Message from Our Chair

A Message from the Chair

The Council had perhaps its busiest and most productive year ever as we influenced the larger community in a number of unique and powerful ways, advocated for people with disabilities and educated many on the importance of the inclusion of folks with disabilities into the lives of our communities.

Our biggest undertaking was to partner, along with other public and private funders, with CT Public Broadcasting to create a ten episode television series called "Able Lives". This Emmy nominated series, which began in April 2006, focused on the lives of people with disabilities and their families and the obstacles we face in attaining full inclusion in society. Co-hosted by people with disabilities, each episode addressed, in a "docu-zine" format (part documentary and part magazine style), specific issues such as family life, transportation, employment, education, recreation, technology, and assistive devices, among others. Feedback from the community has been outstanding, with folks sharing stories of systems change, social transformation, and personal healing. We look forward to a continued partnership with CPTV as we expand the theme of "Able Lives" across our state and the nation, as several DD Councils across the country are working to create similar efforts after hearing about the series at the October 2006 national meeting of the Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities .

The Council was also extremely active this past year testifying and educating others on a number of important pieces of legislation. Most notably, we were instrumental in creating an open atmosphere of discussion about changing the name of the Department of Mental Retardation by establishing a blog for folks throughout the state to voice their opinions. We were very gratified when the Department recommended the name our Council suggested, the Department of Developmental Services, to the Governor. Along with testimony advocating for the elimination of the use of physical restraints in school systems, we have taken strong public positions on the inherent worth and dignity of every child and adult and the importance of treating everyone with respect.

During this past year, we provided grant monies to a number of organizations and projects throughout the state, designed to help more people with disabilities lead "able lives". We help to fund the first ever state-wide Disability Convention, provided money to the African Caribbean American Parents of Children with Disabilities for empowerment training of parents, continued our support of Kids As Self Advocates to develop the next generation of leaders from the disability community, underwrote Social Role Valorization Project workshops and worked with the University Center for Excellence to study the issues and obstacles which impact the availability of safe public transportation for people with disabilities in Connecticut.

The Council also partnered with the Office of the Child Advocate in initiating and participating in the effort to expand the awareness of the issues associated with children with complex medical needs and helped develop the first-ever Summit on this issue. We continue to educate others on the significant needs faced by children with disabilities and their families and to recommend policy changes to support them. We did all of this and more, and we did it while undergoing significant change and transition within the Council. Jousette Caro, our chair, took a leave of absence to successfully complete a pregnancy (mother and twins are well and happy!). In her absence, we were ably led by our Vice- Chair, Cathy Adamczyk. Thanks to both of them, and to a very active and dedicated Council, for making this past year a great success. To those whose terms have expired, thank you for all you did to contribute to our accomplishments, and to all of you have been recently appointed, hold on to your hats! We still have a lot of good work to do. Let’s do it together, shall we?

Carolyn Cartland
Chair