As the Connecticut legislative session begins, we are reminded of the critical role advocacy plays in securing a brighter future for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Harc’s mission thrives on ensuring these individuals have access to the resources and opportunities they need to lead fulfilling lives, but we cannot do it alone. 

On January 15, we hosted a powerful Legislative Advocacy Training Session with families, staff, and supporters. The turnout and enthusiasm were inspiring. Together, we explored how to amplify our voices effectively to secure additional funding and champion policies that directly impact the people we support. 

This year, we are advocating for the future in many ways. One of the most impactful steps we can take is connecting legislators with the heart of our work.

 If you have connections with legislators, please reach out to me to help schedule tours at Harc or one of our group homes. These visits are a powerful way to show our local legislators the difference we are making together. 

Additionally, you have the opportunity to share your personal story with legislators to highlight the importance of Harc’s work or provide testimony to the Human Services or Appropriations Committees. Keep an eye on your email inbox and our social media channels for next steps on how you can get involved. 

Finally, I encourage you to join us on February 14th at our annual legislative event, Have a Harc Day. It’s a meaningful opportunity to make your voice heard and help advocate for the change we need. 

Your voice matters! Together, we can advocate for a stronger, brighter future for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.   - Russell

Virtual advocacy training session

On Wednesday, January 15th, Harc staff and families gathered, both in person and virtually, for an informative advocacy training session led by Ben Shaiken from The Alliance. Ben shared valuable insights on effective advocacy strategies for individuals with IDD and highlighted useful resources to support these efforts.

This session marks the beginning of a new series of family support programs Harc is proud to offer. If you’d like to access a recording of the session, please contact Marian Leist at mleist@harc-ct.org.

A heartfelt thank you to Ben Shaiken for sharing your time and expertise!

Harc’s Bulova Center had a creative and engaging activity for the individuals called “Branches of Expression.” This project was designed to foster creativity, self-expression, and teamwork while using the supplies they have on hand. 

Individuals created a collaborative art piece that reflects gratitude, aspirations, and positive thoughts. Each individual, with the help of staff, contributed their unique “leaf” or design, whether it’s a star, a shape, a word, a picture or a decoration that represents something meaningful to them to a tree. Which symbolizes their collective experiences and individuality. Take a look at what our creative folks came up with! 

Josh

Lithophane of a Furry Fandom Suit

Josh is a very talented, smart and caring person. He grew up knowing about Harc and what we do all because of his mom Ann, who has been employed at Harc for about 25 years. Josh was a small child when Ann would bring him around to Harc. Josh began fueling his interest with 3-D printers by creating his own customized pieces. Such as making fidget spinners, dragon figurines, and his most desired project is to create a wearable head to wear as a costume for Furry Fandom.  

To those who do not know about Furry Fandom, the definition of Furry fandom is the appreciation, promotion, and production of stories and art about anthropomorphic animals, as well as the exploration, interpretation and examination of humanity and human values through anthropomorphic expression. This includes animated cartoons, comic books and strips, stories, artwork, costumes, and stuffed animals.  Josh even created a lithophane of an entire Furry Fandom Suit. Lithophanes are fun, translucent optical illusions you can create using a 3D printer. 

Josh has 3-D printers at home that he does his work on, but as of December, he has been volunteering at Harc and repairs the 3-D printers. He also has the skill to teach others, so Josh has been showing individuals how the programs work and walks them through the process of 3-D printing. He hopes to set up a program one day, strictly dedicated to all things 3-D printing.  

Currently, Josh works at ShopRite and is fulfilling his passion of 3-D printing while volunteering his time to help and teach individuals with disabilities how to use them and have an enriching experience with something different and new. 

Left 3-D printed fidget spinner , right dragon figurine

Left, Josh & Ann in Gatlinburg, Tennessee

"Autism is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced with joy."

This is how our journey has been, Josh grew up with this disability, however the word disability is not in our vocabulary, he has great abilities. 

Josh has shined through the years with his challenges showing everyone that he was there and was able to work through those challenges in this ever-changing environment, there were a lot of great leaders helping him throughout the years.

 I remember him coming home from school crying and asking why he was so different from everyone; I told him it was ok to be different that God has a plan for each of us and that he will find his unique gift. We volunteered for the Special Olympics when he was 10, on the way home he said mom," your right it is ok to be different". He got to see some awesome athletes at those games. As a parent it was nice to see the change in him after those summer games.

 Harc has been a great resource for both of us, it showed me different ways to work with him and guide him in learning and loving what he does.  

With all his challenges he became an Eagle Scout which is a great honor, he has been working at ShopRite in Manchester since 2012.

This new adventure he is on with the 3D printing is awesome, he is excited about making new creations and coming to Harc to share his knowledge. I'm very proud of him. I appreciate Harc for giving him this opportunity.

Josh may have autism, but he also has strengths and abilities that makes him who he is.

Harc is excited to announce its first-ever Dueling Pianos event, set to take place at Thomas Hooker Live on February 12th, 2025! This unique event offers the perfect blend of entertainment, music, and community spirit, as Harc continues its mission to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. With a promise of fun, laughter, and unforgettable music, this is one night you won't want to miss. 

Doors open at 6:30 PM, with the show kicking off at 7:00 PM. The lively and dynamic performance will be brought to you by Savage Pianos, renowned for their interactive and high-energy shows that cater to all musical tastes. Whether you're into pop, rock, jazz, hip-hop, R&B, blues, or classical, this show has something for everyone. With a talented team of dueling pianists, you can expect a wide variety of songs and genres, ensuring that there's never a dull moment. 

How does our fundraiser work?

◼️ The higher the donation, the more likely the song will be played.         You can tip in either cash or Venmo.

◼️ Request Songs: Attendees donate to request their favorite songs.

◼️ “Stop a Song": Guests can pay to stop a song that’s being played, often leading to humorous bidding wars as others pay to restart it.

◼️ Special Dedications: Guests can make donations for shout-outs, dedications, or specific performances (e.g., “play Happy Birthday for someone”).

By attending, you’ll be supporting an incredible cause, helping Harc continue to support for a lifetime to individuals with intellectual and related disabilities and their families so they can enjoy lives of quality, inclusion, and dignity. 

Mark your calendars for February 12th and join us for a night of music, laughter, and community support. You can purchase tickets by scanning the QR code or click the “Buy Tickets” button. Together, we can make a difference and have an unforgettable time doing it. 

Joe DJing at the Harc Holiday Party

Joe is a 35-year-old passionate individual that attends Harc’s Supported Employment program. This program assists people with intellectual disabilities to retain employment and become contributing members of their communities. Our programs include personalized assessments, hands-on job training, support for microbusiness startups, adapted technology, working interviews, and customized employment services.   

Not only does Harc’s Supported Employment program provide integrated support for employees and employers. Through thoughtful job development, skill-building, and workplace integration, our team collaborates with both job seekers and employers to create successful, long-lasting employment relationships. Joe has worked hard to gain the skills he needed to find a new job, and he is continuing to find other ways of making income. 

 While Joe is at Harc for a portion of his day, has begun to recycle bottles and cans around the building to put a little more money in his pocket. 

He has really been going above and beyond to attain any soft and hard skills that are needed to thrive in different work environments. 

Joe also spends some of his time at Harc’s microenterprise, SockStarz. In this sector, he is able to adopt valuable skills such as customer service, inventory management, and product sales, fostering independence and confidence. A fun fact is that Joe learned how to run a cash register in the cafeteria when he went to The Trading Post in Manchester, CT. As you can see Joe’ s nonstop tenacity to keep striving to better himself and be a contributing member of society doesn’t stop there.

Harc held a Christmas Party, and guess who was in charge of the music? DJ Joe! He was so excited about his opportunity to live out what he loved to do and he aspires to be a DJ as a full-time career. This opportunity was one of his biggest accomplishments, and he looks forward to getting more DJ gigs in the future. 

Joe at the cash register at SockStarz

Joe recycling bottles and cans

Guess who came for a visit!? Senator Lessor! He went to visit our Eastern Group Home on January 11th! 

Mark your calendars and save the date for February 14, 2025, 10:30 - noon at the Legislative Office Building.

Beyond the individual stories and advocacy, Have a Harc Day serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of inclusive policies and funding for the IDD community. It’s a day to shine a spotlight on the needs and challenges that individuals with IDD face, but also to celebrate the incredible progress made through continued advocacy and support. By fostering these meaningful connections between families, advocates, and policymakers, Have a Harc Day helps to drive positive change for the future. 

As Harc continues its mission to support individuals with IDD, Have a Harc Day remains a cornerstone of its efforts, ensuring that the voices of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities are heard, valued, and included in conversations that shape the policies of tomorrow. 

Whether it’s through advocating for more funding, promoting inclusive opportunities, or simply fostering a culture of understanding, Have a Harc Day reminds us that advocacy is not just about policy—it’s about love, compassion, and a shared commitment to a world that is truly inclusive for all. 

We are thrilled by the sense of community that local businesses like Insperity bring light by supporting nonprofits like ours. Insperity is having an open house on February 13th from 3:00 – 6:00 pm, celebrating the opening of their brand-new office in West Hartford, and we are the nonprofit that they are spotlighting at the Soft Opening Celebration!  Insperity helps businesses tackle Human Resource hurdles so people can spend more time growing their business. We couldn’t be more grateful for having Insperity spread the knowledge about our programs and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. If you are interested and want to learn more about Insperity’s private event, click the link below for information.