From the CEO
UCP announces $40,000 in grants to fund two cerebral palsy research projects
VIENNA, VA — United Cerebral Palsy has announced it will award grants totaling $40,000 for two new early detection studies into cerebral palsy.
The UCP Research Committee (URC) awards grants of up to $20,000 each to advance clinical and translational research designed to transform the lives of children with cerebral palsy (CP) and related neurodevelopmental disabilities by bridging the gap between scientific investigation and real-world care.
“United Cerebral Palsy is proud to mark the second year of our annual research grant program, created as part of our national association’s revitalized research initiative,” said UCP President and CEO Armando Contreras. “Our commitment to support promising advances in this field reflects our mission and the wide breadth of expertise of the UCP Research Committee, whose membership includes some of the top cerebral palsy scholars, researchers and practitioners in the country.”
The UCP Research Committee is co-chaired by Dr. Michael Kruer, director of the Pediatric Movement Disorders Program at the Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children’s, and Valerie Pieraccini, executive director of Therapy and Early Learning Center at UCP of Central Arizona. Pieraccini and Kruer recently appeared on the UCP podcast, Life Without Limits, to discuss the accomplishments and goals of the URC. Click to hear the interview.
The following research projects were picked to receive a 2023 UCP Research Grant:
Project #1
Title: “Developing an Automated General Movement Assessment and Outcome Prediction Tool for Infants Using a Clinician-Centered Approach”
Investigators: Principal investigator, Weiyang Deng, PT, PhD. Key personnel: Arun Jayaraman, PT, PhD; Megan O’Brian, PhD; Colleen Peyton, PT, DPT; Gabriela Marquez, PT, DPT; Rachel Anderson, BS; Joseph Mifsud, MS.
Site of Investigation: Shirley Ryan AbilityLab; Northwestern University
Project #2
Title: Understanding and enhancing everyday positioning experience in infants at risk for cerebral palsy.
Investigator: Kari Kretch, PT, DPT, PhD, Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy
Site of Investigation: University of Southern California
The UCP Conference on Latinos with Disabilities is scheduled for October 17-19, 2023
The second annual UCP Conference on Latinos with Disabilities is scheduled for October 17-19, 2023, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern. The virtual conference is designed to provide an inclusive platform for discussions and presentations on topics impacting U.S. Latinos in the disability community. About 1 in 6 Latinos nationwide, more than 7 million people, lives with a disability.
Conference details are coming soon at ucp.org/2023cld. For more information or to propose a presentation or speaker for the conference, please contact James Garcia at jgarcia@ucp.org or 602-460-1374.
‘The Inclusive Language Handbook, Easterseals UCP Nonprofit Edition’ now available
‘The Easterseals UCP Nonprofit Edition of The Inclusive Language Handbook: A Guide to Better Communication & Transformational Leadership’ is now available for purchase.
‘The Easterseals UCP Nonprofit Edition of The Inclusive Language Handbook: A Guide to Better Communication & Transformational Leadership’ is now available for purchase.
The new edition of this important reference guide includes a foreword by Luanne Welch, the CEO of Easterseals UCP.
In a world where words can build bridges or create barriers, “The Inclusive Language Handbook…,” written by Jackie Ferguson, is a timely and essential resource for people seeking to foster inclusivity and understanding. The rewards for using inclusive language are felt at the individual level and across an organization, according to Ferguson.
Respectfully,
Armando Contreras
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