Happiness House is a nonprofit health and human service agency that has been serving communities in the Finger Lakes Region of Upstate New York since 1969.

Our staff consists of dedicated and knowledgeable professionals and clinicians in the areas of special education, early childhood education, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, music therapy, psychology, service coordination and nursing.

The staff at Happiness House focuses on meeting the specific needs for each individual and his or her family. Programs and services address developmental disabilities and syndromes including neurological impairments, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, autism and mental retardation.

In the late 60's a young father living in Geneva was told that his 1½-year-old daughter had Cerebral Palsy. This father had no idea what could be done to help his little girl. The girl's physician instructed her father to give her a football helmet and forget about her condition. Her father didn't know where to turn. Through an article placed in the Geneva Times, volunteers stepped forward to create the Finger Lakes Committee of United Cerebral Palsy. They soon learned that there were many children with Cerebral Palsy in the area and thanks to help from the New York State Elks Club and the Women's Club of Geneva money was raised to open the first childcare program in a house on North Street, serving five children with disabilities.

Thanks to the strong community and family support during the 70's and 80's, outreach services for children and adults doubled. Year round therapy and educational programs, the Parent Infant Program and the Summer Recreation Program were all in place. A second facility was opened in Canandaigua providing the same services that were offered in Geneva.

In 1992, Happiness House built an 18,500 square foot facility on Pre-Emption Road in Geneva, the current administrative home of Finger Lakes United Cerebral Palsy. Services continued to grow in Canandaigua leading to the opening of a second location on North Street in Canandaigua expanding special education services, offering Head Start, Service Coordination, Article 28 Clinic Services and an array of programs and services for individuals who had suffered a traumatic brain injury.

During its thirty-nine year history, propelled by these founding parents and the vision of community volunteers, Happiness House has developed a reputation for leadership and innovation in developing exemplary programs - many of which have become models for statewide programs. Today, Happiness House provides a comprehensive array of programs and services to more than 1000 children and adults and their families in Ontario, Seneca, Wayne and Yates Counties.

Happiness House is a United Way funded agency and is an affiliate of Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State. Services are provided in conjunction with the NYS Office of Children and Family Services, the NYS Education Department, the Department of Health and the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.