advocacy
Pioneers in Advocacy
Harc, Inc. advocates for the human and civil rights of people with intellectual disabilities and their families so they can live their best lives with the support they need to be as independent as possible.
Harc educates policymakers, key stakeholders, and the community about the needs of the people we support and advocates for legislation that furthers our mission.
Each year Harc establishes an Advocacy Agenda identifying the barriers that prevent people from achieving independence, full community involvement, and appropriate services.
Our Advocacy Priorities
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Increase DDS Funding for Staffing: Increase funding for wages, benefits and professional development opportunities for Direct Support Professionals, enhancing their skills and capacity to support the I/DD community.
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Future Needs Addressed: Provide additional funding for training in Assistive Technology and specialized support to meet the needs of the increasing number of students with Autism entering adulthood.
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Market Demand Alignment: Allocate resources and increase DDS funding to meet market demands for wages for Occupational and Physical Therapists, nurses, Behavioral support personnel and other essential professionals, ensuring comprehensive care for the I/DD community, in both residential and day program settings.
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Job Skills and Education: Ensure that individuals with I/DD have the support they need to learn marketable job skills and engage in post-secondary and vocational education.
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Community Engagement: Promote meaningful activities and employment opportunities, ensuring that individuals of all abilities can contribute to their communities.
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Employer Incentives: Encourage businesses and state agencies to hire and retain individuals with I/DD in competitive positions, while leveraging current and proposed tax incentives.
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Increase DDS Funding: We urge you to increase DDS funding to eliminate waiting lists and ensure that everyone can choose where they live and ensure that DDS continues to offer a continuum of residential support options including group homes.
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Affordable Housing Access: Advocate for increased access to affordable and accessible housing. Support funding for adaptive and SMART technology that empowers individuals with I/DD to live as independently as possible.
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Stakeholder Inclusion: Ensure that individuals with I/DD are included in transportation development discussions, shaping upgrades and new projects.
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Accessible Transportation: Increase the availability of accessible, affordable, and on-demand transportation options for people of all abilities.
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Healthcare Access: Improve access to quality health, dental, and behavioral healthcare for individuals with I/DD by requiring ongoing I/DD and Autism-specific training for healthcare professionals.
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Incentivizing Specialization: Encourage specialization in I/DD and Autism-related medical practices to enhance care.
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Equipment Accessibility: Ensure that medical practices are equipped and trained to serve individuals with significant physical disabilities.
Have a Harc Day
Held every year, typically on Valentine’s Day, Have a Harc Day brings together Harc individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), their families, and supporters at the Connecticut State Capitol for a day of advocacy and connection. This meaningful event highlights Harc’s mission while engaging policymakers, who hear firsthand about the impact that funding and supportive policies have on individuals with IDD and their families.
Why Valentine’s Day? We chose Valentine’s Day to emphasize the heart behind our mission and the importance of compassionate support for people of all abilities. Have a Harc Day is a day of both advocacy and love—love for community, inclusion, and a brighter future for everyone.
What Happens on Have a Harc Day? Each Have a Harc Day offers participants the opportunity to:
- Meet and engage with Connecticut legislators who shape policies impacting the IDD community
- Share personal stories that illustrate the importance of access, funding, and inclusive opportunities
- Stand together with family members, staff, and advocates to amplify the voices of individuals with IDD
What’s Happening? Harc’s Self-Advocates Club
Harc’s Self-Advocacy Group, What’s Happening, empowers people with intellectual disabilities to have a voice in their community.
Participants advocate for the services they need to live more self determined lives. Self-Advocates help train new employees, advise Harc’s boards and committees, influence public policy and Harc’s advocacy agenda, and share their stories.
The group meets on the second Tuesday of the month, from 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM, September through June, at Harc’s headquarters at 900 Asylum Ave, Hartford, CT.
To learn more about What's Happening, contact Harc.
How Can You get involved?
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Attend our legislative events.
- Contact your elected officials about issues of concern to you and your family. Find your elected officials here.
- To invite and coordinate a tour of Harc with your legislator, please click here.
Accessing Harc’s Services
Regardless of the town of residence, each family has a choice of provider agencies in their area. To request Harc as your provider for disability support services, visit the 2-1-1 website or call Harc.
For more information, please contact us.