Connect-Ability began in late 2005 with a federal grant to the State of Connecticut to identify and remove barriers to employment faced by people with disabilities. This five-year, multimillion dollar systems change grant involved a detailed look at the State's employment and disability services infrastructure in order to identify problem areas and implement lasting solutions.
Connect-Ability has two primary customers:
- Employers of all sizes and in all industries who are seeking qualified workers
- People with disabilities of all ages who are seeking employment for the first time or who want a new challenge
Our program does not directly provide services to match individuals with specific jobs. Instead, our efforts are targeted at removing the barriers which keep our primary customers from finding one another. These barriers include, but are not limited to, low expectations, the transition from school to work, inadequate transportation, and the actual process of recruitment, hiring, and retention.
The activities of Connect-Ability follow the structure outlined in our strategic plan.
Systems change grant - Over the past few years, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have issued grants to states to create new ways for people with disabilities to be included in their local communities. Target areas have included transition out of institutions, support systems, housing, social inclusion, and work. The Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (MIG) is focused on removing barriers to employment. Connecticut's first MIG created a buy-in program under Medicaid so that people no longer had to choose between working and having the health insurance and support services they need. Connect-Ability is Connecticut's second Medicaid Infrastructure Grant.
Employers - Connect-Ability works with large corporations, medium-sized businesses, and small employers in all sectors, including government service.
People with disabilities of all ages - Connect-Ability's target
population is cross-disability and across the lifespan. This means
that people may have physical, sensory, emotional, and/or intellectual
disabilities; and may be high school students, people in their 30's or
40's, or people of retirement age.
Steering Committee
Connect-Ability is managed by a Steering Committee made up of Connecticut employers, individuals with disabilities, educators and advocates.
| Name | Representing |
|---|---|
| Abbot, Quincy | The Arc of Connecticut |
| Anderson, Patricia L. | Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education & Bureau of Rehabilitation Services |
| Beaulieu, Claudette J. | Department of Social Services |
| Chappell, Chavis | Self Advocate |
| Clegg, Chris | Favarh |
| Glomb, Walter | Down Syndrome Congress |
| Kosloski, Stan | Disability Collaborative |
| LaCava, Tony | Disability Resource Center of Fairfield County |
| Langton, Mary Ann | Council on Developmental Disabilities |
| Marioni, Kathy | Department of Labor |
| McArthur, Beth | Department of Developmental Services |
| Monteleone, Susan | Board of Education & Services for the blind |
| Nowakowski, Terry | Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services |
| Michalowski, Erica | AARP CT |
| Quick, Jim | Spinal Cord Injury Association |
| Rosenwald, Lois | Executive Director, CT Autism Spectrum Resource Center |
| Stankaitus, Reggie | Traveler's Insurance |
| Van Tassel, Jan | Connecticut Legal Rights |
| Walker, Deborah | Department of Labor |
| Wolf, Barbara Parks | Office of Policy and Management |