The organization officially began on May 27, 1954 when a group of concerned citizens from Lancaster and Fairfield County met for the purpose of establishing a chapter of United Cerebral Palsy (U.C.P.), designed to serve Lancaster and the surrounding areas of Fairfield County. On September 9, 1954, United Cerebral Palsy of Lancaster was officially incorporated using the name, "United Cerebral Palsy of Lancaster, Fairfield County and Vicinity". The first meeting of the members of the Lancaster affiliate was held at the Elks Club on September 30, 1954.
In 1955, a room was provided at the Lancaster Hospital to hold a clinic for the various therapies that United Cerebral Palsy offered. On February 26, 1956, the first United Cerebral Palsy opened its doors at 508 N. High Street. The Center was moved to 426 N. Broad Street in February of 1958 when additional space was needed.
The Fairfield County Developmental complex of Granville Pike was completed in August of 1976 and the U.C.P. relocated to that site. The programs had grown significantly by 1978, and it was decided that a new building exclusively dedicated to U.C.P. was needed. A building fund was establishe by the U.C.P. board of Trustees; subsequently, a building at 681 E Sixth Ave. (the current site) was purchased in 1980. The building fund covered one-half the cost; the remainder came from bequests to the organization. There were no tax dollars or public funds utilized for the purchase.
The "Fairfield County Council for the Disabled" had its beginning as an informal group working together to better conditions for the handicapped. In 1977, following the White House Conference on the Handicapped, the group began to coordinate their efforts. Their first objective was to remove barriers to accessibility in Fairfield County. The group met in December of 1980 to organize a council, and filed papers as a non-profit corporation in 1981. The Council was composed of people with disabilities and their families. Meetings were held at Windsor Place in Lancaster. In July of 1982, a ramp was placed at City Hall to enable the Council to open an office there.
The size of the Council and awareness of their mission grew. In March of 1984, they moved to new offices at the Community Action location on Main Street. The Council was then able to provide many essential services including: removal of barriers, education concerning disabilities, and later on, transportation of the elderly and disabled to appointments, and designation of handicapped parking spots.
On December 10, 1992, United Cerebral Palsy and the Fairfield County Council for the Disabled merged to create the "Fairfield Center for Disabilities and Cerebral Palsy, Inc." This merger would provide for better delivery of the many services offered to the disabled and their families in Fairfield County.
Over the years, the Fairfield Center for Disabilities and Cerebral Palsy has offered four main programs; the Children's Program (discontinued in 1997), the Transportation Program, Adult Program, and Independent Living Program.
In 2001, the Fairfield Center for Disabilities and Cerebral Palsy agreed to become a provider for Ambulette Medicaid Waiver Transportation Service and Home-based Medicaid Waiver for the Center's Adult Day Program. In addition, in 2002, FCDCP entered into an agreement with the Fairfield County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (MR/DD), and the City of Columbus Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging (part of the Recreation and Parks Department), (PASSPORT), to provide Adult Day Care Program services and transportation.
The Fairfield Center for Disabilities has been through many changes and reconfigurations in its 50 year history. One fact, however, remains unchanged. The Center has always, and will always, continue to provide the best level of services to people with disabilities and their families in Fairfield County. The Center stands as a testament to the dedication and commitment of its Board of Directors, staff and volunteers, who over the years, have remained steadfast and who believe absolutely in their mission "to offer programs and services that meet the changing needs of Fairfield County residents with disabilities."

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