Press Releases: 1993 Releases

United Cerebral Palsy Associations Elects Its First President with Cerebral Palsy

Washington, DC, May 1, 1993—For the first time in its 45 year history, United Cerebral Palsy Associations, Inc. (UCPA), has elected a president with cerebral palsy. James C. Stearns, 43, a Special Counsel to the Philadelphia firm of Said, Ewing, Remick & Saul in the Washington office, has been active in UCPA at the national level since 1975.

"This precedent in UCPA's history mirrors significant changes in our society," said John D. Kemp, UCPA's Executive Director who also has a disability. "The implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act brings people with disabilities into full inclusion in our communities. It is only fitting that this begins with our own organization."

Stearns' administrative and legislative legal practice emphasizes international trade stemming from his Department of Commerce service under former Secretary Malcolm Baldridge. Stearns was one of the few Carter appointees hired by the Reagan Administration.

"This is a lifelong dream," said Stearns, who 30 years ago almost to the day of his election, was told that his rehabilitation efforts would not be successful enough to allow him to be a fully functioning member of society. "My hope is that my election will serve as an example to people with disabilities that they too can succeed despite any obstacles."

Before becoming UCPA President, Stearns served three consecutive two year terms as a National Vice President. He has served as Chairman of the Bylaws Committee, and as a member of the Governmental Activities, and Budget and Finance Committees. At UCPA's 1983 annual conference, Stearns received the Cathleen Lyle Murray Foundation Award for advancing the human rights of persons with disabilities. He is active locally with UCP of Washington, DC and Northern Virginia.

Stearns holds an A.B. from Dartmouth College (1972). He was selected as a Senior Fellow and engaged in a year long independent study that examined the impact of government programs on persons with disabilities which culminated in testimony before the United States Senate.

As a Reynolds Scholar at Dartmouth, Steams studied abroad for a year dealing in part with disability issues. He is a 1976 graduate of the Georgetown Law Center where he assisted in overriding the 1974 veto of the Rehabilitation Act.

UCPA is a nonprofit organization with a network of 160 state and local affiliates committed to affecting positively the quality of life for persons with cerebral palsy and others with severe disabilities. Last year, Money magazine ranked UCPA as the number one health organization in the country based on the percentage of dollars spent directly on programs and services.

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