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Grateful for UCP, Grateful for West Alabama!
Recently, I had a conversation that honestly left me feeling a little discouraged. But it is interesting how God works, because the more I thought about that conversation, the more grateful I became.
Grateful for UCP.
This week, UCP of West Alabama attended the 2026 UCP Annual Conference in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Leanna Feely, CEO, and Becci Hauser, Chief Development Officer, represented our agency at this national gathering of UCP affiliates.
For some, attending a national conference may simply look like travel. But for those of us doing this work every day, it is much more than that. It is an opportunity to learn from other UCP affiliates across the country and in Canada, hear what is working in other communities, talk through shared challenges, and bring ideas back home that can help us serve people better in West Alabama.
About UCP National.
UCP National connects local affiliates like ours to something bigger than ourselves. It gives us access to leaders, policy updates, best practices, advocacy efforts, and people who understand the work we do every day. It also gives local affiliates a stronger voice on issues that affect people with disabilities and their families everywhere.
But when we think about UCP of West Alabama, we think about what happens when that national mission becomes local, personal, and life-changing right here at home.
In January 2021, UCP of West Alabama was serving 24 families in Tuscaloosa County. Today, we serve more than 3,000 families across 19 counties in West Alabama.
And behind every number is a person.
Adults in our employment services are earning paychecks, building confidence, and becoming part of their communities. High school transition students are preparing for life after graduation and learning where to turn next. People in our residential program are going out to restaurants, movies, concerts, community events, and outdoor adventures. People in our day program have connection, purpose, and opportunities beyond their four walls. Babies and young children are receiving therapy and support during some of the most important years of development.
That is why opportunities to learn, connect, and grow matter. When we attend conferences, build relationships, and learn from others, it strengthens the work we do here at home. It helps us return with fresh ideas, renewed energy, and a deeper commitment to the people and families who depend on UCP of West Alabama.
We are grateful for the larger UCP network.
We are grateful for the work happening across the country.
And we are especially grateful for the people of West Alabama. We are grateful for the families who trust us, the staff who show up every day with compassion and commitment, the businesses that open their doors, the community partners who believe in inclusion, and the friends and neighbors who continue to support this work in quiet and meaningful ways.
West Alabama is not just where we serve. It is home. It is where lives are being changed, opportunities are being created, and people with disabilities are being seen, valued, included, and celebrated.
At UCP of West Alabama, this work is about people, purpose, opportunity, and helping individuals with disabilities live a Life Without Limits.
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