A strategic plan is a roadmap. It includes the values that shape a project, the objectives to be accomplished, the activities focused on bringing the project closer to meeting those objectives, and the timelines for carrying out these activities.
Connect-Ability's strategic plan was developed with input from literally thousands of people. It began with a needs assessment to identify the employment barriers from the standpoint of employers, people with disabilities and their family members, policymakers, and providers of employment support services. Click here to see the needs assessment.
Numerous barriers came to light, and with the help of 120 participants at Connect-Ability's first Employment Summit, four priority areas were selected. The project's Steering Committee held a retreat to decide on the activities to address these priority issues.
Click here to see Connect-Ability's strategic plan.
Public / Private Partnership
Connect-Ability began as a government project, but its success depends on the creation of a successful public/private partnership. In order for this effort to have lasting impact, it must be embraced by those most closely affected by it: members of the business community and people with disabilities. At the same time, government must change public policy wherever it interferes with people's ability to find and retain employment.
Who's Involved
Connect-Ability's progress to date has been the direct result of the commitment of its many partners.
- Businesses throughout Connecticut have been involved through the Chambers of Commerce, the Business Leadership Network (BLN), and the Society of Human Resource Managers (SHRM).
- People with disabilities and their family members from various advocacy groups, nonprofit organizations, and State agencies provide input through the project's Steering Committee and workgroups.
- Providers of employment services, usually not-for-profit organizations, but sometimes state entities, offer input from their perspective of working to assist people with disabilities in reaching their employment goals.
Steering Committee and Workgroups
Connect-Ability is governed by a Steering Committee including business leaders, people with disabilities, family members, agencies that provide employment services, and State departments. The Steering Committee meets every month to discuss current issues with the project and to ensure that all activities are consistent with the strategic plan.
Four workgroups address the priority areas identified in the strategic plan:
- Stakeholder Education identifies or develops materials to challenge the still-too-prevalent attitude that people with disabilities cannot or should not be working. This workgroup has the broadest mandate because it needs to target not only the people with disabilities themselves, but often family members, educators, medical providers, clergy, and neighbors who may not be aware of the person's capabilities or the supports that may be available.
- Transition from School to Work seeks to smooth the way from secondary education to employment or further training. This workgroup emphasizes practical solutions such as promoting the development of more internships and summer employment, encouraging students to assemble a portfolio of documents needed to pursue employment, and making tools available for identifying areas of interest and strength. This group also helped to make the youth area of this website more attractive to its target population.
- Transportation is tackling the mammoth problem of inadequate transportation resources throughout Connecticut. By identifying what exists and what needs to be created, this workgroup is bringing together the best information currently available online and in print, as well as seeking ways to fill in the gaps in service. One objective of the group is to find ways to make the current information more user-friendly. Another objective is to promote the development of innovative transportation systems.
- Recruitment/Hiring/Retention works to address the practical issues of getting and keeping a job: how to find workers with disabilities, accessible job applications, creative hiring strategies, strategies for job seekers, and making adaptations to the workplace. By studying and evaluating various hiring practices, the workgroup holds a wealth of information that will be useful throughout our project.
Two additional workgroups focus on the overall structure and effectiveness of the project:
- Technical Assistance Center is creating a clearinghouse where people can receive in-depth information about employment issues and people with disabilities. This assistance will be available, not only to employers, people with disabilities, and providers of employment services; but also to school systems, career counselors, and others who are interested in increasing the employment of people with disabilities. The Technical Assistance Center will offer resources online, electronically, and in print; but can also send teams of experts into local areas to assist in solving specific problems.
- Evaluation provides feedback to Connect-Ability about the effectiveness of our activities. Not only has this activity provided a baseline against which to measure change, but also development of methods to determine when course corrections might be necessary.
Ways to Help
- Volunteer - Connect-Ability's goals are ambitious, and it will take the hard work of many people and organizations to help us accomplish these goals. We need ambassadors to bring our message to employers, people with disabilities, parents, civic groups, town governments, school systems, and transportation providers all over the state. We need people to provide expertise by attending meetings or reviewing documents. We need people to try out our website and to let us know whether it has been helpful, and also whether the accessibility has been absolutely first rate - because we will settle for nothing less! If you want to volunteer, call 1-866-844-1903.
- Internships - Connect-Ability is located within the State of Connecticut Department of Social Services, Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, Connect to Work Center. We welcome high school and college students who want to learn more about State government, services for people with disabilities, systemic barriers to employment, and the efforts to address these barriers. To apply for an internship, call 1-866-844-1903.
- Legislation - Some barriers to employment are embedded in State policy or statute, and will require legislative solutions. We need people to help us identify where the problems are, to advocate for legislative changes, and to track legislation as it moves through the system. If you would like to be involved in systems change in this way, call 1-866-844-1903.
- Advocacy - Changing how people find jobs in Connecticut is a huge task. It will involve changing attitudes, actions, policies, and laws at the individual, municipal, regional, state, and federal levels. We need as many advocates as possible to become aware of both the employment barriers and the solutions and to bring this knowledge to meetings and hearings with the people who can make the changes. If you are interested in advocacy, call 1-866-844-1903.