Fall/Winter 2005
Mary Jo Bernardo
UCP Executive Director
I am so happy to be with you and to
introduce myself to you. I am a lifelong
professional in the disabilities
field, having started as a special ed.
teacher and quickly moving into work
as a vocational rehabilitation counselor.
I later entered leadership and
have always loved my work and
loved supporting people with disabilities
in achieving full inclusion.
My passion came early when as an
elementary school student, my school
was preparing to have a special education
class. The students in the class
were older then the elementary aged
students and many of the PTA parents,
including my mother, were
afraid because they were uninformed
about young adults with disabilities. I
will never forget how that special ed.
teacher and her students embraced
the PTA and educated an entire
school about positive interactions
with people with disabilities.
This young teacher positively impacted so many with her grace and love for her students—she expected
great things and great relationships for her class and was so successful in making that expectation a reality. It
was then that I knew where I belonged and my mother became that special class’s greatest advocate. I made
friends there that carried into my adulthood and I always remember the impact of the teacher’s confidence
and expectations.
As the new Director at UCPGG, I assure you that I will bring my passion and commitment to life without limits
to people with disabilities, to my work everyday. I expect great things as the future offers so many possibilities
for us. I relish program development and am eager to collaborate with our community partners to
plan and launch new services for people with cerebral palsy and other physical disabilities. The board of directors
and I will carefully manage our contributed revenue as we conscientiously develop the right services
and supports for people. We will be considering opportunities in many areas and I am looking forward to
reporting on them in future issues of this newsletter. Thank you for your confidence. Please feel free to call on
me if you desire. I can be reached at 510-832-0491.
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