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Roy was born in 1924 with cerebral palsy, and raised in the small town of Perth, North Dakota. He could walk but needed assistance from his brother and sister on snowy days. His sister (my mother) was devastated at 8 years old when hearing a neighbor say “people like that don’t live very long.”

2020 has been filled with inconveniences for all of us. COVID-19 has limited our ability to travel, shop and visit with friends, and it’s forced us to rethink the way we go about our days. For individuals with developmental difficulties, it’s added another hurdle to a life already filled with challenges.

Is COVID19 getting in the way of your social life? Do you love visiting relatives in San Francisco? Have you watched all four seasons of Riverdale in one week to fend off the home-bound blues? If you said yes to any of these questions, then you have a lot in common with Kris O’Keefe, a student at American River College and a volunteer at UCP whom I had the great pleasure of interviewing.

We have all heard the adage that “it’s better to give than to receive.” In fact, research has shown that spending money on others puts a bigger smile on your face than spending it on yourself. And after years of seeing how your donations put smiles on our clients’ faces, we know it’s true!

What are your dreams? What are your goals? What makes you happy? You have probably spent your entire life hearing these questions and making decisions based on your answers. But for individuals with disabilities, they may never be asked these questions.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) has been eye opening and stressful for everyone. It has us all rethinking how we go about our daily lives – from how we work and shop to how we handle our basic daily household tasks. While we all feel the impact of the virus, those caring for an individual with a developmental disability are finding these times even more challenging.

Takeitha and Matteo’s story:When Takeitha heard the diagnosis that her 19-month-old son Matteo (Teo for short) had cerebral palsy, she did not know how to handle it at first. She led a perfectly healthy lifestyle so she could not understand why her...

Having 4 children of varying ages has its obvious challenges.  And when two of those children have developmental disabilities, the challenges become a little bigger, the hurdles a little higher, and the need for a positive outlook a little more...

Scholarships and Financial Aid are Available for Students with Disabilities – Here’s Where to Find ThemSpring. It’s the time of year where high school students are thinking about their future, filling out college applications and traveling across...

When I ask people what they like about UCP many are quick to mention the number of families we help each month, and I must agree, it’s an impressive number. We currently serve 1,940 families per month. You understand the importance of a healthy...

Having the ability to give to a cause can be empowering. By donating to something you believe in, you can positively impact the lives of others. Let’s be honest – it’s a great feeling to know you’ve helped someone in need. But sometimes, when you...