The mission of United Cerebral Palsy is to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with disabilities through an affiliate network.

The Washington, DC-based national office, provides key services for its affiliates and serves people with disabilities and others through the development of forward-thinking programs, and information and referral service, legislative advocacy, technology initiatives and research. Direct service provision for people with disabilities and their families is offered through their 100 UCP affiliates in 37 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, Australia and Scotland.

UCP affiliates serve more than 176,000 children and adults with disabilities and their families every day through programs such as therapy, assistive technology training, early intervention programs, individual and family support, social and recreation programs, community living, state and local referrals, employment assistance and advocacy. Each affiliate offers a range of services tailored to its community's needs. UCP is the leading source of information on cerebral palsy and other disabilities and is a pivotal advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities.

More than 65% of people served by UCP have disabilities other than cerebral palsy. UCP consistently is rated as one of the most financially responsible charities, with 85 cents of every dollar spent directly on local programs and services.

UCP has long been a forceful advocate for disability policy in Washington, DC, working to protect the rights and benefits of people with disabilities before Congress and the Administration.  For the past five years, UCP has teamed-up with The Arc of the United States to establish the Disability Policy Collaboration.  Focusing on legislative and legal supports, our professional advocates interact with federal and state policymakers to advance a life without limits for people with disabilities and their families. 

Separately, UCP continues its own targeted advocacy focusing on the quality and outcome of Medicaid services being delivered by the states to the MR/DD population, the poor wages paid to professional care givers (WhoWillCare.org), and the needs of people with disabilities as an electoral voting bloc (DontBlockMyVote.org). UCP will continue expanding its advocacy efforts as new initiatives arise from Life Without Limits.

Learn more about the state of affairs for the 54 million Americans with disabilities in our UCP publication, "The State of Disability in America."

For nearly 60 years, United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) has been committed to change and progress for persons with disabilities. Founded in 1949, the national organization and its nationwide network of affiliates strive to ensure the inclusion of persons with disabilities in every facet of society—from the Web to the workplace, from the classroom to the community. As one of the largest health charities in America, the mission of United Cerebral Palsy is to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with disabilities through an affiliate network.

We strive to build a better world for tomorrow—today. The backbone of United Cerebral Palsy is the services that are provided by our affiliates. UCP affiliates serve more than 170,000 children and adults with disabilities and their families every day. Our affiliates provide services such as housing, therapy, assistive technology training, early intervention programs, individual and family support, social and recreation programs, community living, state and local referrals, employment assistance and advocacy. Each affiliate offers a range of services tailored to its community's needs.

Contributions to United Cerebral Palsy, a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, are tax deductible to the extent allowed by the governing laws. UCP's Federal Tax Number is 13-1641079. To request Form 990 from AP, send your request to National@ucp.org.

If you would like more information about how to donate to UCP, please call our office at (800) 872-5827 during normal business hours (EST) or send us an email.

The Big Sky Project, now known as Life Without Limits is a national effort to create a new vision of the future for people with disabilities. The project is designed to raise public awareness about the serious challenges that remain for people with disabilities and develop strategies, initiatives, programs, and public policy to address them.

The Life Without Limits project was conceived in April 2004 in response to the realization that goals set many years ago that led to both the deinstitutionalization of many individuals with disabilities and the passing of the ADA have not been fully realized. The fact that there is a long way to go before individuals with disabilities are fully integrated into all aspects of society motivated UCP to jump start a far-reaching dialogue about how people with disabilities can become fully integrated in society and live life without limits.

Read more about this program at: http://www.ucp.org/ucp_general.cfm/1/16243