History
| 1953 | Articles of Incorporation and By Laws were developed, first board was elected; Robert Hohman was hired as first executive director; Program Services Committee and Medical Advisroy Committee formed |
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| Local affialites included: Minneapolis, St Paul and Duluth | |
| DAC (Daytime Activity Center) are created for individuals by 1957 special education statute. Volunteers favored to have children with cerebral palsy included in the funding portion of the act. This did not become a law until the late 60's; UCPM had a very active role in the process. | |
| Vocational Rehabilitation services are extended to people with severe disabilities. | |
| 1954 | First Telethon (in November - grossed $124,481) |
| Affiliates were started in Rochester & Olmstead County and St. Cloud. UCP of Minnesota spent a great deal of time developing programs with and in local affialates and assisting them in developing local fund raising campaigns. | |
| Goals: to increase the number o f facilities for the care and treatment of people with cerebral palsy; to increase the number of trained professionals who provide services to people with cerebral palsy; public educations about cerebral palsy; to draw upon the best professional resources to set up the desireable pattern of activity and to improvie the welfare of people with cerebral palsy. | |
| 1956 | Dr. Helen Wallace, in cooperation with the Dept of Public Welfare and the University of MN conducted a survey to determine the number of people with cerebral palsy in Minnesota.Results were published in 1962. |
| 1957 | advocated for establishing training programs at the Mankato and Moorhead Teachers College to train educators about teaching children with handicapps |
| 1959 | UCP of the Range is a new affiliate |
| The Medical Advisory Committee recommended a program of cerebral palsy education for general practioniers to be held as a past of a seminiar proposed by the Dept of Continuation Study at the U of M | |
| Social Security Act established the Medicare program | |
| Began to solocit funds from United Fund Campaigns in unaffilated areas | |
| 1960 | UCP display at the state dental convention |
| UCP of Austin is accepted at a new affiliate | |
| UCP shares Executive Director with UCP of Minneapolis/office located at UCP of Minneapolis facility on Hoover Street | |
| 1961 | January declared Cerebral Palsy Month by Governor Elmer L. Anderson |
| UCP of Greater St Paul disaffilates; UCP moves office to Griggs Midway Building | |
| Day Time Activity Centers legislation is passed that established Day Care Centers for the mentally retarded | |
| 1962 | UCP of Rochester disaffilated |
| A women's committee is formed to promote awareness & services for children with cerebral palsy | |
| UCP of Southwest Minnesota is formed | |
| Thanksgiving Hop - Minneapolis largest one in country KDWB radio station was the media partner; Teen Hops were held around the state in conjuntion with local affialites. (1962-1964 - event was conducted by the Minneapolis affiate in 1965) | |
| 1963 | Goals: to re-affialite St Paul, seek out service for the cerebral palsied, to formulate an evaluateion team in the Twun Citiesl to work to improve legislation for all of the handicapped, to involve public health nurses in the cerebral palsy program |
| UCP had its first booth at the Minnesota state fair. The women's committee provided volunteers; They also sold handmade items from the UCP of Minneapolis workshop | |
| Article about the Sweetheart Soap was in Ladies Home Journal | |
| UCP volunteers serve on the Governor's Advisory Committee for employment of the handicapped | |
| 1964 | Conducted a survey on a residental home for adult physially handicapped |
| Provide assistance to the Association for Mentally Retarded to improve inadeauqcies in state institutions | |
| 1965 | Medical advisory committee: reviews evaluation centers, the lab school in St Cloud, establishing an evalutaion center at Fairview Hospital for in and out-patient services; encougrage UCP to direct funds for the purchase of equipment and appliances for individuals |
| UCP adopts an anti-discrimination poicy | |
| UCP supports legislation to establish House bill # 8310 to establish additional sheltered workshops | |
| 1966 | Conducted first residential campaign in St. Paul |
| 1967 | Dr. Maynard Reynolds, University of Minnesota, review a $5.5 million research project and building on the University campus for handicapped children |
| Medical advisory committee become the clinical and medical services committee. | |
| St Paul UCP re-affialates with UCP and UCPA | |
| 1968 | The Architectural Barriers Act. UCPM worked along with Courage Center to have building facilities and sidewalk cuts be accessible to people with physical disabilities. The legislators, businesses and cities were not receptive to this change. This act ultimately included transportation facilities and services for people with disabilities and the elderly. |
| 1969 | Provided funding for Rubella Vaccine Immunization Centers |
| 1970 | Change the name to United Cerebral Palsy of Minnesota, Incorporated |
| Conducted direct mail campaign in | |
| 1971 | The Developmental Disabilities Act was passed. This included mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy and other neurological conditions. This was the beginning of "real change" for people with cerebral palsy and their families. Volunteers and staff coordinated with the national UCPM for this inclusion. Hours, days and months were spent on achieving the goal improving the quality of life for our population. |
| Volunteers represented UCPM on the State Developmental Disability Council and were in a position of leadership. The MN Special Education Law was extended to children (ages 5 - 21). Other issues worked on were: A right to treatment and least restrictive environment. Normalization and perceptions of people with disabilities. | |
| These years also brought about new programs for UCP of Minnesota which were: cerebral palsy clinics at Fairview Hospital in Minneapolis and in Hibbing. (clinic closed in 1971) | |
| Statewide door to door fundraising campagins and direct mail campagins were conducted | |
| UCPM distributes brochures on Rubella & the Measles vaccine | |
| "Peanut Butter Sunday" sponsored by 4-H groups statewide - 4-H groups sold jars of peanut butter | |
| Communities with a population of less than 2,000 were asked for 10 cents per capita for United Fund Campaigns | |
| UCP of Central MN reduces itsservice area to Stearns, Benton & Sherburne Counties | |
| UCPM has a booth at the state fair | |
| 4 year old Jimmie Hegstrom (son of Dr & Mrs Chester Hegstrom of Edina) was poster child | |
| MN Vikings Defensive Back, Ed Sharockman, is honarary campaign chairman | |
| UCP of Southwest Minnesota is dissolved | |
| 1972 | Social Security Act authorizes a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) included children. |
| Head Start Programs must also include children with disabilities. | |
| School districts are obligated to provide specialized instruction. | |
| 1973 | The Minnesota White House Conference on Handicapped involved 81 agencies and was largest one in country. We were in Time Magazine and maybe Life. |
| UCP provides financial assistance for a class action suit against six administrators of the sate institutions. | |
| Walk-a-thons held in Mankato, Winona, and Rochester; A tea was held at the Governor's Mansion | |
| UCP no longer has a poster child, various individuals are used in public relations pieces | |
| Northwest Reources Development contracts with UCP to conduct walk-a-thons statewide | |
| 1973 Rehab Act was rewritten with a stronger emphasis on providing services to people with severe disabilities. | |
| 1974 | UCP discontinues support for the evaluation clinics |
| 1500 jars of Peanut Butter are sold by UCP of Central Minnesota | |
| Guardianship laws are revised | |
| 1975 | UCP accepted a van from the Fraternal Order of Eagles which was used to transport people to activities |
| Increase request from community United Way campaigns to 12 cents per capita | |
| UCP of the Red River Valley is formed | |
| "Skip" Humphrey proposes language changes in the Dept of Public Welfare Law from "crippled" to physially or mentally handicapped | |
| 1977 | Howard Viken, WCCO radio was honorary chair of the Public Relations Campaign |
| Struggeling to maintain funding - re-evaluating the purpose of UCPM and its relation to local affiliates | |
| 1978 | Affiates included: St Cloud, Mower County, Duluth , Minneapolis, St Paul |
| 1980 | CP volunteers testified on behalf of the DVR on a state and national level. |
| Section 504 of Rehab Act was passed to protect people with disabilities against discrimination in all federally assisted programs and activities. (This required a lot of effort, hours and strategy because we were fighting the corporate world, legislation and congress.) | |
| Government and Legislative Affairs Committee work on Public Law 94-142 (education ) and Rule 38 licensing for Day Activity Centers and early childhood programs; the zero to 3 mandate for early intervention services for children with special needs; | |
| Priority areas were changed in the area of living arrangements. Institutions began to close, community based facilities were becoming an alternative. | |
| Advocacy programs were established throughout the state, utilizing all eleven economic regions and recruiting parents/adult individuals to represent cerebral palsy in their respective communities. | |
| Fundraising/P.R. was successful with walkathons, bike-a-thon, dance-a-thon, wine tasting party, outstate United Ways, grants from the Developmental Disabilities, booth at the State Fair for 10 years, Miss Teen Pageant, World's Larget Office Party; | |
| Governor Anderson requested the state organizations (UCPM) study and recommend a change of status for the Gillette Hospital. Volunteers served on the task force to assist in providing information to parents on communicating with their doctors about their "handicapped" child; developing a booklet on insurance coverage: Health Care Coverage and Your Disabled Child: A Guide for Parents; developing support groups for parents of children with disabilities. UCPM supports the establishment of the gait analysis laboratory. | |
| Local affialites included : Southeastern Minnesota (information & referral, parent support groups, financial support through grants) [Counties include: Maurer, Steele, Dodge, Greeborne, Fillmore, Olmstead, Wasesa, Wakasha (wI0 and some Iowa Counties]; Duluth (pre-school & transportation; Minneapolis (pre-school & sheltered workshop; St Cloud (Stearns, Benton & Sherburne Counties) | |
| The state held a telethon for eleven years, involving many volunteers from the community including business and corporate, government and celebrities. Telethon sponsors included Reality World, Jaycees, National Home Improvement Council | |
| UCPM begins communication aids funds and begins to research what resources are available and to determine needs | |
| UCP & Courage Center support the CP Games | |
| 1982 | UCP of Minneapolis disaffiliates |
| UCPM supports Bruce Simon in USA Cerebral Palsy Sports Games; UCPM, Courage Center and West Suburban Civitan Clubs host sports games for people with disabilities | |
| UCPM develops a program to purchase or loan augmentative communication devices to individuals | |
| Jewish War Veteran's host a haunted house as a fund raising opportunity for UCPM | |
| Parent support groups begin meeting | |
| 1983 | UCP of Southeastern Minnesota disaffiates |
| UCPM and the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living develop a used equipment clearing house - publish Used Equipment Referral Manual, (1983 - 1995) | |
| Consumer support groups begin meeting | |
| UCPM develops a nutritional program which provides workshops statewide and publishes a book Nutrition for Children with Special Needs (1984-1991) | |
| UCPM is one of 20 agencies participating on the task force for children with disabilities | |
| UCPM acts as fiscal agent to St Paul Pilot Parents Projects and is a co-sponsor with ARC Minnesota in developing additional Pilot Parent Projects stateweide | |
| UCPM Government Activities committee and volunteers advocate for para-transit services | |
| 1987 | UCPM hosts UCPA annual conference |
| UCPM conducts charitable gambling (1987 - | |
| UCPM support the Americans with Disabilities Act and volunteers provide testimony to representatives of state and federal government agencies and state and local agencies | |
| 1989 | UCPM develops and implements the Radisson Respitality Program "Give Me A Break" - which gives parents of a child with cerebral palsy an opportunity to stay at a Radisson Hotel. (1989 - 1995) |
| 1990 | Amendments to existing bills were always reviewed & required working on saving what was in place. |
| Movie "My Left Foot" premiere | |
| 1991 | Telethon cancelled due to Golf War |
| UCP becomes a member of the Combine Health Appeal (Community Health Charities) to receive workplace donations in the Twin Cities Metro Area | |
| The play "Creeps" is presented by the Initial Stage Theatre Collective | |
| 1992 | Ann Bancroft is honorary telethon chair |
| UPC hosts "Casual Day" | |
| 1993 | Rob Chalmers is the first person with cerebral palsy to chair the Board of Directors. |
| Mike Madonn, Minnesota North Stars, is the honorary telethon chairman. UCP host's the last telethon in January 1993 | |
| The Duluth affialiate disaffiliates | |
| 1994 | Public policy issues: health care reform; support for personal care attendents; medical assistance for employed persons with disabilities; early intervention services (Part H), and transportation |
| Fund raising events included Paws-athon; Casual Day (1994 - 2000); a concert with the 3M Orchestra; the "World's Largest Line Dance," | |
| 1996 | UCPA charters directly with affialiates. Local affiliates no longer need to be a member of the state organization in order to charter with UCPA. |
| 1997 | Fund raising events include: a golf tournament, stationary bike race; ticket sales to a MN Twins game, and casual day |
| UCP, PACER Center, ARC Minnesota and Epilepsy form the Coalition for Children to lobby for education for all children. UCP continues participation in the Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities. | |
| UCP of Central Minnesota disaffiliates from UCPM | |
| Technology needs of the office are reviewed | |
| UCP encourages the state of Minnesota to develop a speech to speech telecommunication system for people with verbal communication disorders. Speech to Speech is similar to the relay system for people with hearing impairments | |
| UCP assists the Minnesota Center for Conductive Education in their development | |
| 1998 | UCP applys for grant from the Minnesota STAR program to expand the augmentative communication device lending library and creates the Minnesota Assistive Technology Loan Network (MATLN). With the grants from STAR, an online database is developed, additional augmentative and alternative communication equipment is purchased, and workshops are held around the state. |
| 1999 | Tony Olivia is UCP's guest at the golf tournament |
| UCPM volunteers testify at the legislature is support of work incentive legislation for people with disabilities | |
| 2000 | UCPA has a new logo and promotes a new brand identity marekting plan |
| UCPM and UCP of West Central WI plan and host a conference on Aging & Cerebral Palsy | |
| Twenty organizations, including UCPM, host a celebration for the annivesary of the Americans with Disabilities Act | |
| 2001 | UCP provides volunteers to be part of a focus group for Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare to develop a clinic for adults with cerebral palsy. |
| Dynavox Systems and UCP host first Zippity Zoo Day - a day for people who use augmentative communication devices to socialize with each other | |
| 2002 | UCPM hosts UCPA annual conference |
| Bellows Grant funds from UCPA are available to each affiliate to purchase assistive technology for individuals with disabilities. | |
| Premiere for the movie "Door to Door" | |
| 2003 | MN Timberwolves Mascot, Crunch, makes a guest appearance at the Great Minnesota Stationary Bike Race |
| Dr. Robert Brunininks agrees to be the keynote speaker at the 50th anniversary celebration | |
| UPC assists Mark Hughes with his cable TV show "Disability Viewpoints" by providing speakers and topics of interest to appear on the show | |
| UCP opposes scholarships (similar to the McKay Scholorships used in Florida) as a means of educationg students with disabilities. | |
| UCPM is featured during the month of September on the cable TV show "Around Town" | |
| "It has always been a struggle to maintain our programs and services for people with cerebral palsy. We believe in the dignity and rights each individual must have. It is our passion to this organization that has kept us viable, strong and committed. I do believe we will always prevail." Bernie Klein |
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