United Cerebral Palsy of Huntsville & Tennessee Valley, Inc.

To enhance the quality of life for individuals with disabilities and promote their independence, self-sufficiency and full citizenship in the community through direct services, community education, parent training and advocacy.

“An Irish Evening” dinner, entertainment and silent auction; Celebrity Waiter Nights; T.A.S.C. Plant Sale; Golf Tournament; Taste of Huntsville; Direct Connection to the North Pole. Visit www.ucphuntsville.org for a current list of upcoming events.

Organized locally in 1963 to meet the childcare needs of parents of physically disabled children, UCP has grown into a leading therapeutic and educational resource, providing a range of services to children and adults with disabilities and their families. UCP also provides therapy to children with sports-related injuries.

The UCP Therapy Center, located at 2075 Max Luther Drive in Huntsville, provides physical, occupational and speech therapy, as well as educational and social services to 1,000 children and adults annually in Madison, Marshall, Morgan, Limestone and Jackson counties in North Alabama.

The UCP Technology and Training Center, located at 1856 Keats Drive in Huntsville, provides assistive technology evaluation, trainings and workshops, as well the agency’s quality childcare enhancement training program. An additional 2,000 children statewide benefit from these services annually.

Today, UCP of Huntsville & Tennessee Valley, Inc. provides thousands of hours of service annually to clients ages birth through adulthood at little or no cost to individuals, families or professionals. UCP services and support are provided by 21 full-time and six part-time health, education and business professionals.

UCP of Huntsville & Tennessee Valley, Inc. Programs and Services

Early Intervention

UCP’s Early Intervention program focuses on identifying developmental delays in children from birth to three years of age, developing a treatment plan, and providing appropriate therapy and intervention services to fit individual needs. Parents and families are also provided with disability education and training. In addition, a preschool readiness playgroup is offered weekly for children 18 months to three years of age to provide children with the enjoyable learning experiences and the socialization skills needed to enter a traditional classroom setting.

Outpatient Therapy

This service provides therapeutic evaluations and direct treatment, including physical, occupational and speech therapy, for individuals of all ages. UCP of Huntsville & Tennessee Valley, Inc. features the latest in therapeutic equipment for its clients. When a physician prescribes outpatient therapy, young children with disabilities may also be provided with splinting and casting services to allow for proper bone growth and development. Computerized gait analysis and neuromuscular electrical stimulation services are available.

Children’s Therapy Services

Therapy services are also offered to typically developing children with short-term injuries due to sports and childhood accidents. Services offered for children ages birth to 16 years include pediatric physical, occupational and speech therapy and are available upon physician referral.

Infant Massage

Infant massage classes teach parents how to properly massage their babies to promote parent and child bonding. Infant massage also helps babies relax tight muscles, aids in alleviating constipation and colic, and helps babies fall asleep easier. The class is offered to all parents and infants birth to six months old, as well as expectant mothers.

CCEP (Childcare Enhancement with a Purpose)

UCP offers training to childcare providers across the Tennessee Valley to help create an inclusive environment for children with special needs. The CCEP program provides on-site training, consultation and technical assistance to preschools, daycares and other childcare providers. More than 2,000 North Alabama children benefit annually from this basic child development and inclusion education and training.

T.A.S.C. (Technology Assistance for Special Consumers)

T.A.S.C. came under the umbrella of services of UCP of Huntsville & Tennessee Valley, Inc. in 2005 to expand its commitment to helping individuals with disabilities obtain and use technology to improve their independence at home, school and work. T.A.S.C. offers a fully accessible computer and training lab, state-of-the-art technology and equipment loans, adaptive literature, teacher and professional training, community-based demonstrations, adaptive technology evaluations and outreach, all for minimal or no cost to clients.

Family Connections

This program provides parenting sessions with a licensed counselor, family outings for networking and support, mentoring between new and veteran families within the disability community, resource information and referrals.

Equipping Families for Success

A licensed counselor is available for direct and/or group counseling for families affected by a disability.

Equipment loan and recycling programs

The Waste Not and SHARE (Special Help with Adaptive Resources & Equipment) programs allow UCP to assess, demonstrate and loan durable medical and mobility equipment to individuals with disabilities. Training for use of equipment is also available.

H.E.A.R.T.S. (Help Emergency and Respite Treatment Service)

The H.E.A.R.T.S. program is designed to provide respite care for families of children with special needs up to age 16. Skilled respite is provided by licensed nurses or nursing assistants through local home health agencies. A voucher system allows parents to secure a caregiver of their choosing with payment by voucher.

Alabama Respite

The Alabama Lifespan Respite Resource Network (Alabama Respite) was created to identify respite resources across the state, develop a directory of those resources that is easily accessible by caregivers, and assist communities in developing additional respite services. The program expanded in order to help develop new resources, train caregivers and offer technical assistance and training to respite providers.

Art Stops

UCP clients and their siblings ages three and older are invited to participate in free art workshops taught by local artist S. Renee’ Prasil. Children are given opportunities to express their creativity, learn about textures, colors and shapes while developing their fine motor and language skills in a fun environment. Parents can choose to have a two-hour break while their children are in Art Stops, a much-needed respite for many of them. Some choose to stay and participate in art projects with their children to help strengthen family bonds and create a greater connection with UCP.

Sensory Camp

Attending sensory day camp for one week each summer at UCP is a much anticipated event for many of our community’s children with special needs. Camps feature theme-based language, motor and sensory activities through arts and crafts, games, movement, music, snacks and computer time. The camps are staffed by physical, occupational and speech/language therapists, special educators and qualified volunteers. Community visitors also share their talents with the children to provide music, movement and art experiences. Two different sessions are scheduled based on client ages in order to accommodate both preschool and elementary students.