State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton tours the Smile Farms greenhouses at The Cora Hoffman Center.
Through its compassionate and person-centered care, Constructive Partnerships Unlimited helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities reach exciting new heights.
New York City-based Constructive Partnerships Unlimited (CPU) was founded in 1946 to promote opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to achieve fulfilling lives. And for more than 77 years, the organization has succeeded in positively impacting thousands of individuals and their families and embodying the ideals of “progress with purpose and care.”
Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella Tours The Cora Hoffman Center.
Originally founded by a group of parents whose children had cerebral palsy, CPU evolved to provide day, residential and recreational programs to adults with cerebral palsy and grew into The Cerebral Palsy Association of New York State. After redirecting services to New York City and the Hudson Valley in 2019, CPU has since become an even more prominent local provider, in many ways.
New York State Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo Visited CP Unlimited and Presented a Citation for Their Work on Staten Island.
“We’ve extended our impact across local communities,” said Joseph M. Pancari, president and CEO of CPU, who noted that the organization has broadened its scope to serve not only individuals with cerebral palsy, but also those with autism and other intellectual disabilities. “Through our various residential and day settings, we support nearly 2,000 people every day by providing skills development, recreational activity and community engagement in a warm, caring and inclusive way.”
CP Unlimited team members and the people they support rally for increased wages for direct support professionals.
Among CPU’s diverse settings is its Cora Hoffman Center on Forest Avenue on Staten Island. Housing the agency’s local DayHab program and Article 16 clinic, the center provides rehabilitative services including physical, speech and occupational therapy; augmentative technology; and vocational and social work/counseling services.
“We advocate for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and offer the skills training they need to meet the challenges of the workplace and help them be part of the community,” said Marleen Whitman, director of Day Services at the Cora Hoffman Center. “We volunteer, frequent all of the neighborhood stores and participate in activities like music, dance, chorus, gardening, yoga/fitness classes and more. We have a full-time nurse as well as psychotherapy professionals and psychologists on staff to help people address depression, grief and anxiety; offer shoe clinics and wheelchair support (including free wheelchair cleanings and repairs to anyone who uses a wheelchair); and can perform psychosocial evaluations to help eligible individuals get waiver-enrolled into our programs.”