United Cerebral Palsy Of Central Florida Inc

At UCP of Central Florida (UCP) we are 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 serve children with all types of disabilities and developmental delays, such as autism, Down syndrome, spina bifida, speech delays and cerebral palsy. Our SET of services includes:
Support -- From the time the need for early intervention is identified, UCP of Central Florida's bilingual family services staff offers guidance and support to parents and other family members. This partnership lasts as long as services are provided to their children and includes individual counseling, education sessions, bilingual resource materials, respite care, parent support groups and transition services to the public school system. Families are provided one-on-one support from a licensed clinical social worker that helps families discuss their concerns in a solution-focused manner that leads them to recognize options they may not have previously identified.

Education -- Our education program is individualized for young children birth to six years. The early intervention education program stresses screening, diagnosis, placement, goal setting and the regular evaluation of each child's progress. Classrooms allow for a daily routine that encourages play, exploration, socialization and learning. Lesson plans reflect the need for reading readiness, gross and fine motor activities, creative expression, language activities and sensory experiences. Children are encouraged to interact with other children, adults and educational materials.

UCP's educational program includes six charter schools that serve children from birth through kindergarten, before and after school care, recreation programs, inclusion program, and the Transitional Learning Academy (a middle school for children with disabilities). UCP also offers voluntary pre-kindergarten (VP-K) services.

Therapy -- UCP of Central Florida's therapy program provides corrective physical, occupational and speech therapy for children birth to 21. Physical therapists (PT) work on children's gross motor development to encourage walking, posture and balance. Occupational therapists (OT) help children develop fine motor skills that are needed to eat, write and dress. Speech therapists (SLP) concentrate on communication and language skills and oral motor skills such as eating, sucking, chewing and swallowing. Splinting and orthopedic clinics are offered in conjunction with a local physician to make sure a child's bones are developing correctly. Music therapy addresses physical, cognitive and social functioning and strengthens non-musical areas such as: hearing and speech, eye-hand coordination, and communication skills. This enables children to take greater advantage of learning opportunities in school and develop social skills, the ability to listen to others, and to learn how to wait for a turn and to appropriately express emotions.