OUR MISSION Our mission is to empower children with and without disabilities to achieve their potential by providing individualized support, education and therapy services in an inclusive environment. Through our services, the dedication of UCP Team Members, and the hard work of our children and families, we’ve seen children overcome incredible hurdles. Here are just a few of the many amazing stories that we are fortunate to share! GAGE’S STORY Gage was born with Congenital Hydrocephalus and started with UCP when he was three years old. He was completely dependent on a walker to maneuver his school environment and often crawled around the classroom. Six years later, Gage attends one of UCP’s Elementary Charter Schools and is walking independently throughout the campus! UCP provides an environment that encourages self confidence, teamwork, and every opportunity to excel. You can often find Gage walking around telling a good story! “The benefits kind of speak for themselves. They came month by month and year by year. Now he is walking on his own.” — Colin (Gage's Father) ERIKA, SAMANTHA, YARELI AND THEIR CHILDREN Erika, Samantha, and Yarely are three sisters enrolled in UCP’s BETA Teen Parent Connection Program at our Downtown/BETA Campus. Before finding UCP/BETA, Erika and Samantha dropped out of high school when they each discovered they were pregnant. When their younger sister Yarely found out she was pregnant, she contacted the BETA Teen Parent Connection Program and encouraged her sisters to continue their education together. Erika, Samantha, and Yarely receive a full academic curriculum through our partnership with OCPS as well as parenting support and counseling. While they’re at school, their children are in daycare on campus and Erika’s son is in UCP’s inclusive kindergarten program. They graduated May 2019. “It helps your self esteem. It makes you feel like you’re doing good with your baby and in life.” — Samantha (UCP BETA Student) THE STORY OF ANDRES Andres relocated from Puerto Rico with his mom and little brother after Hurricane Maria. Andres struggles with various physical and developmental delays as a result of Microcephaly, but had limited access to vital healthcare services in Puerto Rico. Today, Andres receives Pediatric Physical, Occupational, and Speech Language therapy at UCP’s Downtown/BETA Campus. In just a few months, Andres has made tremendous progress – he is eating solid foods for the first time, gaining mobility and working on sitting upright. Andres has a long journey ahead, but based on his hard work and the dedication of his family and therapists, we know he will make great progress. “I found UCP, that was for me the best thing that could’ve happened in my life.” — Erika (Andres' Mother) DONATE MORE STORIES FOLLOW US FOR MORE STORIES UCP OF CENTRAL FLORIDA 4780 DATA COURT, ORLANDO, FL, 32817, UNITED STATES 4078523300 INFO@UCPCFL.ORG SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER Stay up to date on UCP’s latest events, news, career opportunities and more! Subscribe SIGN UP ABOUT OUR VISION LEADERSHIP TEAM BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONTACT WAYS TO HELP DONATE JOIN THE TEAM VOLUNTEER MIRACLES SOCIETY IMPACT IMPACT REPORT SUCCESS STORIES UCP BLOG OTHER PAGES LOCATIONS EVENTS UCP APPAREL UCP of Central Florida is a non-profit (501(c) (3)) organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children of all abilities in Central Florida. We are an affiliate member of the national UCP organization that is independently owned and operated. Identification Number: 59-0799925 © 2020 - UCP of Central Florida | All Rights Reserved