History
In 1946, a group of concerned parents of children with cerebral palsy in the Greater
New Orleans Area united in an effort to secure adequate services of non-prohibitive cost for their children. This group incorporated in 1950 as United Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater New Orleans and became the 13th affiliate of United Cerebral Palsy Association.
Drs. Lee Schlesinger and J. D. Russ began a Medical Clinic, screening children with cerebral palsy for treatment in 1950. Upon Dr. Schlesinger's death in 1954, Dr. Russ assumed the Medical Directorship.
In 1951, Johnny Rolland became the first Executive Director of UCPGNO. A play school for children with disabilities up to the age of 6 was started; school was followed by therapy sessions for older children in the afternoon.
An Adult Treatment Program was initiated in 1951, but this program only lasted until 1956.
In 1951, United Cerebral Palsy of Greater New Orleans entered into a cooperative effort with Easter Seal Society (then National Society for Crippled Children and Adults) and started a treatment program. Funds for this project were raised through a telethon in 1951 and in 1953. United Cerebral Palsy bought out Easter Seal Society and the center became the United Cerebral Palsy Treatment Center, primarily a program for children.
An Adult Sheltered Workshop was started in 1957. At that time, potted plants and seedlings were raised and cultivated for resale. The following year production of woven baskets, planters and tote bags was also begun. In 1960, the workshop abandoned the horticulture phase, but continued production of baskets, etc. Later that year, this project was substituted for the production of ceramic tile items.
In 1964, the Farhad Grotto installed a dental unit and dental services were added to the program under the direction of Dr. Ralph Diaz. Upon Dr. Diaz's retirement in 1984, Dr. Francis Martello volunteered his services as Director of the dental program and is still the director today.
Dr. Soboloff served as Medical Director from 1968 until 1987. After his death,
the UCPGNO treatment center was re-named the Soboloff Center for Children in honor of his thirty-five years of dedication. Calling it a "Center for Children" was to recognize that all disabilities were eligible for treatment if the needed therapeutic services were available. For many years, UCPGNO had opened its admissions policies to all developmental disabilities, but this fact was not widely known.
Glennie Wray became the new Executive Director of UCPGNO in 1980. During the same year the State UCPGNO Clinic under the direction of Dr. George Cary, merged with the local New Orleans affiliate to provide medical services to children with developmental disabilities throughout the State of Louisiana.
In 1981, Adult Services started a Work Activity Center and equipment was secured for silk screening T-Shirts and other articles of clothing, manufacture of buttons for organizations, shrink wrapping and printing posters.
Children’s Services moved to Touro Hospital in 1982. The play school at this time consisted of a morning program for babies under 3 years old followed by a nursery school. A multi-disciplinary team approach was evolving in working with the children. School and therapy began to be interwoven. Medical services and therapy were still available to older children and young adults up to the age of 21.
A second Work Activity Center was established in 1983. The main thrust of that program was to train and provide meaningful work in the areas of janitorial services, gardening and wood-working. From time to time, both work activity centers secured various in-center assembly and mailing contracts.
A Sports Program was also established in 1983 under the chairmanship of UCPGNO Board Member, C. J. Bennett. The team, named the UCPGNO Hurricanes, served individuals with physical disabilities age 8 and above by developing each athlete’s physical potential and increasing their self-esteem.
In 1984 Adult Services were offering a full range of employment services, transportation, community access activities and advocacy.
In 1990, the UCPGNO Work Activity Center on the Westbank Center was closed. This was the beginning of an important transition by UCPGNO - moving the employees out of the workshop and into the community for training and/or employment. Through the years, UCPGNO has become a national leader in the transition from center-based to community-based adult employment.
Carol Porter became Executive Director of UCPGNO in 1989. In 1992, Consumer Residential Services began. The department name was changed to Supported Living Services (SLS) in 1997. SLS provides support to individuals with disabilities who choose to live independently within our community. Services include: personal care attendant, respite care, and supported living components.
In 1994, Paul Bussell became Executive Director. In 1995, Children’s Services began an Early Intervention Play Group for children birth to three years of age with developmental delays. In 1996 the Program made a transition from center-based to community-based early intervention services. Professionals began providing special instructions and therapy in the child’s most natural environment, such as child care centers or the child’s home.
In 1996, a Wheelchair Seating Clinic was started by Dr. James T. Bennett. A team of professionals, including an orthopaedic surgeon, a physical therapist and rehabilitation specialists began working together to evaluate, measure and fit children for wheelchairs. In 1999 a Neurosurgeon, Dr. John Walsh, was added to the team to add an even wider range of services. In year 2000 Dr. Walsh added a Spasticity Clinic to further expand UCPGNO’s medical services to children with disabilities and the J. Monroe Laborde Spasticity clinic was dedicated on February 14, 2000. Dr. Missy Binder joined the group in 2000 with the initiation of a “Wellness” clinic for children, youth and young adults with disabilities - birth to 21 years of age. Dr. Diane Africk, Neurologist, joined the team in 2002 to add another needed dimension to our clinics.
An important transition has taken place in the Adult Services and Supported Living Services during the last 20-30 years. In the past, “experts” have decided what was best for the UCPGNO adult customers – for example in employment opportunities, a professional would look at the person’s disability and decide what kind of job he/she was capable of doing. UCPGNO began to incorporate a Person Centered Planning approach in 1998: The customers are now in the driver’s seat; with professional counseling,
they decide what their goals are and what kind of job they desire. The focus is on their ability and needs; not their disability. Year 2000 brought other important changes in Adult Services. UCPGNO has made the transition from center-based activities to community-based. Instead of keeping people with disabilities segregated in centers, our adults are working, volunteering and spending their leisure time in real-life situations in their own community. Since that time UCPGNO’s services to adults has been reorganized under the title of Independent Living Services (ILS).
UCPGNO celebrated its 50th Anniversary in Year 2000. For decades United Cerebral Palsy of Greater New Orleans has been fulfilling its mission in the metropolitan area of New Orleans: To advance the independence, productivity, and full citizenship of people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. A vision statement was adopted in 2000, Focusing on Abilities; helping you create opportunities.
A Board of Directors was formed in 1948. The board structure was Chairman of the Board for the first 2 years; President from 1950 until 1998; and then Chairperson in 1999.
Janet Ware was appointed Acting Executive Director in March 2005 but left the organization in July 2005. The search was on for a new Executive Director.
On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast Region. During that time, Jo Bugg was appointed the new Executive Director. The challenges were tremendous but Jo was determined to see UCP survive and on October 13, 2005 UCPGNO reopened its doors. All of our programs were drastically affected by this disaster. Our children’s program went from 54 participants to 5, Supported Living from 78 to 49 and our Mobile Crew from 47 to 7. These were trying and challenging times for UCPGNO but under Jo’s strong leadership, UCPGNO survived the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. We will continue to grow and become stronger than ever.
In June 2006 Jo moved the Administration offices 2200 Veterans Memorial Blvd. in Kenner. The downsizing, insurance cuts and money saved because of this move has helped UCP survive.
The future looks bright for UCPGNO. We have as many Supported Living Customers as we did before Katrina and our Supported Employment and Children’s Programs are continuing to grow. As New Orleans rebuilds, UCPGNO will be here, ready to help the disabled community put their lives back together.
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