United Cerebral Palsy's new building has room to expand

United Cerebral Palsy of Stanislaus County made certain its new center in north Modesto was accessible to wheelchairs.

The former center, on 13th Street downtown, was a two-story building without an elevator, so many of the clients couldn't get to offices on the second floor. Those in wheelchairs used the activity areas on the ground floor.

The new center, which opened in June at 4265 Spyres Way, has training rooms, offices and recreation areas on a single level. The kitchen is designed so a person in a wheelchair can easily use the microwave or get water and ice from the refrigerator.

"We wanted to get into a state-of-the-art building," Executive Director Robert Lonczak said. "This provides us with an opportunity to continue to grow."

The United Cerebral Palsy chapter has bounced back from a crisis that emerged four years ago.

When Lonczak took the job in 2004, he was told the nonprofit agency was financially stable. But he soon learned it was $130,000 behind in payroll taxes and a $420,000 balloon payment on its building was due in four months.

The former director was prosecuted for embezzling $50,000 and served a jail term, he said.

United Cerebral Palsy worked out a payment plan with the Internal Revenue Service and the state Employment Development Department. It also talked with its lender about restructuring its debt and closed its thrift stores, which were losing money.

Eventually, its bottom line improved so it was able to invest $141,000 on special features in the new building. The organization has a long-term lease on half of a building shared with Woodside Homes.

The center serves adults in their early 20s to late 60s. About 35 percent of the clients have cerebral palsy, a term that refers to neurological disorders caused by damage to the motor control centers of the brain. The rest of the clients have developmental disabilities caused by autism, mental retardation, epilepsy or brain injuries.

About 80 percent of the chapter's funding comes from state programs for the developmentally disabled; the rest comes from private donors and foundations. The organization's 24 full-time and six part-time employees serve about 150 clients with moderate to severe disabilities.

On a recent day at the center, some clients were doing arts and crafts, while others grouped around tables to discuss current affairs. Later, some put their wheelchairs in a circle for an exercise session.

In another program, the center staff escorts clients into the community for lunch, shopping or to visit interesting places such as a museum or the library.

Those able to work are assisted in finding jobs. They prepare résumés and have mock interviews, which are recorded so they can see how they did.

Lonczak said 20 to 30 clients were placed in jobs in the past year. Some have gone to work for California State University, Stanislaus, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Red Robin restaurant and real estate offices.

The center provides a coach to supervise the clients during on-the-job training and the first month of employment.

Michael Nelson, a longtime client, said he likes to meet with friends at the center and go on excursions in the community. The new center is an improvement because he doesn't have to walk up stairs, he said.

Nelson, 64, serves as a client representative on the board of directors.

Jeannette Jones took a summer job with United Cerebral Palsy after graduating from Modesto Junior College six years ago. She supervises daily activities for the clients even though she is legally blind.

"It turned into more than a summer job," she said. "I love what I do. I like the personal interaction the most. I know the program gives them the opportunity to stay integrated in the community instead of sitting at home."

Some programs for the disabled in California have been threatened with funding cuts because of the state budget deficit. Lonczak said the program that helps people find jobs won't receive payments from the state until a budget is approved. The last payment was in July for services rendered in June, he said.

The director said the center improves the lives of people who have fewer options because of their disabilities. He's proud of a large painting on the wall of the conference room. Clients used a paint-by-numbers guide to produce the picture of a river passing through a canyon.

"We serve a group of people that other programs don't want to take," he said. "Instead of sitting at home and staring at walls, they are learning things that help improve their quality of life."

Bee staff writer Ken Carlson can be reached at kcarlson@modbee.com or 578-2321.