Our History

In the 1940’s children and adults with cerebral palsy and other conditions that affected mobility were not afforded the same rights to educational and medical services as their non-handicapped peers. Parents and concerned citizens recognized this inequity and, in 1947, small groups began to form around the country to address the situation. The Cerebral Palsy League began as one such group. During the 1940s and 1950s, the small group expanded and the Myrle Garbe Treatment Center and a day program for children with cerebral palsy was formed.

The Treatment Center provided much-needed medical care and was committed to helping children learn to walk and talk, with the hope that they would eventually attend their neighborhood schools.

Physicians and other interested parties worked diligently to provide specialized care for this special population of children. Through the dedicated work of volunteers and progressive medical professionals, many children, formerly denied access to the public schools, were now better able to be in the mainstream of the educational system.

Through the years, The Cerebral Palsy League expanded programs and services that addressed the needs of many more individuals. Services for adults and preschool-age children with developmental disabilities were now available. While the programs evolved to meet the changing needs of the community, the Mission remained the same: To assist individuals with developmental disabilities to reach their optimal potential.

What was once a small group serving children with cerebral palsy in Union County, grew into a League of support services to educate and empower all age groups from Union, Essex, and Middlesex Counties. A new generation of caring, concerned professionals now continue the work of the original pioneers.

The Cerebral Palsy League now serves more than 300 families each year. Its two facilities in Union and Cranford, New Jersey are home to Early Intervention Services, daycare, the Jardine Academy, Family Support Services, and Adult Services.

On September 10, 2009, the Cerebral Palsy League entered a new phase of history when it opened a newly renovated school facility on its Cranford campus that provides students with a continuum of educational services in an enhanced learning environment. It includes state-of-the-art technology, mobility training programs, modernized classrooms, and an expanded therapy suite. The new facility combined the operations of its Cranford and Union campuses into one location.

Today, as in the beginning, The Cerebral Palsy League, Inc. is committed to the philosophy of helping people with developmental disabilities to obtain their optimal level of functional independence, while maintaining their highest possible quality of life.