Dear DDS Community,

As we welcome July, there is much to celebrate. July is Disability Pride Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the contributions, achievements, and diversity of people with disabilities. It is also a month when our nation marks its 250th birthday, a chance to celebrate the many people, communities, and contributions that have shaped our country throughout its history.

Summer is in full swing, with schools on break, camps underway, and families enjoying time together outdoors. It was wonderful to see so many individuals, families, providers, advocates, and staff at this year's DDS Community Day at Camp Harkness. The sunny June day was filled with connection, laughter, and community spirit, and I want to thank everyone who attended and helped make the event such a success.

Looking ahead, please register below for our DDS Fall Stakeholder Feedback Forums. Forum dates and times are listed below, and you can register by clicking one of the buttons below. These forums remain an important opportunity to hear directly from the individuals we support, families, providers, and community partners. The format will be much the same as in previous years, although this will be my first year hosting the forums as Commissioner. I am looking forward to the conversations, feedback, and ideas that help guide our work throughout the year.

I hope you enjoy the remainder of the summer and find time to relax, recharge, and make the most of the season.

Sincerely,

Elisa Velardo

DDS Commissioner

News & Updates

Forum Registration - Click the button below for the session you'd like to attend.

Special Olympics USA Games - Team Connecticut Recap

What a week it was for the USA Special Olympics National Games! 

If you have ESPN, you can check it out on demand and see some of the highlights.

The Special Olympic games started off with opening ceremonies with performances by Demi Lovato and Jon Batiste – followed by the lighting of the Olympic Torch which made its way from all over the USA. Over 3,000 athletes and Unified Partners participated from all 50 states. There were over 1,500 coaches and 10,000 volunteers. Sports included track and field events, bowling, softball, corn hole, flag football, unified basketball, soccer, swimming and weightlifting. 

Please see pictures from the event below:

Team Connecticut Unified Softball earned SILVER. They competed with teams from all over the USA.

Raishaun Holloway (pictured above) won GOLD in the 100m with a time of 14.83 seconds.

News from DDS Employment and Day Services Division:

Micro-Enterprise Success Story: Samantha  

Learn about Samantha and her Micro-Enterprise Samantha’s Sparkles 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.  

Save the date – CT APSE Conference  

Mark your calendars for the CT Association of People Supporting Employment-First (APSE) annual conference on Thursday, October 1^st.  This year’s theme is “From PLANS to PAYCHECKS.” See the save the date below for more information. 

Rewarding Work:

Get a head start on hiring by registering for Rewarding Work today!

Rewarding Work helps families find qualified caregivers to provide support and help maintain healthy routines all summer long. By posting a job on our job board, you can attract interested and available applicants who are ready to provide support that fits your family’s needs.

Explore caregiver profiles, review experience, and build meaningful connections that bring comfort and consistency to everyday life. With the right support, creating a reliable network of care can be easier than you think.

Register today at RewardingWork.org free of charge with the access code: ctddsconnect

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.