Our History
Pathways of Southwestern Pennsylvania has been providing services to individuals in Washington, Greene, and Fayette Counties for nearly 50 years.
In 1964, United Cerebral Palsy of Washington County was incorporated as a non-profit social service organization and in 1967, the agency expanded to include Greene and Fayette Counties and became United Cerebral Palsy of Southwestern Pennsylvania.
In the 1990s and 2000s, the organization was simply known as UCP of Southwestern Pennsylvania. It was a time of expansion. In 1991, then new 655 Jefferson Avenue, Washington facility was opened and Washington Early Intervention Program and the Adult Training Facility into one facility moved to the facility along with Administration. The agency later launched Rainbows End Learning Center in Washington to provide integrated daycare services for children with and without special needs. UCP Home & Community Services was formed to provide in-home attendant care services to people with physical disabilities throughout the three county region. In subsequent years, Home & Community expanded to include Community Services for Person with Physical Disabilities program (CSPPPD), Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA) and Area Agency on Aging (AAA) programs for persons over the age of 60, Special Needs program for children and adolescents, and additional Attendant Care services such as Comcare and Over 60 Waiver. As well, became a lending library for the Pennsylvania Initiative on Assistive Technology.
Throughout the 2000s, UCP formed Independent Living, Community Living, and Everyday Living corporations to add Residential group homes through grants from the Office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The result was 7 brand new fully accessible homes specifically designed for people with disabilities. The agency expanded its services in Greene County by opening a Rainbows End Learning Center in Waynesburg and a new Adult Training Facility, which became the new home of Greene County Early Intervention. The agency expanded in-home and community services to individuals with developmental disabilities through the creation of the Exception Choices program to serve all three counties.
In 2007, the agency opened the 289 North Avenue, Washington facility - home to Your Childs Place and Recreation Station and the new home for Washington Early Intervention. Your Childs Place fills a unique need in the community by providing center-based nursing care and educational services to children who cannot attend a regular daycare because of their medical needs. Recreation Station opened as the first creative play center in the area for children of all abilities.
On July 1, 2009, the agency disaffiliated from the national UCP organization and became Pathways of Southwestern Pennsylvania. The decision to disaffiliate was not an easy one. Executive Director, Jill Ealy stated in an interview: We want to make it clear that this name change has nothing to do with any ill-feelings or anything remotely negative in reference to the national UCP organization. This change offers us more independence and the ability to utilize the dues that we were paying to the national organization for input back into the community.
Today, Pathways of Southwestern Pennsylvania provides services to over 1000 children and adults each year and employees over 250 people across our three county region.