Welcome to UPWARD — Where Abilities Thrive
Since 1958, UPWARD has helped medically fragile and children with disabilities reach their highest potential. Through tailored therapies, skill-building, and special education, Upward nurtures every child. Our centrally located, picturesque campus offers inclusive childcare and Pre-K through grade 12 classrooms, fostering learning and development in a caring community.
At UPWARD, we make skills development, learning and therapy fun. We are bringing hope and joy to the children we support and helping them achieve their highest potential. We offer therapies to children in specific disciplines: Physical, Speech and Language, and Occupational. We offer an inclusive childcare program from infancy through preschool that serves children both with and without disabilities.
Our Purpose: Helping children with special needs achieve their highest potential while empowering their families to thrive.
CONTACT US to schedule a tour!
DES Contracted Childcare Center
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PROGRAMS & SERVICES OFFERED
Inclusive Infant Care
Our Inclusive Infant Care program serves children with special needs as well as children that are age appropriate.
Our unique infant care program features:
- A very low child to teacher ratio
- On-site nursing care
- Quality care for infants 6 weeks and up
- Quality inclusive environments for infants with and without disabilities
- Music therapy
- Pediatric therapy available for those who qualify
Request information about this or any other Upward “Family of Caring” program.
Inclusive Childcare
Our Inclusive Childcare program serves children with special needs as well as children that are age appropriate.
Our unique childcare program features:
- A very low child to teacher ratio
- On-site nursing care
- Quality care for infants 18 months to pre-kindergarten 5-year olds
- Quality inclusive environments for children with and without disabilities
- Music therapy
- Pediatric therapy available for those who qualify
Request information about this or any other Upward “Family of Caring”program.
Pre K - Grade 12 School
For children who are medically fragile or have disabilities, UPWARD offers an alternative placement to public and charter schools.
Our specialized school features:
- Very low child to teacher ratio
- Fulltime, on-site registered nurse
- Pediatric therapies including speech, occupational, physical, and feeding
- Animal and music therapy
- Individualized education based on each child’s needs
Pediatric Therapies
UPWARD for Children and Families has begun a partnership with Just for Kids Therapy in working to provide services for children with disabilities and their families.
As of March 2024 Just for Kids Therapy has leased the therapy building on our campus and has begun working with children in Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Feeding Therapy. They provide outpatient services for the community in which we both work and serve. We are so happy to have a partnership with such an incredible group of people. Welcome Just for Kids Therapy!
The children who attend UPWARD for Children and Families for their preschool through high school education receive Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech Therapy from the licensed therapists we work with in contract to serve the children during the school hours.
Special Education
The Private Day School at UPWARD is located in central Phoenix, making it an attractive location on 7th Street between Rose Lane and Maryland.
We offer a new state-of-the-art facility built in 2016, and includes large classrooms with high-end equipment.
Our Special Education School serves children with severe disabilities, Pre-K through 21.
UPWARD works with 6-8 school districts annually that are unable to meet the needs of children with severe disabilities and/or who are medically fragile.
Our comprehensive model includes highly trained Special Education teachers and assistants. In addition, we provide physical, occupational, and speech and language therapy. An onsite Registered Nurse ensures that student’s medical needs are met.
Few if any other providers are equipped or staffed to accommodate the medically fragile student to which UPWARD is committed.
Online and on campus learning are available. Please contact us for a tour at (602) 279-5801.
OUR FACILITIES
