Our Core Values (S.T.R.I.D.E.)
- Serving People. Service to others is the primary purpose of UDS and all who carry out its mission.
- Teamwork. We reach our common goals by supporting and bringing together different skills, interests and ideas to work as a unit.
- Respect. We communicate thoughtfully and honestly, act with integrity, and always treat people well.
- Inclusion. We improve the abilities and opportunities of those we serve by supporting full access and membership in the community.
- Dignity. By our actions, we protect and uplift the inherent worth of each person served.
- Excellence. We are passionate about delivering exceptional quality in our programs and services.
Our Strategic Plan
Goal #1: Evolve and strengthen UDS core programs and infrastructure to ensure high levels of quality in meeting the changing needs of the people we serve.
- Refreshing all Adult Services models through training, innovation and quality indicators to improve person-centered outcome for individuals served;
- Transitioning prevocational services to a model of community-based skill building and use of functional skill curriculum in preparation for potential phase-out 14(c) certificate and subminimum wage work;
- Exploring development of additional community workstations for part-day or full-day work opportunities;
- Protecting and growing the financial strength of the Transportation program as a key lever of financial stability; identifying profitable new uses of the fleet, including growth of charter school routes and “field trips;” and
- Developing strategies and plans to attract enrollment of younger (post high school) participants in Adults Services.
Goal #2: Attract, engage, appreciate and retain qualified staff who advance the mission of UDS.
- Supporting a diverse, high-performing staff that reflects the community that we serve;
- Filling DSP vacancies in order to improve program structures and facilitate successful, high-quality outcomes for the individuals served; and
- Incentivizing DSP driving positions in order to encourage more staff to support community integration goals with more program-based drivers.
Goal #3: Protect and enhance the reputation of UDS as a leader in the field of serving persons with disabilities.
- Developing a communications plan that is guided by agency goals and measurable outcomes;
- Leveraging external relationships to strengthen public awareness of UDS and grow donor support;
- Sustaining exceptional leadership from a diverse and talented Board of Directors;
- Focusing on agency-wide leadership development and succession planning in order to prepare for the next generation of agency leadership.
Goal #4: Strengthen the financial position of UDS for continued sustainability and growth.
- Leveraging unprecedented waiver rate increases to shore up program deficits;
- Pursuing measurable outcomes to grow individual and corporate donor base;
- Adopting or innovating new tactics to attract new consumers to Low Vision Services and Toy & Resource Center, and
- Optimizing the full space of 701 S. Main St. as an asset for program and/or revenue (rent) enhancement.