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 Advisory Committee formed.
Local affiliates included: Minneapolis, Saint Paul and Duluth.
DAC (Daytime Activity Center) is 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; UCP of Minnesota had a very active rold 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 the new local affiliates and assisting them in developing local fund raising campaigns.
Goals: to increase the number of 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 education about cerebral palsy; to draw upon the best professional resources to set up the desireable pattern of activity and to improve the welfare of people with cerebral palsy.
1956
Dr. Helen Wallace, in cooperation with the Department of Public Welfare and the University of Minnesota 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 handicaps.
1959
UCP of the Range is a new affiliate
The Medical Advisory Committee recomended a program of cerebral palsy education for general practitioners to be held as part of a seminar proposed by the Department of Continuation Study at the U of M.
Social Security Act established the Medicare program
Began to solicit funds from United Fund Campaigns in unaffiliated areas
1960
UCP display at the state dental convention
UCP of Austin is accepted as 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 Saint Paul disaffiliates; 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 disaffiliated
A women's committee is formed to promote awareness and 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 conjunction with local affiliates. (1962-1964 - event was conducted by the Minneapolis affiliate in 1965)
1963
Goals: to re-affiliate Saint Paul, seek out service for those affected by cerebral palsy, to formulate an evalutation team in the Twin Cities 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 servce on the Governor's Advisory Committee for employment of the handicapped.
1964
Conducted a survey on a residental home for adults that are physically handicapped
Provide assistance to the Association for Mentally Retarded to improve inadequacies in state institutions
1965
Medical Advisory committee: reviews evaluation centers, the lab school in St. Cloud, establishing an evaluation center at Fairview Hospital for in and out-patient services; encourage UCP to direct funds for the purchase of equipment and appliances for individuals
UCP adopts an anti-discrimination policy
UCP supports legislation to enact House Bill #8310 to establish additional sheltered workshops
1966
Conducted first residential campaign in Saint Paul
1967
Dr. Maynard Reynolds, University of Minnesota, review a $5.5 million research project and building on the University of Minnesota campus for handicapped children
Medical advisory committe becomes the clinical and medical services committee
Saint Paul UCP re-affiliates with UCP and UCPA
1969
Provided funding for Rubella Vaccine Immunication Centers
1970
Change the name to United Cerebral Palsy of Minnesota, Incorporated
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, day and months were spent on achieving the goal of improving the quality of life for our population.
Volunteers represented UCP of MN 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 campaigns and direct mail campaigns were conducted
UCP of MN distributes brochures on Rubella and 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 its service area to Stearns, Benton and Sherburne Counties
UCP of MN has a booth at the State Fair
4-year old Jimmie Hegstrom (son of Dr. and 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 Program 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 the largest one in country. We were in Time Magazine and maybe Life
UCP provides financial asistance for a class action suit against six administrators of the state 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 Resources 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 physically or mentally handicapped
1977
Howard Viken, WCCO radio was honorary chair of the Public Relations Campaign
Struggling to maintain funding--re-evaluating the purpose of UCPM and its relation to local affiliates
1978
Affiliates included: St. Cloud, Mower County, Duluth, Minneapolis and 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 needs were changed in the are of living arrangements. Institutions began to close, community based facilties 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/PR was successful with walk-a-thons, 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 Largest 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 informaiton to parents on communicating with thei 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 affiliates included: Southeastern Minnesota (information and referral, parent support groups, financial support through grants) counties include: Maurer, Steele, Dodge, Freeborne, Fillmore, Olmstead, Waseca, Wabasha; Duluth (pre-school and transportation); Minneapolis (pre-school and sheltered workshop) St. Cloud represented Stearns, Benton and 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 begin communication aids funds and begins to research what resources are available and to determine needs
UCP and 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 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 disaffiliates
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 statewide
UCPM Government Activities committee and volunteers advocate for para-transit services
1987
UCPM hosts UCPA annual conference
UCPM conducts charitable gambling
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 and 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 Combined 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
UCP hosts "Casual Day"
1993
Rob Chalmers is the first person with cerebral palsy to chair the Board of Directors
Mike Modano, Minnesota North Stars, is the honorary telethon chairman. UCP hosts the last telethon in January 1993
The Duluth affiliate disaffiliates
1994
Public policy issues: health care reform; support for personal care attendants; 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 affiliates. 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, tickets to a Minnesota 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 Disabilties
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 Oliva is UCP's guest at the golf tournament
UCPM volunteers testify at the legislature in support of work incentive legislation for people with disabilities
2000
UCPA has a new logo and promotes a new brand identity marketing plan
UCPM and UCP of West Central, WI plan and host a conference on Aging and Cerebral Palsy
Twenty organizations, including UCPM, host a celebration for the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act
2001
UCP provides volunteers to be a part of a focus group for Gillette Children's Speciality 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
UCP 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 Bruninks agrees to be a keynote speaker at the 50th anniversary celebration
UCP 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 educating 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