Dear DDS Community,

As we welcome the month of May, the flowers are blooming, the trees are turning green again, and longer days are giving us more time to enjoy the outdoors. For many, it also means allergy season is in full swing. This is also a time of growth, fresh starts, and looking ahead to the months to come.

We are excited to begin looking forward to one of our favorite events of the year, our DDS Community Day, taking place from 11am – 2pm on Saturday, June 13^th. In past years this event was held in May, we made the shift to June in hopes of warmer weather and to make it easier for more families to join us on a weekend. It is always a fun and welcoming day, and this year the beach will be open, adding even more to enjoy.

DDS Community Day is a chance for individuals, families, providers, staff, and the public, to come together, connect, and celebrate our community. Whether it is spending time by the water, enjoying activities, or simply being together, it is a day that reflects what makes our DDS community so strong.

We hope you will take some time this month to enjoy what May has to bring us, and I look forward to seeing many of you in June for a great day at Camp Harkness. Details on the event are included below.

Sincerely, 
Jordan Scheff
DDS Commissioner

News & Updates

Abilities Unlocked: Disability Awareness Event

Abilities Unlocked was an inclusive and interactive quest that offered a fun, engaging learning experience while promoting teamwork and collaboration across the DDS West Region team with support from our DDS Central Office colleagues.

The winning team won a pizza party!  Everyone enjoyed delicious treats and proudly wore orange to celebrate the meaningful strides we’ve made together.

Please see pictures from the event below:

ANCOR Connect 26: Navigating the Now conference

In April, five DDS Self Advocate Coordinators, their staff and several administrators from DDS attended the ANCOR conference in Boston.   

ANCOR is the American Network of Community Options and Resources. A national organization out of Washington DC advocating for individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD). 

Annually the conference is held for three days to discuss and educate providers, families and advocates on the national trends and what is happening in Washington D.C. Much was learned and experienced.

The picture of attendees below was taken after Wednesday’s plenary session entitled: Disability Rights - A Global Movement.

News from DDS Employment and Day Services Division:

Micro-Enterprise Success Story: Ryan 

Learn about Ryan and his Micro-Enterprise SenseAble Creations here. Many individuals supported by DDS engage in self-employment and own their own Micro-Enterprises. DDS eligible Individuals can apply for up to $5,000 to start or expand their micro-enterprise.

Learn more about micro-enterprises on the new DDS Self-Employment page. 

DDS Self-Employment Guide 

Are you interested in learning more about self-employment? This guide is written for individuals and families in easy-to-understand language. The guide breaks down self-employment and important terms, DDS Micro-Enterprise funding, important considerations, as well as local, state, and federal self-employment resources. Check out the new guide here: DDS Self-Employment Guide.

Project SEARCH

Planning for the 2026–2027 Project SEARCH year is in full swing, and many sites are still accepting applications. If you’re interested in learning more about this exciting opportunity, please refer to the DDS Project SEARCH Contact List or reach out to the CT Project SEARCH Statewide Coordinator, Brian Gresko, at brian.gresko@ct.gov.

Rewarding Work:

Looking for a caregiver in your area? After you register and subscribe to Rewarding Work free of charge with the access code CTddsconnect, you can post a job and browse applicants right away.

Our Applicant Search uses zip code data to help you find caregivers local to you, giving you a head start on hiring as soon as you subscribe. Posting a job is the best way to attract applicants. The more detailed and compelling your job description is, the better your results. Take the time to make your job post stand out! For help writing a great job posting, check out our article Looking for a Skilled Caregiver in Connecticut? Here’s How to Write and Post a Successful Job Listing.

Ready to get started? Sign up today at RewardingWork.org and post your first job for free!

Mark Your Calendars!

DDS Sponsored Events

DDS Community Events

Providers, family groups, and advocacy organizations, send us your events to share: DDS.Updates@ct.gov

The Department of Developmental Services is dedicated to providing the community with informative, educational, and beneficial content, including information about free and paid events. Please note that we do not accept submissions related to fundraisers or requests for donations.

To submit content for consideration in the newsletter, please send your PDF or JPG files, along with any relevant links, to DDS.Updates@ct.gov. For more information, feel free to contact us at this email address.