All parents need high-quality, appropriate care for their child, yet the parents of children with special needs face many obstacles to in addition to those faced by the parents of typical kids.

UCP helps families meet the challenge of finding compassionate caregivers who are capable of caring for individuals with special needs. UCP strives to include children with developmental disabilities in all aspects of society through the following programs…

• Respite Connection connects trained, adult caregivers with the parents of special needs children and adults so that parents can pursue activities outside the home. Respite workers are pre-screened and receive training to ensure that they are compassionate, trustworthy, and reliable.
• Inclusion Connection offers child care professionals strategies to include children with special needs in typical child care facilities on a case-by-case, individualized basis. Strategies may include functional assessments, group and individual consultations, and parent education.
• Project Access trains child care providers who want to include children with special needs in traditional child care settings.
• Saturday Club offers parents a 5-hour inclusive day program for their children with special needs and their typical siblings. Children are supervised by adult caregivers and Special Sitters and participate in fun age and developmentally appropriate activities. Saturday Club is available to families enrolled in Special Sitters.
• Special Sitters are trained teenagers who care for children with special needs or debilitating illnesses. Special Sitters learn about prevalent disabilities, communication skills, CPR and first aid. Families who register receive a list of Special Sitters in their area who appear to match their family’s needs. Eligibility for this program is determined by the child's appropriateness to be cared for by a teenager.

For more information about any of these programs and services, contact Kathleen McFarlin at (714) 200-2613 or email us.