About Us > Mission Statement & History

Mission Statement

It is the mission of the UCP of Suffolk Health Center to provide comprehensive, quality, health care services to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities.

History

United Cerebral Palsy has a rich history of understanding and meeting the needs of individuals with disabilities. At United Cerebral Palsy of Suffolk a team of credentialed, dedicated medical professionals is committed to ensuring quality primary and specialty medical care for all patients.

In the very early 1980s, UCP Suffolk began to operate an Article 28 Health Center. Originally known as the Diagnostic & Treatment Center and housed in temporary offices on Indian Head Road in Commack, the clinic provided medical therapeutic services. The additional services of Occupational and Physical Therapies were also offered at the UCP Center on Smiths Lane in Commack.

By mid 1990s, all of UCP Suffolk’s medical, dental, therapeutic, rehabilitative and mental health services were flourishing and in demand. UCP’s Diagnostic and Treatment Center was now operating at the Indian Head Road location and had added two satellite offices. In 1994, the Long Island Developmental Disabilities Services Office (LIDDSO) closed its clinic, and UCP Suffolk was selected by New York State to assume the total primary care of many of LIDDSO’s residents. As the demand for services increased, so did the need for space.

UCP Suffolk found the growing need necessitated extensive expansion and remodeling of existing space. Demand continued to increase. Believing quality health care services should be readily available to all individuals with disabilities, UCP made the bold decision to build a fully accessible, comprehensive Health Center. Under the leadership of then Executive Director, Kathleen O. Maul, plans were begun to create such a facility. In 2001, 11 acres of property on Carleton Avenue in Central Islip were secured.

With the input of UCP medical professionals, patients, their families and caregivers, plans for the layout and construction of a new, larger more encompassing Health Center were well underway by the close of 2001. The plans underwent many revisions before being finalized under the supervision of current UCP Suffolk Chief Executive Officer Stephen Friedman. Ground was broken in June of 2007 and construction of a new Health Center to be built on the Kathleen O. Maul Campus began.

Designed by world-renowned architects Perkins Eastman, the aesthetically pleasing, fully accessible Health Center centrally located on Long Island, reflects UCP Suffolk’s philosophy that quality comprehensive health care should be readily available to people with varying abilities. Careful attention to detail is apparent in Central Islip Center’s custom designed medical and dental exam rooms, totally accessible equipment and expansive, full-service gym. With the goals of ensuring patient safety, comfort, dignity and above all else - ease of use, the building’s design and equipment, exceed the standards of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).

On December 22, 2008 the UCP Health Center began welcoming patients for services. After careful review by OMRDD the Health Center was granted Article 16 status on May 11, 2009 for Rehabilitative Services including Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Psychology and Social work services.

Today, the professional staff’s unique understanding of individual needs and commitment to providing exemplary health care for persons with disabilities continues at all three locations. Professional expertise with patient’s personal health goals and family/caregiver input continues to ensure that individualized care is tailored to the needs of each patient seen at the UCP Suffolk Health Center.