Support Sought Beyond Autism Awareness Month

A Hamden nonprofit serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, such as those with autism spectrum disorders, has found a way to keep their program participants happy even in the midst of growing hardships facing the caretaking industry — but is asking for more support from the state as the level of need among their target populations expands.

On Monday morning, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, State Rep. Josh Elliott, and Mayor Lauren Garrett visited ARC of Greater New Haven, one of the local chapters of The ARC, the largest national community-based organization advocating for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, to tour the provider’s space in Hamden during the final days of Autism Awareness Month.

As the politicians received hugs and handshakes from individuals busy with early-week arts and crafts projects and daily life skill activities, they heard about the various challenges ARC said they are encountering.

When the political visitors arrived on site at 10 a.m., ARC staff had already been busy transporting individuals from their homes in New Haven, Hamden and surrounding towns to the Sanford Street site to join programs — from cooking classes, recreation and social activities, to ​“life skills” lessons — that begin every weekday at 8:45 a.m. and end at 2:45 p.m.

ARC program participants choose what activities they’re interested in pursuing each day and engage in activities to help obtain more independence. The Hamden location boasts a multi-sensory room to assist those with sensory processing issues. There’s also plenty of allocated hours for outdoor time and community engagement.

“This is very, very cool — very relaxing,” Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz commented of the sensory room, which featured a multitude of sensory stimulation and relaxing items, including purple string lights and bean bag chairs. ​“We need some of these, Josh, at the Capitol,” she said to Hamden Stat Rep. Josh Elliott, who was also present..

The nonprofit originally found a home in New Haven back in 1952, after a group of caretakers, family members, and advocates came together to establish additional support services for their disabled loved ones following the deinstitutionalization movement.

Now, Executive Director Ashley Dennis told the Independent, Hamden’s ARC location services a total of 45 individuals. (The organization has sister sites in North Haven and Milford.) Over the past 70 years, they have expanded their programs and services to center on individuals with significant intellectual and developmental disabilities over 18 years of age with multiple disabilities, like physical and medical conditions.

The pandemic has posed complications for the community.

Since 2020, 12 of ARC’s clients have died due to Covid-19. More and more families have sought out ARC’s services, from advocacy navigating services and providing day services, as they struggle to support their disabled family members while balancing work, pandemic stress and heightened economic duress. But ARC has been unable to take as many individuals requesting services due to staffing struggles.

“We have a wait list we haven’t had before,” Dennis said. ​“We also definitely have staff vacancies right now,” she added, noting that supervisors of all levels have had to regularly fill in and perform direct care work with staff outages and shortages.

Any additional funding ARC can secure from the state, Dennis reflected, will go towards better pay for employees and addressing the growing cost of programming and support for a rising number of individuals.

“Despite what we’re going through, people are still smiling and waving. It’s an amazing thing!” ARC Board Member Nelson Alino commented. ​“If you guys can help…” he began to request.

“We will do our best!” Bysewiecz promised, contextualizing ARC’s difficulties within a broader crisis around care work, with nurses leaving the profession en masse through the pandemic.

She suggested ARC, and similar nonprofits, reach out to Congresswoman DeLauro. ​“Congress members have the ability to help particular organizations and projects,” she explained. Luckily, she noted, DeLauro is the head of the budget committee — and ​“champions childcare and healthcare.”

“I wanna come back,” Bysiewicz said. ​“To that sensory room! And chill out after the session.”