Connecticut Organizations and Information Sources

CONNECTICUT ORGANIZATIONS AND INFORMATION SOURCES

CONNECTICUT ORGANIZATIONS AND

INFORMATION SOURCES

ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL ASSOCIATION
Connecticut Chapter, Inc (AGBAD)
P. O. Box 565
Bristol, CT 06011 /
ASSOCIATION OF LATE DEAFENED ADULTS
Connecticut Chapter (ALDA CT)
16 Schwink Drive
Meriden, CT 06540 / (203) 237-5948 Voice/TDD
(203) 440-1326 FAX
email:
ALDA deals with concerns of people who experience hearing loss as an adult through illness, accident, surgery or medication.
CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING OF
SOUTHWESTERN CONNECTICUT, INC. (CILSC)
80 Ferry Blvd.
Stratford, CT 06497 / (203) 378-3248 Voice/TDD
(203) 375-2748 FAX
CILSC is a community-based nonprofit agency directed and staffed primarily by people with various disabilities who help other people with disabilities become more self-sufficient. CILSC provides peer counseling, skills training, benefits assistance, housing assistance, advocacy, a PCA program (personal care assistance), special interest workshops, volunteer opportunities and information and referral services to people age 16 or older who live in southwestern Connecticut. CILSC also promotes civil rights and community integration.
SIGN LANGUAGE INSTRUCTOR’S POOL CONNECTICUT
1745 Asylum Avenue
West Hartford, CT 06117
E-mail: / (860) 232-8313 TDD/FAX
SLIP is a non-profit organization, organized to offer qualify instruction in sign language to the general public. SLIP will recommend instructors in proximity and best suited to the needs of the community or interested groups. Materials and books are provided to members of SLIP at cost. All instructors of sign language or those considering setting up sign language classes are encouraged to join the organization and to work towards obtaining certification. Workshops centered on mock classroom demonstration, techniques to use in class, prerequisites for certification and using body language as well as facial expression techniques have been undertaken.

COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR THE DEAF

AND THEIR FAMILIES (CSDF)
Family Services Woodfield, Inc.
475 Clinton Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06605 / (203) 696-0560TDD
(203) 696-0714 FAX
1-888-676-8554 TDD/Voice
CSDF provides information, referral and advocacy services, interpreting services, also counseling (see Mental Health), sign language classes, community education and consultation to other agencies in the Greater Bridgeport area to assist in the delivery of services to deaf persons. CSDF publishes a quarterly newsletter.
CONNECTICUT AFRICAN AMERICAN
DEAF ADVOCATES (CAADAC)
P.O. Box 3633 Ridgeway Station
Stamford, CT 06905-0633
CONNECTICUT ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF
P.O. Box 270539 (CAD)
West Hartford, CT 06127-0539
CAD sponsors workshops, educational seminars, forums and social events for the deaf and hearing impaired community, including the MISS DEAF CONNECTICUT pageant. It presents the GOLDEN HANDS AWARD and supports the CT JUNIOR NAD program and watches over the rights of deaf and hard of hearing people of Connecticut.
CONNECTICUT COUNCIL OF
ORGANIZATIONS SERVING THE DEAF
1745 Asylum Avenue (CCOSD)
West Hartford, CT 06117 / (860)232-8313 TDD/Fax
CCOSD is a state-wide council of autonomous member organizations of and for the deaf. Through community and social action, this non-profit organization serves the interests, welfare and rights of the deaf, deaf-blind, and hard of hearing residents of Connecticut. Anyone interested may attend the meetings.
CONNECTICUT COMMUNITY PROVIDERS
ASSOCIATION (CCPA)
35 Cold Springs Road, Suite 522
Rocky Hill, CT 06067

email: / (860) 257-7909 Voice
(860) 529-2480 TDD
(860) 257-7777 FAX
CONNECTICUT PARENT ADVOCACY
CENTER (CPAC)
338 Main Street
Niantic, CT 06357

email: / (860) 739-3089 Voice
(860) 739-7460 Voice/TDD
1-800-445-2722 Voice
CPAC is a state-wide nonprofit organization established to inform parents of children with all disabilities about special education rights and procedures, and to provide information and referral services for any problems related to the education and welfare of children. Services include individual assistance, parent workshops, in-service training for professionals, resource collection, and newsletter. Spanish-speaking staff available.
CONNECTICUT REGISTRY OF INTERPRETERS FOR THE DEAF, INC. (CRID)
P.O. Box 202
1245 Farmington Avenue
West Hartford, CT 06107 / (860)745-1529 Voice
CRID is a non-profit organization for all people concerned with the need and availability of interpreting services for the deaf.

CONNECTICUT RETIREMENT COLONY
FOR THE DEAF (CRC)
Ed Frith
51 Jessamine Street
West Hartford, CT 06119 / (860) 828-7769 TDD/Fax
CONNECTICUT SPEECH-LANGUAGE-HEARING ASSOCIATION, INC
213 Back Lane
Newington, CT 06111-4204 E-mail: / (860) 666-6900
(860) 667-0144 Fax

CONVERSE COMMUNICATION
CORPORATION (CCC)

24 Jerome Avenue, Suite 305

Bloomfield, CT 06002 / (860) 243-8723 Voice
(860) 242-4974 Voice/TDD
(800) 743-1219 TDD
(860) 243-1320 FAX
(800) 842-9710 TDD/Relay
(800) 833-8134 Voice /Relay
CCC is a private non-profit organization that serves the telecommunications needs of people throughout Connecticut who are profoundly deaf, hearing or speech impaired. It compiles and prints the annual CONNECTICUT TDD-DIRECTORY.

Telephone Relay Service & Information (TRS): This service enables persons who use a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) to communicate with those who use a regular telephone. It teletypes the spoken conversation to the person using the TDD. The teletyped conversation of the person with the TDD is conveyed to the person using the regular phone. All kinds of calls are transmitted: to employers, family, friends, fire and medical assistance, government, police, plane and hotel reservations, appointments and consumer information. TRS also helps to find the right place to call. The TRS service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Sales/Service: CCC sells and repairs TDD equipment and some other devices (baby cry alarms, doorbell flashers).

Telenews: CCC is producing continuous TV news, broadcasts through CPTV facilities. Check your local listings in Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, Norwich, and Waterbury.

Telecommunication Loan Program: This loan program is available to deaf, hard of hearing and speech impaired individuals. Children from age of 8 and above are eligible as long as they can participate in the phone communication or can type.

DEAF-BLIND ASSOCIATION OF CONNECTICUT
5C Queen Terrace (DBAC)
Southington, CT 06489 / (860) 621-6610 Voice/TDD
DBAC is a state-wide non-profit organization established to promote more awareness of deaf-blind people’s needs and rights. DBAC is focused on membership of deaf-blind individuals and friends and family members. DBAC hosted the national convention of American Association for the Deaf-Blind in June 1998. Meet socially every two months.
DWA of CT

Connecticut Chapter

11 Pontiac Drive
Niantic, CT 06357 / (860) 739-2853 TDD
Meet monthly to advocate for women’s rights and to peer counsel.
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE CENTER ON DEAFNESS (ERCD)

American School for the Deaf

139 North Main Street
West Hartford, CT 06107 / (860) 570-2334 Voice
FAMILY SERVICES WOODFIELD(FSW)
See COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR THE DEAF AND THEIR FAMILIES
FARMINGTON VALLEY ASSOCIATION FOR
RETARDED AND HANDICAPPED, INC.
Avon Park North (FAVARH)
P.O. Box D
Avon, CT 06001 / (860) 678-0313 Voice
FAVARH offers many services, including evaluation, rehabilitation, job placement, recreation, residential and support. The personnel are trained to work with the hearing impaired.
GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION (GUAA)
Connecticut Chapter

Mark Myers

135 Cherry Brook Road
Canton Center, CT 06020 / (860) 228-1702 TDD/FAX
email
The Alumni Association organizes annual banquets, awards scholarships to students planning to attend Gallaudet University and makes other occasional contributions.
INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

78 Eastern Boulevard

Glastonbury, CT 06033 / (860) 659-1166 Voice
IHRD promotes supported employment through education, marketing, research, and technical assistance. IHRD works with employers, employees, human service agencies and parents to create and develop work opportunities for persons with disabilities.
JUNIOR CONNECTICUT ASSOCIATION
FOR THE DEAF (JRCAD)
139 North Main Street
West Hartford, CT 06107 / (860) 570-2339 Voice/TDD
(860) 570-2348 Voice/TDD
JRCAD is the Connecticut Chapter of JRNAD. For information about local/regional activities, contact the Dean of Students at ASD.
PARENTS, EDUCATORS AND FRIENDS OF THE
DEAF OF SOUTHEASTERN CONNECTICUT
6 Arlington Heights(PEDSEC)
Norwich, CT 06360 / (860) 889-5100 Voice/TDD
(860) 446-0633 Voice
Theresa Morgan

PEDSEC is a support and information group open to anyone interested in the welfare of deaf and hearing impaired children and youths. Bi-monthly meetings.
RESPOND, INC.
103 Grand Avenue
New Haven, CT 06513 / (203) 865-1388 Voice/TDD
RESPOND provides information, referral and advocacy services to physically, mentally and emotionally disabled residents of the eighteen town South Central Connecticut Region. It also offers a free monthly newsletter and other publications, public education, staff training and bi-monthly membership meetings.
SELF HELP FOR HARD OF HEARING PEOPLE
Local groups of SHHH, a NATIONAL ORGANIZATION, are open to membership for anyone interested in or concerned about the problems of people with hearing loss. Activities usually include information sharing, guest speakers, demonstration of assistive listening devices (ALDs) and discussion of ways to educate the public about hearing loss.

SHHH ESTUARY

35 Folkstone Court

Westbrook, CT 06498 E-mail: / (860) 399-8963 Voice
(860) 388-6770 Fax

The meeting is held at Estuary Center (Old Saybrook Senior Center – beyond Hoyts Theater), 220 Main Street, Old Saybrook, CT on 1st Saturdays at 10:00 am. (no July and August meetings).
SHHH-ION Group CONNECTICUT CONNECT

97 Florence Street

East Haven, CT 06513 E-mail: / (203) 467-9133 Voice

Meets on the fourth Saturday of each month (no July meeting, August picnic), 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Our Lady of Popmeii Church, Foxon Boulevard (Route 80), East Haven, CT.
SHHH CENTRAL CONNECTICUT
163 Clearfield Road
Wethersfield, CT 06109 E-mail: / (860) 563-9759 Voice/TDD

Meetings are held at 10 a.m. monthly on the third Saturday (Sept.-June) at the Joseph Doyle Community Complex, 120 Cedar Street (Rte. 175) in Newington, across from the Lucy Welles Library.

QUIET CORNER SHHH

Harriet Johnson
PO Box 360
Putnam, CT 06260 E-mail: / (860) 928-1704 TDD

Meets on the second Saturday of each month at 10:00 a.m. (Sept. – June) at Ashford Town Hall, Rte. 44 (just west of intersection with Rte. 89), Ashford, CT. Access of audio loop assistive listening system and CAN (computer assisted notetaker) is provided.

CLUBS FOR THE DEAF

Mostly social gatherings for their members and the interested public. Special events and announcements are usually published in the CDHInfo newsletter, the CDHI Web page and broadcast on the CCC TELENEWS.

Several churches also organize social gatherings, some of them non-denominational, which means they are open to everyone interested without regard to religious beliefs. See CONNECTICUT RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.

BRIDGEPORT ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
FOR THE DEAF
20 Norman Drive
Stamford, CT 06906 / (203) 325-3962 TDD
CONNECTICUT DEAF SENIOR CITIZENS
120 Cedar St. (Rte. 175)
Newington, CT 06111 / (860) 667-5836 TDD
Meetings are at the Community Center in Newington on Tuesdays from 1:00 to 5:30 p.m.
GREATER HARTFORD CLUB
OF THE DEAF, INC.
20 Bigelow Street
East Hartford, CT 06108 / (860) 528-5343 TDD
(Fridays only)
Meets on the first Friday of each month at 7:30 p.m. Every Thursday, the bowling team meets at Silver Lane Bowling Alley from 6:30 - 10 p.m. Other activities on Saturdays.

THE NATIONAL FRATERNAL SOCIETY OF THE DEAF

CONNECTICUT DIVISIONS

Below are regional divisions that run business meetings and organize social gatherings.

Enfield/Springfield, MA, No. 67
David Levesque, Contact Person
8 Dune Road
Enfield, CT 06082 / (860) 749-0157 TDD
Meets on the first Saturday of each month at 8 p.m. in Springfield.
Hartford, No. 37
1745 Asylum Avenue
West Hartford, CT 06117 / (860) 232-8313 TDD/FAX
Meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. For location, please first call.
New Haven, No. 25
47 Maple Street
West Haven, CT 06516 / (203) 932-6782 TDD
Meets on the first Saturday of each month at the Community House, 227 Elm Street, New Haven.

Waterbury, No. 65

20 Buckwood Avenue
Waterbury, CT 06704 / (203) 575-9181 TDD
WATERBURY SILENT CLUB, INC.
162 Eastern Avenue
Waterbury, CT 06708 / (203) 757-0145 TDD
Call President of the club for social gathering dates.