UCP/Detroit believes strongly in the right to self-determination and independence for all persons regardless of any physical, mental, or emotional limitations that society calls a "disability"

Programs and Services: "Parents Are Experts" Parents Training Project (PTP) is based on the premise that parents are experts when it comes to their children. The award winning project encourages increased parental participation in the special education process through the use of a wide spectrum of trainings and workshops. Through the Advocacy program, the agency makes it possible for parents to receive the technical know-how and moral and emotional support they need when they advocate for the rights of their children. The advocates also provide intake and referral services, specialized trainings and assist all people with disabilities to access community services. State Initiated Grant Project trains parents to become self-advocates for their children. The project recognizes that no one is more concerned and better able to advocate for the educational well-being of children than an informed parent. Choice Access is a federally funded five year demonstration project through the Rehabilitation Services Administration. Choice Access assists people with significant disabilities find and purchase services and supports which result in meaningful, paid, customer-selected employment in the community. Rehabilitation Renaissance Project (Rehab Ren) is a collaborative project (based on the Choice Access model) conducted by Michigan Jobs Commission Rehabilitation Services (MJC-RS) and UCP/Detroit. Customers choose to participate in the project and make choices in their rehabilitation program; the customer chooses job goals that are right for them and they decide how, and by whom, needed services will be provided.