Blog

Friday, May 3rd, 2019, marked the annual Spring BBQ for the Applied Abilities Program in Santa Barbara, at Tucker's Grove Park. The event is planned each year as an opportunity for the entire program to come together as a whole, mostly for fun, but also to reflect on the outstanding service from our staff, as well as to show pride in our program participants for what they've accomplished.

A local teen Boy Scout from Troop 4 in Santa Barbara selected UCP WORK, Inc. as the beneficiary for his Eagle Scout service project.

Having been a program participant at the UCP WORK, Inc. Applied Abilities Program for years, Carlos Ibarra, has learned a wide array of job skills and moved on to the Braided Services Program, the newest support services initiative, launched in 2018, through UCP WORK, Inc. After the skillful coaching and job placement by UCP WORK, Inc. Employment Specialist, Rosie Salazar, Carlos has been offered a paid internship at Al-Pho, a wonderful Vietnamese restaurant. He has also received his Certificate of Completion as a Certified Food Handler, an accomplishment he is deeply proud of, as he should be. Carlos is the second paid intern placed in competitive employment over the past month in Santa Maria, along with Alvie Hernandez, who has been working as a paid intern at Spencer's Market.

Joe Colunga is a 28 year old artist who is blind and takes weekly art classes at Santa Barbara Art Works, a downtown art studio with a primary goal of helping aspiring artists with disabilities create, show, and sell their work.Ā Ā 

UNITED CEREBRAL PALSY OF LOS ANGELES, VENTURA AND SANTA BARBARA COUNTIES BOARD NAMES NEW PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Incoming President and CEO Lori Anderson has an extensive background in residential programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout the United States.

Dear Friends,

This has been an amazing year at UCP WORK, Inc. Last month the community came together to celebrate ourĀ 50th Anniversary, and it gave us the opportunity to reflect proudly on how we have grown over the years and expanded our outreach to every corner of the county.

he media and public are invited to ā€œHorizon Linesā€, a First Thursday Art Exhibit and Artist Reception, at Santa Barbara Art Works, at 28 E. Victoria St., an artist studio-gallery for adults with intellectual and/or physical disabilities to express themselves, collaborate within the community, create, exhibit and sell their artwork in a professional gallery. Santa Barbara Art Works is a sponsored service through UCP WORK, Inc. The studio specializes in art classes for adults with disabilities, which are taught five days a week in painting, ceramics, mixed media, and watercolors. Students are also taught employment skills in exhibiting and commissioning their own work, and each artist works towards producing a portfolio and an annual solo show.

Observed each October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), celebrates the contributions of workers with disabilities and educates about the value of a workforce inclusive of their skills and talents. Right here in Santa Barbara County, UCP WORK, Inc., an organization thatā€™s been providing job training and employment services for people with disabilities for 50 years, knows first-hand the values of disability employment and inclusion, but also the importance of integrating its participants into the community as active contributing citizens.

Eight participants from UCP WORK, Inc., the largest non-profit in the Tri-County serving adults and children with developmental and/or physical disabilities, celebrates with a grant of $40,000, launching the start of the Fall Season for their Power Soccer team, the Rollinā€™ Rebels. The generous gift funded four new Strike Force power wheelchairs, which are known as the ā€œFerrariā€ of power wheelchairs and said to outperform every other power wheelchair on the market. Itā€™s designed with a low center of gravity, wide wheelbase, customized center mount joystick, and is able to 'spin kick' with more power. Before receiving this gift, the Rollinā€™ Rebels had lost the majority of their games, because of much slower chairs.

Santa Barbara Art Works celebrated its Grand Opening and Downtown's First Thursday Artist Reception last Thursday, September 6th, 2018, from 5:00 - 8:00PM. Approximately 300 guests from the community took part in the opening event, with art adorned walls from fifteen resident artists with disabilities, food generously sponsored by Roost restaurant, and wine donated by August Ridge vineyards. A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony took place in collaboration with the Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce and the UCP WORK, Inc. staff, along with the excitement of the Santa Barbara Art Works resident artists. Executive Director, Kathy Webb, cut the ribbon with a vibrant snap and welcomed guests to the newest inclusive art gallery in Santa Barbara's downtown arts district.