later he was able to go home with his family, but returned two days later to relieve the swelling in his head caused by fluid on the brain. At age 6, Andrew has endured 12 surgeries and countless medical tests, so much for someone so young.  But one thing is for sure, the dreams Andrew’s parents had are coming true. They have watched miracles happen with their little boy that they never imagined were possible.

When you meet Andrew, you might notice his physical challenges like the ankle-foot orthoses that help him walk or the full body brace that allows him to stand straight with scoliosis that affects his little body. Andrew doesn’t see any challenges, he sees possibilities. As he pulls his shirt up to reveal the brace, he says “this is my Superman brace and it makes me feel like a man of steel”.

Andrew’s mom and dad, Rose Mary and David Lumm, have dedicated the last six years to providing their “man of steel” with the best medical care and early intervention possible. Because of this, when Andrew turned 4, the Lumm’s enrolled him at UCP of Central Florida’s new East Orange/Bailes Campus. 

As an educator and child advocate by profession, Rose Mary understood the importance of having children with and without disabilities in the same classroom.   According to Rose Mary, children learn from their peers.  An inclusive classroom allows Andrew the opportunity to learn with students of varied abilities under the direction of talented, loving teachers. Within six months, Andrew’s writing skills blossomed and his verbal language increased.  Andrew even calls himself a “little artist.”

When you ask Rose Mary and David what they want for their children now, they say, “We want them to be helped but also to help others; to be viewed as independent individuals; to be part of a school community where teachers meet them at their developmental level through creative teaching methods and for each of them to be happy, empathetic and have the skills needed to make friends.  At UCP, our children have these experiences and more. They give us another reason to believe.”

Together We Can Succeed…
Meet Nicole Encarnacian

Celebrating 55 years of helping children and their families, UCP has made a lasting impact on thousands of people in Central Florida. It’s not surprising then when you hear of a UCP alumnae like Nicole Encarnacion who has cerebral palsy and received therapy starting at age 12. When she began therapy, she was using a walker and crutches. When she was finished, she was able to stand using a quad cane. Eleven years later, and Nicole is turning 23 and graduating from UCF with a bachelor’s degree. Her academics aren’t the only thing she is excelling in. Nicole volunteers at UCP, the place that helped her achieve so much.

“I love being with the children and I know that what I do makes a difference," said Nicole. "Thanks to UCP, I’m able to soar and do things I love to do… My life has changed a lot because of UCP… I am able to achieve things that I never thought were possible.”

When you think of Nicole, achieving has a whole new meaning. She just received her driver’s license and couldn’t be happier. Thanks Nicole for all your achievements and for giving back so much of yourself to the children and families at UCP!

Together We Can Achieve…
Quincy and Jackson Reach
Unimaginable Milestone

Imagine for a moment your twin baby boys born premature at 23 weeks. Imagine then being told they have a 20% chance of survival. The month’s following their birth were filled with fear and uncertainty. Both were diagnosed with chronic lung disease and Quincy was also diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

The boy’s parents remember those early days. “They were in little incubators.Their skin was so fragile you could only rub the ends of there feet just to let them know you were there,” said the boy’s mom, Stephanie.

On the day the boys were being discharged from the hospital, a physician handed their parents information about UCP of Central Florida. Once the boys were strong enough, Quincy and Jackson started all of their therapy services at UCP and enrolled in their school as well. According to their mom, Quicny was on oxygen when he started at UCP. He couldn’t sit up and wasn’t using his hands. After just a few months of therapy, he is on the verge of sitting up, he uses his hands to play and eat and switches back and forth.

“When Quincy started crawling and pulling up to stand, it literally brought tears to my eyes.” said their mom. “After being told that Jackson would be paralyzed, the most miraculous moment was when he took his first couple of steps.”

According to the boy’s parents, when you have children born as early as Quincy and Jackson, they are truly miracle babies. Every day we walk away from UCP knowing this is the best place for them and this is exactly where they need to be, UCP promises the future we dream of for our boys.  

 

Who We Serve

UCP of Central Florida, a tuition free public charter school, is a resource for families, children, the medical community, and referral agencies in Central Florida. We provide support, education and therapy services in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties at seven campus locations.  We are convenient and provide all services in one place, making it easier for each child to experience excellent academics while having access to some of the best physical, speech and occupational therapists in Central Florida.

• As the experts for children with special needs, we help children birth to age 21 with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism, speech delays, developmental delays, vision and hearing impairments, and many others in our classrooms and therapy programs.
• As advocates for inclusion in our classrooms and in our community, we provide educational opportunities for children without disabilities in our inclusive classrooms at all six Central Florida locations. Inclusive classrooms are available for children birth to third grade.
• As tuition free public charter schools in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties, we serve the residents in those areas by providing a unique, quality education experience that creates a foundation for future success.
• As therapists, UCP serves children, teenagers and young adults through individually designed physical, speech and occupational therapy. We help those who've been told by others that they would never walk or talk or run achieve dreams.
• As clinicians and highly qualified educators, we provide valuable resources to physicians and the medical community by offering opportunities for education and therapy all in one place for their patients. 
• As a non-profit organization, we walk hand-in-hand with other community agencies whose mission it is to help children, with and without special needs, reach their full potential.  

The Financial Picture of Who We Serve

Approximately 70 percent of UCP's families are at a household income of less than $30,000 per year and an additional estimated 13 percent are at 80 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. We need your support to make more dreams a reality for children in our community. Invest now!
 

What We Are

EDUCATION:

• A tuitionfree public charter school
• Free for other eligible students through a variety of funding sources including 4C, Early Steps, VPK and others.
• Infant, toddler and preschool inclusion programs.
• Transitional Learning Academy for middle and high school students with disabilities.
• College Transition Program for young adults ages 18 to 21 with disabilities.
• Low student-teacher rations.
• Each class toddler and above is taught by a certified teacher and two additional teacher's assistants.
• Before and after-school care available.
• Summer enrichment and camp programs
• Inclusion programs available at seven locations.

THERAPY:

• A provider of Physical, Speech, Occupational and other specialty therapies.
• A team of therapists and clinicians who evaluate and work closely with physicians and families to help build a foundation for success.
• Serving Children birth to age 21.
• Out-patient therapy available at all seven locations as well as during school hours for students at UCP.
• A community partner who accepts referrals from other agencies as well as medical professionals including doctors and hospitals.
• A participant in the following commercial insurances including Aetna, Amerigroup, Beech Street, Children’s Medical Services (CMS), Cigna, Florida Medicaid, Humana PPO, Principal, Tricare/Champus Standard, United Health Care, United Health Care Medicaid and Staywell/Healthease/ATA.

SUPPORT:

• An Advocate for families and caregivers
• A source of information and referrals
• An opportunity for individual and family counseling
• Support groups for parents and siblings

OTHER:

• A privately and publicly funded nonprofit organization
• An affiliate of UCP, Inc., nationally recognized for quality services
• Spends 87 cents of every dollar to directly benefit programs and services
• Fundraisers to support programs and services