$1.5 Million Grant from West Orange Healthcare District Seeds Construction of UCP’s All-New West Orange Campus
Fueled in part by a new $1.5 million grant from the West Orange Healthcare District, UCP of Central Florida will soon break ground on a new campus serving students with special healthcare needs in west Orange County. The inclusive learning environment will provide opportunities for children with and without disabilities to achieve their potential while learning, playing and growing in the classroom together.
The eight-acre campus, which will be known as “UCP Healthy West Orange Campus,” will be located just north of UCP’s current location on 535 in Winter Garden, where the organization now serves about 170 children in pre-K through fifth grade. With additional space, UCP will increase its capacity and be able serve approximately 500 total children with support, education and therapy services.
“This is a tremendous gift coming at just the right time,” said UCP Central Florida CEO Dr. Ilene Wilkins. “The need for our services in West Orange has far outpaced our capacity and we have a long list of families waiting for a spot. We are beyond ready to roll up our sleeves and start the physical construction so that we can open in 2021.”
The new campus will include rooms for diagnostic testing and therapy services, allowing students with developmental delays or disabilities such as Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Down Syndrome, Spina Bifida, and speech and language delays to access critical health and wellness services all under one roof. It will also have a cafeteria, teacher break area and a specially designed playground equipped for students in wheelchairs and with other unique abilities.
“Our primary focus is to champion initiatives that address key health issues in our community,” said West Orange Healthcare District CEO Tracy Swanson. “This expansion will greatly increase UCP’s ability to serve families with special needs and we are excited to be part of the project.”
