United Cerebral Palsy of Southern Arizona opens center in Yuma

Waiting lists and long drives to Tucson are now in the past for clients of United Cerebral Palsy of Southern Arizona, which recently opened its first center in Yuma.
 
United Cerebral Palsy of Southern Arizona, which actually covers a handful of disabilities, now offers clients in Yuma services ranging from special therapies to providing in-home visits careproviders can enjoy a much-needed break.
 
Officials with the nonprofit organization say they are delighted to finally be able to serve the people of Yuma right in their own home town. Prior to the Yuma center's opening in November local clients were forced to travel to Tucson for services.
 
"We found that in Yuma there is such a dire need when it comes to services for people with disabilities," said Lupita Cuestas, regional director for United Cerebral Palsy. "One local mother said her son had been on the waiting list for music therapy for 10 years! It absolutely breaks my heart to know that people were going without therapy for such a long time."
 
United Cerebral Palsy of Southern Arizona is an affiliate of the national organization, United Cerebral Palsy Association, located in Washington, D.C.

The organization's Yuma office is located 2451 S. Avenue A, Suite 20. The office can be reached by calling 317-8800.
 
In addition to cerebral palsy, the center also provides services for people with autism, epilepsy and clients who are intellectually challenged. Services are provided for both children and adults.
 
"A lot of families with children with autism come to us and they benefit from treatments with music therapy," Cuestas said.
 
In addition to music therapy United Cerebral Palsy also offers habilitation services for clients.
 
"We teach clients how to care for themselves, how to clean themselves, how to feed themselves," Cuestas said. "We believe in all our heart that people would be independent. Our mission is to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with disabilities."
 
Many services help the client, but are aimed at supporting the careprovider. The organization's "attendance care" program sends a worker to the client's home to assist with daily needs like showering, dressing and eating. This is especially popular with parents caring for other children in the house. Through the respite program parents are given a short break from the challenges of care.
 
"If the mom wants to go watch a movie or just be alone, we will take the children to the movies or to the park," Cuestas said.
 
Services are also available for help with housekeeping.
 
The center is also planning to form a social social, which would be provided at no charge to clients. Separate outings for adults and children would be offered twice a month, Cuestas said, beginning most likely in February.
 
The local center's staff consists of four administrative people, plus 20 "direct-support professionals." The latter are not required to be professional therapists or nurses, and are trained by United Cerebral Palsy.
 
"We're bringing lots of jobs to town and offer full benefits," Cuestas said.


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Darin Fenger can be reached at dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.