UCP of Georgia was founded in 1965 as a small group of parents, health care professionals and concerned citizens came together to advocate for community-based services for children with cerebral palsy and other intellectual and developmental disabilities.
UCP has come a long way in advancing the independence and full citizenship of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities since that time, but there are still significant challenges to be addressed. Today, a core value of our organization continues to be an unwavering commitment to advocate for the rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
UCP’s advocacy efforts are targeted to impact public policy relating to the rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities; increase access to services and supports designed to advance independence and community inclusion; and educate the general public to in order to make our Georgia communities more welcoming places for all people to live.
UCP of Georgia shares strategic partnerships with other community groups relating to public policy and funding for services, including: UCP national organization to impact federal policy, provider and family associations to impact state and local policy and funding, as well as maintaining an open dialog with funding sources such as the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, and the Department of Community Health.
UCP’s National Policy, Principles, and Positions
UCP’s policy agenda covers five domains – dignity, independence and community-inclusion, access to support and enabling services, support for disability service providers, and innovation in supports and technology to enhance life for individuals with disabilities and their families.
Case for Inclusion
Since 2006, the Case for Inclusion has been a leading source for data and policy recommendations regarding the effectiveness of state Medicaid programs in serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families. The most comprehensive report of its kind, the Case for Inclusion gives lawmakers, advocates and other disability champions a sense of the scope of the challenges we face—a necessary first step to creating a roadmap for how to drive progress in the states to ensure that people with IDD can live, work and thrive in the community. The Case for Inclusion is presented in partnership between United Cerebral Palsy and the ANCOR Foundation. Designed especially for advocates who believe that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities should have options and resources to live life without limits, the Case for Inclusion outlines the challenges and opportunities confronting providers working on the frontlines of community inclusion.
Olmstead Rights Georgia Disability Site
Olmstead Rights provides a clearinghouse of government agencies and disability rights organizations in Georgia. They may be able assist with disability advocacy, Medicaid, and accessing other community resources to help people with disabilities.
American Network of Community Options and Resources
UCP of Georgia is a proud member of American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR), a leading advocacy network for the critical role service providers play in enriching the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As a national nonprofit trade association, ANCOR represents 1,600+ organizations employing more than a half-million professionals who together serve more than a million individuals with I/DD. ANCOR’s mission is to advance the ability of members to support people with I/DD to fully participate in their communities. You can get involved with our legislative advocacy efforts by visiting ANCOR’s Advocacy Toolkit.
Service Providers Association for Developmental Disabilities (SPADD)
SPADD is an inclusive association of community-based organizations that support people with disabilities. SPADD’s mission is to improve services to persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Georgia. To accomplish this mission, SPADD focuses on educating the provider community on best practices in the field, advocacy, and education regarding public policy. UCP of Georgia is proud to be a founding parter and long time SPADD member organization.
