Sacramento, CA (1888PressRelease)
April 08, 2009 - Every day, UCP of Greater Sacramento partners with Sacramento State to serve 30 children at the UCP Autism Center for Excellence, which opened in fall 2008. The center is the first of its kind in Sacramento to systematically address the unique needs of children ages 8 – 12 with autism, increasing their ability to participate successfully in the community.
Autism affects more than one in every 150 children. The disorder affects children's ability to interact with peers and may also impair language and motor skills. Although autism is permanent, early support and skill building can enhance children’s ability to interact with peers and families.
During April’s National Autism Awareness Month, UCP president & CEO Doug Bergman, is publicly announcing the opening of the Autism Center for Excellence. “UCP is committed to improving the quality of life of children, adults and their families affected by developmental disabilities. This partnership with Sacramento State enables UCP to address the specific needs of children with autism – a need that without this center would go unmet,” Bergman said.
“Autism Center for Excellence is the only after-school program in the Sacramento region designed specifically for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the 8-12 age group,” says A.C.E. director and Sacramento State professor Scott Modell. “It is a structured social-recreational program that teaches children with autism how to participate in large and small group activities and helps develop their social, motor and communication abilities.”
Participants are referred by the Alta Regional Center or by families who want to enroll a child who is between the ages of 8-12 and has a diagnosis of autism.
For more information, contact your ALTA service coordinator or contact UCP’s Autism Center for Excellence at ace ( @ ) ucpsacto dot org or 916 dot 548 dot 2562
UCP (United Cerebral Palsy) of Greater Sacramento
191 Lathrop Way Suite N Sacramento, CA 95815 916 565 7700
www.ucpsacto.org
Contact: Steve Horton – Director of Development and Marketing, UCP
Direct Line: 916.283.8312
Michael Ward – Public Affairs, Sacramento State, 916.278.2613
About UCP of Greater Sacramento
UCP of Greater Sacramento is the leading provider of comprehensive services to children and adults with all developmental disabilities and their families. UCP works with 1,700 people a month in our five-county area, empowering children and adults who, without support, would be isolated from community.
UCP’s mission is to provide programs and services that improve the independence, productivity and quality of life for people with development disabilities and their families.
UCP serves children and adults with more than 40 types of developmental disability, including autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability and more.
UCP of Greater Sacramento began in 1955 and now has the motto, “Life without limits for people with disabilities,” serving people in Sacramento, Yolo, Placer, El Dorado and Nevada counties.
UCP provides services that include an after-school program for children with autism, horsemanship therapeutic activities, adult day programs, independent living services, in-home respite care for families and7,000 miles/day of transportation and recreational programs.
The money raised in our service area stays in our community. In fact, 90 cents of every dollar received by UCP is reinvested back into programs and services for children, adults and their families.
About Sacramento State
Sacramento State offers a vibrant academic culture with a multicultural student body of
28,000. We graduate about 6,000 students each year. Despite our size, quality teaching in small classes remains a top priority. Students enjoy personalized attention from their professors with a student-faculty ratio of 21 to 1.
Sacramento State remains one of the nation's best higher education values, with student fees among the lowest in the nation. About half of our students receive some form of financial assistance.
Our park-like 300-acre campus has 3,000 trees and miles of trails along the nearby American River Parkway, which links the campus and student housing with recreational areas such as Folsom Lake and Old Sacramento.
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