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Welcome to our October Newsletter!
Dear DDS Community,
October is a busy and exciting month for all of us at DDS. I am pleased to announce our annual Stakeholder Forums have been scheduled for the end of October/early November. These sessions are an important opportunity for you to hear directly from DDS Leadership and for us to hear from you. Your feedback and ideas help guide our work, so I hope you will join us, please find the details and registration links below.
September also brought us a milestone worth celebrating- the first-ever Unified Que event in the nation right here at Camp Harkness. More than a dozen teams of individuals from across the State (Public and Private) partnered with professional pit masters in a spirited and inclusive barbecue competition. Congratulations to everyone who took part, and I am happy to share a few photos from this special day with you.
Finally, October is recognized as National Disability Employment Awareness Month. This is a time to highlight the talent, skills, and contributions of individuals with disabilities in our workforce and to remind people of our shared commitment to creating inclusive pathways to employment.
Thank you for being part of our community and for the role you play in making Connecticut a place where ALL can thrive.
Sincerely,
Jordan Scheff
DDS Commissioner
News & Updates
Unified BBQ Competition Event:
Camp Harkness hosted the nation's very first Unified BBQ Competition on September 6th.
Pictures below from the event:
Marrakech Inc. Theatre Club's Enough
In September, Deputy Commissioner Elisa Velardo attended an inspiring performance of Enough by the Marrakech Theatre Club at ACES Little Theatre. The original play shared personal stories with honesty and creativity. Enjoy a few photos and a poem from the event.
Pictures and Poem below from the event:
Poem from event:
Southbury Training School’s Annual Remembrance Day:
The Remembrance Day was held on Wednesday September 17th, 2025, from 10:30 – 12:00 at the Pavilion.
Individuals, staff, family and friends gathered together and celebrated the lives of those who we have lost over the past year. During a brief service we enjoyed music and viewed pictures of friends and memorial garden bricks honoring their lives. The Southbury Training School Memorial Garden was started in the summer of 2009 to memorialize our friends and loved ones. After the service individuals went home and continued their day of remembrance with cakes to share as they remember their friends.
News from DDS Employment and Day Services:
National Disability Employment Awareness (NDEAM) - October Marks 80 Years of National Disability Employment Awareness Month
The U.S. Department of Labor has announced the theme for this year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM): “Celebrating Value and Talent.”
Observed every October, NDEAM honors the contributions of workers with disabilities and highlights the importance of inclusive employment practices. This year’s theme reflects a continued commitment to recognizing the skills and talents people with disabilities bring to the workplace.
For more information about NDEAM, visit www.dol.gov/ndeam.
DDS Employer Toolkit Brochure
The Employment and Day team is happy to share the DDS Employer Toolkit Brochure! This tool serves as a one-stop-shop for employers to learn about DDS and employing individuals with intellectual disability. It includes links to information about pathways to hiring, inclusive workplace practices, and a link to join the DDS Employer List and Employer Consult Form.
Join the EDS team for a virtual presentation focused on Career Exploration and Employment Options. You can find meeting details and the full schedule of topics on the DDS website.
Impact Award Winner – Trever Rogers
We’re proud to share that Trever Rogers, a valued member of the DDS Employment and Day Services team, has been named one of this year’s UConn School of Public Policy Impact Award winners. Congratulations, Trever!
Trever Rogers (pictured) with 2026 UConn Public Policy Impact Award.
Rewarding Work
Rewarding Work: Helping Build and Manage Your Care Team
RewardingWork.org makes it easier for you to find reliable caregivers who meet your family’s unique needs. Right now, there are hundreds of candidates actively seeking caregiver roles in Connecticut. Through our free tool, you can post jobs, search applicants, and begin connecting today!
Our applicant search feature helps you find applicants with the skills you need, including Individual Goods and Services Supervisors to help coordinate and supervise direct support staff. Having this kind of support can give you peace of mind and make sure your family’s needs are consistently met.
Register and subscribe to Rewarding Work free of charge with the access code: CTddsconnect.
Visit our site to explore additional guidance and resources for connecting to care in Connecticut.
DDS Self Advocate's Corner
Mark Your Calendars!
Join us for DDS Commissioner's Community Forums
This November, Commissioner Scheff and Deputy Commissioner Velardo will be hosting a series of community forums designed to engage, inform, and listen to all the voices of our DDS community. These forums are a great opportunity for you to share your thoughts, learn about recent developments, and help shape the future of our supports & services. Your input is invaluable to us.
To accommodate everyone's schedule, we are offering both a late morning and evening session. Please feel free to attend the session that best fits your availability. There is no need to attend both.
DDS Sponsored Events
Fourth Tuesday Forums on Innovative Options
All virtual forums are 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
October 28, 2025 - Career Exploration and Employment Options
December 2, 2025 - A Year in Review - STEP Success Stories
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.
