About Us
Our Mission
To enable and empower people, primarily those with disabilities, to lead healthy and enriched lives.
For 80 years, the Center for Disability Services has been one of upstate New York’s largest providers of programs and services for individuals who have disabilities.
With more than 80 locations throughout 15 counties, we annually provide programs and services to over 12,000 individuals, ranging from infants to senior citizens, and their families. We provide services for over 300 different diagnoses of disabilities including Cerebral Palsy, developmental disabilities, Multiple Sclerosis, Autism Spectrum disorders, epilepsy, spina bifida, TBI and Down syndrome.
Our wide range of services under a single umbrella allows us to provide a seamless continuum of care as the people we support age or as their needs change. From intensive medical care to residential services, to dental care to mental health, the individuals we support can have it all managed through the Center.
The Center for Disability Services, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization provides additional services through the Down Syndrome Aim High Resource Center, and our affiliates: Prospect Center in Queensbury and St. Margaret’s Center in Albany. We are committed to the well being of the people we support, while providing opportunities which lead to more independent lifestyles and productive, happier lives. For a weekend, a week, or a lifetime, in your home or ours, the Center for Disability Services is here for you and your family.
Our Vision
To be the model for helping people get better at life, through innovation and service excellence for those we serve, in unison with staff and partners who share our passion.
Our Values
Uplift
We prioritize fostering a supportive environment where everyone’s contributions are valued.
Motivate
We invest in your career and offer opportunities to learn, grow, and advance.
Collaborate
As a part of our team, you’ll be making a positive impact on the lives of our community.
Inspire
Our shared mission drives our work, creating a sense of purpose and fulfillment in every role within our organization.
Innovate
We contribute to innovative solutions that enhance the lives of those we serve and transform the disability services landscape.
Our History
1940s
1942
The Cerebral Palsy Association of the Capital District, Inc. is begun by a group of parents of children with CP to secure medical consultations and home-based therapy.
1943
A Medical/Therapy Clinic is opened.
1949
A Nursery/Preschool Program is begun.
1950s
1952
The organization opens its own facility for nursery, diagnostic and therapy programs.
A School-Age Program is launched.
1960s
1960
The 1st Annual CP Telethon is broadcast live across the Capital Region.
1966
The Center School for the Disabled and Day Care Center are opened at the Newtonville United Methodist Church.
1970s
1972
All programs are relocated to the Cerebral Palsy Treatment & Educational Facility on South Manning Boulevard in Albany.
1974
The organization’s first Vocational programs are begun.
1976
The Center for the Disabled’s first community residence opened.
1978
The Center opens its first Supportive Living Apartments.
1979
Between 1979 and 1996 14 additional Community Residence’s opened.
1980s
1980
Infant Early Intervention Programs are initiated.
Adult Day Treatment programs are begun.
1981
A full-time Medical Director is retained.
Rehabilitation Therapy services are started.
1982
Clinical, vocational and adult programs and services are added via a facility expansion
1983
Adult Day Training programs are begun.
1984
The Center is certified as an 11-county Regional Assessment Center.
1986
The South Pearl Street facility opens for Adult Programs and Transportation.
1989
A Technology Department is established.
1990s
1990
The organization begins promoting itself as Center for the Disabled, to reflect its work with persons with mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and 300 other diagnoses.
1992
Primary Health Care is begun.
The Center opens a satellite facility in Clifton Park.
1994
The Center merges with United Cerebral Palsy Association of Schenectady, adding Home- & Center-Based Early Intervention and Preschools in Glenville, residences, and Clover Patch Camp.
1996
the main Albany facility added a larger Langan School, Early Childhood Center, and Aquatic Therapy pool.
1998
The 50 Years Capital Campaign is brought to a successful conclusion; 314 South Manning Boulevard is renovated and expanded via a 40,000 square foot addition that houses a new Langan School and a large Aquatic Therapy Pool. St. Margaret’s Center becomes part of the Center’s family of services, and expands skilled nursing care for children with severe disabilities to include adults; the DayLight Adult Day Health Care Program is opened. The Center opens a 28-person Independent Living Facility through a grant from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
1999
The Center’s second year of a co-operatorship with the skilled nursing facility St. Margaret’s Center, the agencies opened a DayLight Adult Day Health Care Program; the Program offers a 20-bed residential unit for those with chronic disabilities and neurological impairments, and on-site nursing, therapy, nutrition psychological, service coordination, and social/leisure services.
2000s
2000
The Center merges with Residential Opportunities, Inc., to form the largest provider of comprehensive services in Upstate New York. The Epilepsy Center is established.
2001
Center enters into a cooperative relationship with United Cerebral Palsy Association of Fulton & Montgomery Counties, Inc. The Multiple Sclerosis Care Center opens.
The Center for the Disabled has again increased its area of service by combining services with United Cerebral Palsy of Fulton and Montgomery Counties, Inc.
2006
The organization formally adopts the name Center for Disability Services, to reflect the growing scope of its programs and services, and the diversity of individuals that it serves.
2010s
2012
The Center merges with United Cerebral Palsy of the Tri-Counties (aka prospect Center), extending its programs and services into the North Country.
2013
Center for Disability Services affiliates with UCP of the Tri-Counties, Inc. i.e. Prospect Center in Queensbury.
Center for Disability Services affiliated with Down Syndrome Aim High Resource Center in 2013, with a D/B/A filing in 2015 .
2015
Filed DBA for the Health Innovations Incubator and Technology Center, the research and development division at the Center (formerly known as LQSI).
Started Without Walls Program. Started with 8 participants and now has nearly 80.
2019
Center receives a grant to enhance Center Health Care’s services to offer Telemedicine Alternatives to the Emergency Room and Urgent Care specialized for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities who live in Center residences.
2020s
2020
Center opens newest residence on McGovern Drive in Niskayuna, bringing total to 53 residences.
2021
Day Habilitation starts at new site, Corporate Circle. The new site is being used in part as a Recreation Program to support individuals from our residential programs who haven’t been able to return to on-site day hab due to the pandemic.
The Center Today
The Center now services 15,000 infants, children, adults, and seniors with disabilities and those at risk of acquiring a disability due to inadequate medical and other services. This includes all types of mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, attention deficit disorder/hyperactivity disorder, fetal alcohol syndrome, and 300 other diagnoses. Programs and Services include:
- 53 Residential facilities;
- Transportation;
- Vocational & Adult Programs, including Day Training, Pre-Vocational, Vocational, Workshop, Head Injury, Seniors, Technological Opportunities and Community Based Employment services;
- Dental, Primary Care, Specialty Medical, and Speech, Occupational, Physical, and Aquatic therapies for Center consumers and outclients at Article 28 clinics in Albany and Clifton Park;
- Early Intervention, Preschool, School-Age, Technology, Community Re-Entry, and School-to-Work Transition programs in Center- and Home-Based settings;
- Leisure Services, Weekend Overnight and After School Respite services, and Clover Patch Camp