In the month of September, Welcomed Co™ will highlight local organizations we partner with to create a more welcoming world.

*The information below was obtained from the United Ability Website.*

United Ability is a nonprofit that provides innovative services connecting people with disabilities to their communities and empowering individuals to live full and meaningful lives.

"We envision a world where disability is neither defining nor limiting and help unite people with unique abilities in achieving a successful future."

History

• The original group, Spastic Aid, was established in 1948 in an effort to provide services to individuals with cerebral palsy. 
• A 501(c)3, the group became United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham (UCP) in 1972 and evolved as an organization serving the needs of persons living with many types of disabilities.
• In 2001, UCP relocated to a 20-acre campus in Birmingham, AL and their vision to offer multi-disciplinary, comprehensive services came to life.
• In 2017, the organization’s name changed to United Ability to better reflect its services to persons with all types of disabilities. 

United Ability offers a full spectrum of services not found in the state of Alabama.

Ability Clinic

The Ability Clinic provides comprehensive and coordinated care to children and adults living with disabilities–care that reduces the symptoms experienced by people with disabilities. Their family-focused approach is designed to help those with a wide range of different disabilities, enhance the caregiving capabilities of families, and improve the overall health and quality of life for the ones they love.

The Ability Clinic:

• Eliminates the fragmentation of medical and therapy services
• Establishes and provides seamless case management throughout the individual’s lifetime
• Facilitates ease of access to quality services and
• Improves the overall health and quality of life for persons with disabilities. 

By providing this comprehensive continuum of care in a centralized location, families are able to spend less time pursuing services through multiple agencies and professionals.

Disability Services Provided

• Evaluation and Assessment – This problem solving process helps to identify an individual’s specific strengths, needs, and disabilities. This allows the staff to better address the care needs of the patients.
• Spasticity Management – United Ability offers a wide variety of treatment strategies to manage patient spasticity–Improving range of motion, overall mobility, increasing strength and conditioning, and improving general comfort levels in everyday activities.
• Orthotics and Prosthetics – United Ability provides orthotics and prosthetics to patients. Custom orthotics and prosthetics are available.
• Outpatient Therapy – United Ability’s outpatient services include physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy. These services are pivotal to increasing self-esteem and confidence.
• Physical – Physical therapy is provided to help patients increase their strength and mobility allowing them to be more capable with functional tasks.
• Occupational – Occupational therapy helps those recuperating from physical or mental illness. It encourages rehabilitation through the performance of activities. Occupational therapy is used to help patients better meet the demands of everyday life by assisting in the development and improvement of skills they need to both live and work.
• Speech – Speech therapy is provided to help those with disabilities better communicate with those around them. Therapy is offered for a wide range of conditions including genetic syndromes, Cerebral Palsy, and those afflicted with oral motor concerns.
• Augmentative Communication – Augmentative communication is a term that describes communication methods that supplement or replace writing. The tools and training are provided to help patients communicate with those around them.
• Assistive Technology – From cognitive issues to physical impairment, assistive technology helps to augment, or bypass conditions brought on by a disability. Much like augmentative communication, the tools and training are provided to ensure patients achieve their goals.
• Care Coordination – This includes coordination of care between United Ability and other professionals involved in patient care.

For more information on the Ability Clinic and the services provided call 205-944-3944.

Photo: United Ability by Angela Scott Abdur-Rasheed