United Cerebral Palsy

United Cerebral Palsy of the Inland Empire (UCPIE) Skill-Builders After-school program aims to improve the outcomes of individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) supporting them to live a life without limits.

The Skill Builders West Valley After-School Program serves up to 12 low-income children and youth with IDD such as cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy, or Down syndrome residing in the cities of Desert Hot Springs, Palm Springs and Cathedral City. The After-school program provides skill building enrichment and community integration, two times per week during after-school hours. The after-school program targets growth in five key areas of development such as communication, socialization, independence, health, and safety. To ensure quality and provide individualized support, instruction is provided at a 3:1 staffing ratio. The low student to staff ratios ensures we meet the individual needs of all participants. In-person social and skill building programs play an even more important role for the IDD community since the pandemic as many of our families who already felt isolated became even more isolated to protect the health of their loved ones. In spite of the fact that some families opted to join virtual programs, a survey conducted by UCPIE showed that 50% of parents in its pre-pandemic after school program preferred to continue with in-person activities. These were families of children with no underlying health conditions or with children that could not benefit from virtual instruction and that needed to keep their children socially engaged to prevent regression of skills. All of the children who have returned to the in-person after-school program are benefiting from in-person social interaction and weekly community integration outings.

Contact: Calista Vassios

E-mail: Calista@ucpie.org

United Cerebral Palsy of the Inland Empire (UCPIE) Skill Builders Community Integration Program - Virtual will provide virtual sports and social programming, for high-risk children with special needs, five days a week. UCPIE is opening in-person activities for children with special needs however not all children can participate in in-person programming due to health concerns. Children with special needs such as cerebral palsy, autism, Down’s syndrome, intellectual delay and epilepsy often have other underlying health conditions. A survey conducted by UCPIE shows 50% of parents in its pre-pandemic after school program are choosing to continue to keep their children home. The most common reason is they are unsure of their child’s safety due to how fast and often public information changes for COVID-19. These parents request ongoing virtual activities for their children. Through UCPIE’s virtual programs, which were launched in March 2020, these children have remained socially engaged. Parents state their child loves virtual programs and parents feel safe.

Contact: Calista Vassios

Email: calista@ucpie.org

United Cerebral Palsy of the Inland Empire virtual summer camp provides summer camp activities for children with special needs via Zoom. Children will participate in Adaptive CrossFit, Adaptive Karate and Adaptive Yoga every day of the week during the hot summer months. To further enhance each child’s experience all children are invited for a day of fun on Fridays. Children can join in virtually to socialize, Karaoke, watch a movie, take art lessons and dance! All activities are kept fun and different. Most importantly during the strong desert heat in the Coachella Valley UCPIE brightens children’s days with special deliveries. UCPIE staff deliver birthday gifts and student of the month prizes for all participant children. All activities are secure and monitored on Zoom. To sign up contact Ronica Reagins at 951-588-3716.

Coming soon!

United Cerebral Palsy of the Inland Empire (UCPIE) grant request for $7,000.00 is to support the opening of its 7th after-school program in the Coachella Valley. UCPIE with your support and that of other community partners seeks to open an after-school program for elementary school children in Indio. UCPIE's Indio Elementary School program will serve 12 children with special needs twice a week for the 2018/2019 school year. Services will be provided through a partnership with Desert Recreation District (DRD) to operate the after-school program at the Indio Community Center, Gymnasium & Park. Children enrolled will participate in activities to enhance their social, safety, communication, and independence skills. Currently, UCPIE operates six skill enhancing after-school and summer camps in the Coachella Valley, including a teen only program in Indio.

These after-school and summer programs offer after-school care and skill enhancement activities for children with special needs such as Down's Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Autism, intellectual delays, and Epilepsy. The need for a second program in Indio was identified as part of UCPIE's involvement in the Inland Empire Coachella Valley Disabilities Collaborative. It was noted during a community survey that UCPIE's program in Indio only serves teenage youth with special needs due to the facility which UCPIE partners with, the Indio Teen Center. The Indio Teen Center is only for students in grades 8th - 12th. Families of smaller children grades 1st through 7th would like to enroll their children in after-school care and have no services available to them. UCPIE seeks to address their need and close this service gap by opening a second program in Indio to serve children in grades 1st - 7th.

United Cerebral Palsy of the Inland Empire was founded in 1985. It was created to provide programs and services for individuals with special needs such as Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, intellectual disabilities, Down's Syndrome and Autism. Today UCPIE is the leading organization in the Coachella Valley providing services to children with special needs. UCPIE provides respite care in the client's home, out of school care through our after-school and summer Skill Builders program, adaptive sports, and resource and referral services. Our Skill Builder's program helps children with special needs meet their full potential. This program helps disabled children and young adults develop and improve their socialization and communication skills, increase independence and learn about safety and health. This is done with the belief that all children should live a "Life Without Limits."