United Cerebral Palsy

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP), sometimes known as United Cerebral Palsy Associations, is a network of affiliated groups in the United States which works to "advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with disabilities" (from UCP's mission statement), including people with cerebral palsy.

UCP was founded in 1949 by Leonard Goldenson and his wife Isabel, and Jack and Ethel Hausman. (Leonard was the American Broadcasting Company's guiding spirit from the 1950s to the 1980s).

UCP pioneered in the use of fundraising telethons. TV personality Dennis James was the MC of UCP's primary telethon (in New York City on what is now WWOR-TV) for 47 years, aided by Jane Pickens, Paul Anka, Florence Henderson and other performers. When the telethon went national in 1979 with John Ritter as lead emcee in Los Angeles, UCP enlisted James as a presenter, in addition to James's duties as the anchor of the East Coast version. Ritter's brother Tom has long suffered from CP.

In addition to raising money for services and research, UCP also engages in public policy advocacy, including promoting the right of people with a disability to vote.

UCP also provides a number of programs which encourage individuals with disabilities to be proactive in the direction of their own lives. An excellent example of this is the PCA Program administered by the office in Watertown, MA. Through the PCA program, consumers with disabilities are able to take control of their personal care program, hiring, scheduling, training and evaluating their own employees.