Come Join Us at 10 AM at the Legislative Office Building Room 1C
State Rep. Jay Case will host!
Our advocates will speak about challenges they face and how legislators can help. It’s a wonderful day for Harc participants, families and friends. We hope to see many of our legislators there and an even bigger turnout than last year. We look forward to seeing you there!
2019 Legislative Agenda
Established by families in 1951, Harc, Inc. is an essential community nonprofit provider that serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) throughout the lifespan. Our mission is to help individuals with intellectual disability and their families enjoy lives of quality, inclusion and dignity through support, education and advocacy.
We support approximately 2,000 individuals in the I/DD community beginning with Birth-To-Three early intervention supports and continuing through retirement in the Life Enrichment Program. We provide a full range of services including Employment and Day Programs, Residential and Independent Living Supports, and Elderly Services as well as Recreation, Respite and Autism Supports to adults and children.
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Our Advocacy Priorities
Our advocacy priorities for this year were determined directly from feedback provided by our participants and families. Harc, Inc. asks legislators to support legislation that improve quality of life and health outcomes for people with intellectual disabilities and their families in the following areas:
Employment and Post-Secondary Education
- Increased dignified employment opportunities
- Incentives for employers who hire and retain individuals with I/DD
- Establish goals within state agencies to hire individuals with I/DD
- Improved access to post-secondary education
Quality of Life and Services
- Continue the transition state services to private providers and a plan close Southbury Training School
- Continue to improve provider rates to properly compensate Direct Support Professionals responsible for the health and safety of individuals with I/DD.
- Expand DDS programs, including alternative Residential Supports to maximize independence and eliminate the DDS waiting list
Equal Rights and Access
- Improve DSS response time and create a permanent disability determination form
- Improved health outcomes through:
- Equal access to quality health care
- Programs maintaining Medicaid eligibility while on the road to self-sufficiency
- Increase accessible transportation options
- Improved access to technology
- Promote the use of respectful language in life and in legislation
For more information about Advocacy at Harc visit out Advocacy page here
or Contact Marian Leist at (860)218-6079 or mleist@harc-ct.org for more information