‘Everyone Deserves Dignity’

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‘Everyone Deserves Dignity’

After 39 years with Upstate Cerebral Palsy, Louis Tehan ’74 steps down as president and CEO.

Nearly 40 years ago,Louis Tehan ’74 began his tenure with Upstate Cerebral Palsy in the basement of Kernan Elementary School in Utica.

In those days, Tehan, who retired as president and CEO in May 2018, helped the grassroots agency provide early intervention services to preschool-age children with cerebral palsy.

Today, UCP and its affiliates own more than 90 buildings, employ 3,000 people, and offer services and support to more than 30,000 individuals each year. Under Tehan’s leadership, the agency grew beyond cerebral palsy programs, serving people of all ages with a wide range of physical and mental disabilities through residential and outpatient resources throughout the state.

At the heart of it all, Tehan has maintained the same philosophy: “Treat every child as if they were the president’s son or daughter,” he says. “Everyone deserves dignity.”

To that end, Tehan has always been a champion for parents’ involvement in their child’s treatment and care. Even now, with thousands of skilled medical professionals and therapists comprising UCP’s staff, “families still self-direct services,” Tehan explains. “We offer support, but families do what they think is best for their children. It’s harder to maintain that culture as we grow, but it’s the only culture that works.”

Another guiding principle: UCP’s connection to Utica College. The organization remains one of the largest employers of UC grads, and hosts dozens of students each year as interns and volunteers.

“It’s a relationship I’ve treasured over the years,” says Tehan, who credits his own success, in large part, to his UC education.

“Utica College gave me a solid, well-balanced foundation.” And his sociology professor, the late Doris Miga, was an integral part of it.

“Professor Miga kept me on track,” he says. “She showed me the important of research and data, the value of academic study; she encouraged me to pursue graduate school. She was way ahead of her time.”

Even in retirement, Tehan isn’t fully stepping back. He remains CEO of Upstate Caring Partners, UCP’s parent organization. He’s slowly cutting back hours, but still regularly works around 35 hours a week.

After all, he says, “You can’t just quit cold turkey.”