Margaret Farman
Career Retrospective
1979-2024

"I fell in love with the alternative community .... I knew I wanted to continue to support the

larger community to be more accepting of people with diverse needs."

— Margaret Farman

From her first job in college, Margaret Farman has been a passionate advocate for the rights of

people with developmental disabilities. Her early work with children and teens with autism

became the springboard for the next 50 years, in which she consistently lifted up her colleagues

and the hundreds of individuals she served.

In 1979, Margaret cofounded Therapon, establishing 10 residential group homes serving children

and adults with developmental disabilities, and their families. Under her leadership, Therapon

innovated programs such as "Home Runs," in which residents visited family members in their

homes for a meal or a weekend stay.

In 1994, Margaret joined the California Autism Foundation as Deputy Director. She founded

ABC School for students with significant behavior support needs, guided their Custom

Assembly and Packaging business employing adults with developmental disabilities, and

developed their Supported Living Program including the construction of ABC Apartments with

federal and state funding.

Her experience and achievements led her to become the Chief Executive Officer of United

Cerebral Palsy of the North Bay in 2007. She served in this capacity until her retirement in

2024. In partnership with the Board of Directors, Margaret grew the organization's annual

budget from $30,000 and assets totaling $4.2 million, to an annual budget of $26 million and

assets totaling $65 million.

In 2023, Margaret received the Heart of Napa Excellence in Leadership Award. Margaret had

long since taken an active role in the Napa community, having served as the President of the

Napa Valley Coalition of Nonprofit Agencies and having supported many other Napa, Sonoma,

and Solano nonprofit agencies working toward the same service goals.

Her remarkable legacy at UCP of the North Bay includes Cypress School, which serves students

with autism; WineBev Services, and Gone for Good, which provide paid work for adults; and

Sonoma, Marin, and Senior Adult Day Programs offering recreation and education activities.

Under Margaret's leadership, UCP also established Boost School serving students with cerebral

palsy; Supported Employment providing career opportunities at local businesses; and a variety of

recreation programs and activities.

"Life Without Limits," the guiding principle and core mission of United Cerebral Palsy,

embodies a career distinguished by compassion and care not only for UCP but for the entire

developmental disabilities community.