Delivering Quality Care and Educational Services
Helping those with Autism and Mental Health Needs or Developmental Delays
DDS Teachers and Therapists in CSEA and District 1199 Who Provide Vital Birth to Three Services at Our Union Hall in August
Our members serve children and adults who live with developmental delays, mental health issues, and Autism in a wide variety of settings, such as:
- Public school classrooms;
- Psychiatric hospitals and treatment centers;
- Detention facilities and correctional institutions; and
- Vocational training centers.
An emerging crisis has begun to shine the light on the increased demand for public education and adult rehabilitative services for people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In 2007, our Union led the fight to develop a new agency, separate from the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), to serve the needs of the estimated 22,000 children and adults in Connecticut on the spectrum.
When Governor M. Jodi Rell responded to the economic crisis of 2008 by slashing services for our state's most vulnerable citizens, our members responded. From speaking out against her scheme to close Cedarcrest Regional Hospital in Newington and the High Meadows residential treatment center in Hamden, we stood up for families in need.
Our local public schools are struggling with the growing demands for special education. But state agencies are cutting back on critical intervention and school readiness services for infants and toddlers that help families and reduce local education costs. Despite the SEBAC 2011 job and benefits protection agreement that saved $1.6 billion for taxpayers, DDS has closed new admissions to its nationally recognized Early Connections program.
Union members are speaking out for families of children from birth to three with developmental delays or disabilities who will need the program in the future. We will not stand by while the agency takes away choices for early intervention and school readiness services for families in over 100 local communities.
Blog entry on efforts to restore Early Connections services for infants and toddlers (September 2011)
Early Connections Birth to Three services fact sheet
Blog entry on joint unions rally to oppose cuts to human services (August 2009)
"Standing Up for High Meadows' Families"
Blog entry on services for adults with special needs at Southbury Training School (July 2008)
Autism services fact sheet
Connecticut Families for Effective Autism Treatment
