1979: The Dawning of an Era of Visionary Leadership
The appointment of Louis Tehan as Executive Director in August 1979 marked the beginning of an unprecedented era of expansion for the agency. In 1983, Upstate Cerebral Palsy purchased its first building, which is the present-day Barneveld Campus. Not only was Upstate Cerebral Palsy growing with buildings, but also in the services provided. The agency established itself as a leader in addressing unmet and emerging needs, developing residences certified by the NYS Office for Persons With Developmental Disabilities to accommodate individuals relocating from Willowbrook and other Developmental Centers as they were closing and meeting the needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in our region. Today, the agency operates 45 certified residences in four counties providing 325 individuals with a home to call their own.