United Cerebral Palsy
The mission of United Cerebral Palsy of San Diego is to advance the independence, productivity, and full citizenship of people affected by cerebral palsy and other disabilities. UCP envisions a world with NO LIMITS for these people and are striving to do this whether it be helping them find their first job, helping a child express themselves through new technology, creating support groups for families and individuals or helping architecturally to improve the paths that allows them to function in our society.
Founded in 1949, UCP is a nationwide network consisting of a central national organization, located in Washington, D.C., and over 100 independent, state, and local non-profit affiliates. UCP is the leading source of information on cerebral palsy and is a pivotal advocate for the rights of all people with disabilities.
We invite you to join us in this pursuit of a better community and invest in the power of human potential.
Learn More about UCP San Diego.
A Message From UCP
“The Beach & Country Guild has been very important to United Cerebral Palsy in San Diego for over five decades, and it’s based on a relationship of hard work and caring by some very talented and committed women in our area.
There’s no doubt that we would be a far lesser organization if these ladies were not involved with us, giving their time, helping to raise money, and coordinating events for United Cerebral Palsy.”
Dave Carucci
Executive Director
UCP San Diego
What Is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy, also referred to as CP, is a term used to describe a group of chronic conditions affecting body movement and muscle coordination. It is caused by damage to one or more specific areas of the brain, usually occurring during fetal development; before, during, or shortly after birth; or during infancy. Thus, these disorders are not caused by problems in the muscles or nerves. Instead, faulty development or damage to motor areas in the brain disrupt the brain's ability to adequately control movement and posture.
"Cerebral" refers to the brain and "palsy" to muscle weakness/poor control. Cerebral palsy itself is not progressive (i.e. brain damage does not get worse); however, secondary conditions, such as muscle spasticity, can develop which may get better over time, get worse, or remain the same. Cerebral palsy is not communicable. It is not a disease and should not be referred to as such. Although cerebral palsy is not "curable" in the accepted sense, training and therapy can help improve function.