Community Connections is proud and excited to be entering its 28th year of service to high school students and adults with intellectual and physical challenges, and their families. As you will read in this latest newsletter, the year 2012 was filled with wondrous achievements, all which reflect our drive to empower people so they may reach their maximum potential.

Please come and see firsthand the joy that occurs every day. From the sparkle in the eyes of someone who was just hired into their first job, to the contented smile of an Elder who participates in senior social activities; Community Connections strives to meet and exceed each person's expectations.

We tirelessly work on being the provider of choice:

• By customizing our facilities to meet our client's needs.
• Opening our newest Center at Commonwealth Landing in Fall River.
• Helping more people than ever transition from Nursing Homes to community settings.
• Nearing completion on a new Center in Mashpee. This new 6,400 square foot facility will accommodate our expanding waiting list.
•  Increasing employment by 100% of our goal in the past year.
• Recently rolling out a customized Electronic Case Records system that does away with binders full of paper records and allows vital information to be accessible throughout the program.
• Completing a strategic plan to carry Community Connections into the future.
• And by committing to provide a continuous culture of learning.

Community Connections is considered a national model of excellence, as proven by the eighth consecutive 3-year National Accreditation, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities' maximum level of certification. We have also been awarded two-year licenses in Employment, Individual Home Supports and State funded Day Services from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS), following a DDS targeted review and self assessment.

Finally, Community Connections remains committed to engaging with our appointed and elected government officials, many of whom impact our lives through public policy. New and unforeseen rules in Medicaid and Medicare will affect us all, especially those who cannot speak for themselves. Being active on State Disability Boards, as well as with State and Federal government administrators, can help bring real solutions to a complex health and human services system.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and our dedicated staff, I extend our heartfelt gratitude to you and your families for continuing to support Community Connections in our quest to positively impact lives, one person at a time. 

Art Therapy has been an important part of Community Connections' for many years now. Art has proven instrumental in enriching the lives of those with disabilities by helping boost self esteem, improve mental, emotional and even physical states while helping to improve the quality of life.

The art therapy process encourages the individual to grow in their art, to enjoy creating something wonderful, to verbally explain and express what they have created, to encourage social interaction, and to instill self confidence.

Over the last year, Art Therapy programs in Yarmouth and Mashpee have participated in a collaborative art show, held their own showing, completed a ten foot wall mural of Monet's Water Lilies and joined the up-cycling movement by creating art with recycled items. These accomplishments are in addition to donations of artwork for Community Connections' fundraising efforts. 

 "We are so honored to have clients that grow in the program and produce works of art that not only express their personality but that they can show off with pride." says Christine Boggs, Yarmouth Day Center Manager. 

This summer we were pleased to have expanded the program to include Plymouth and Fairhaven. Each location offers new challenges and rewards as participants are exposed to new techniques and projects. The programs work with varied mediums, everything from mosaics, to acrylic paintings. But it's not so much about the finished product as it is the experience.

"I have so much fun working with these new groups," says Hitch. "For my students the process, the expression and the skill building is just as important as the piece they take home."

Here Regina holds one of the ropes that Ron created for her.

Take for instance, Ronnie Colon, a member of the Life Skills group, who is an avid knitter. His craft was needed to expand Regina Cohen's goal to work with a variety of textures. He knitted her a selection of "ropes", using different stitches to vary the thickness. Regina now uses her ropes as part of her therapy sessions to improve her recognition of different textures. 

When Corey Svedine was made aware that Suzanne Sevigny enjoys picture books but most of them are designed for children, he took it upon himself to create a new "book" for Suzanne. Each month, Corey comes up with a theme and then searches for vibrantly colored photos. Then he prints the pictures and applies them onto tab pages, making it easy for Suzanne to turn the pages of her book. He is quick to initiate the project each month, looking forward to this creative challenge and feeling pleased to have assisted a friend.

The Marion program is fortunate to have a group of such good hearted participants, willing to lend a helping hand. 

Nancy Vieira at work

Milestones in employment are often celebrated with a desk clock, or a gold pin, or some other such memento. However, the greatest feeling doesn't come from that small token of appreciation, it comes from the knowledge of a job well done, the respect and camaraderie of co-workers, and the feeling of accomplishment in taking home that paycheck every week.

Nancy Vieira knows this very well. She recently celebrated her 25th anniversary with Stop and Shop.

For the last 12 of those 25 years, she has received support through Community Connections Employment Services program. Her job coach, Melissa Arruda says, "Every time I go see Nancy at work she always greets me with a smile and shows genuine kindness towards me and everyone she comes into contact with."

Nancy's supervisor, Sharon Singleton, has known Nancy for the entire 25 years she's been with the company. She said, "Nancy is a valued employee. She always has a smile on her face and is excited to come to work every day."

Nancy's responsibilities include, bagging groceries, recovering items and returning hand baskets. When asked about what motivates her Nancy said, "The people I work with... co-workers, management team and my customers."

Arguably the best feeling that comes with employment is spending that paycheck. Nancy says she likes to spend a portion of her earnings on getting herself a coffee or a sandwich at the deli. The rest she saves for vacations. She has been on several cruises in the past and usually tries go on one every year.