Connecting with People with Disabilities Across Connecticut
/by Michael Whilby
2024 presented numerous opportunities for the Community Engagement/ Outreach program at Disability Rights Connecticut (DRCT) to expand its reach across the state. This was achieved by implementing a three-tiered strategic community engagement plan, devised by Executive Director Debbie Dorfman, which focused on providing self-advocacy information to people with disabilities from underserved populations including Black and Brown communities.
By increasing the organization’s visibility at key multicultural community events, such as the Middletown PrideFEST, Juneteenth Festival with the Ujima African American Alliance, Hartford & Bridgeport Latino Festivals, Ability Walk & Roll, Taste of the Caribbean & Jerk Festival, Riverfront Asian Festival, Veterans Stand Down, and CCAR’s Recovery Fest – Walk for Recovery, DRCT has been able to engage with a greater number of community partners within Black and Brown underserved communities.
In addition to our internal organizational commitment, our DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) Committee also helped to ensure that DRCT’s community engagement and outreach is conducted in a purposeful and DEI-conscious manner.
The objective of our DEI Committee was to create and maintain an internal culture at DRCT that respects and values diversity, equity, and inclusion by implementing thoughtful, practical, and innovative strategies that are applied consistently and regularly to DRCT’s external advocacy on behalf of people with disabilities.
As a result of these efforts, we were able to significantly expand the number of underrepresented and/or marginalized clients served or educated about DRCT’s services and programs by way of initial discussions, attendance at events, and by providing necessary resources at community engagement events.
DRCT's commitment to connect with diverse populations in the state led DRCT to being the first non-profit state organization, without tribal affiliations, to be invited to the Mashantucket Pequot's Schemitzun: Feast of Green Corn and Dance event. By fostering diverse relationships, DRCT has been able to enhance its visibility, standing and client base across Connecticut.
In the 2024 fiscal year, DRCT provided outreach at 47 community events, which included forty-three (43) in-person and four (4) virtual webinars. These events reached thousands of people with disabilities, family members, caregivers, and other local community and professional partners. DRCT’s community engagement outreach efforts showed a steady 15% increase from FY 2023, which included an increase in outreach to Black, Brown, and underserved communities.
DRCT continued to expand its network of community partners within unserved and underserved communities, delivering key and integral projects. Some of these projects included but were not limited to: Capital Region Education Council (CREC) Back-to-School Block Party, Walk with Derek: Walk and Resource Fair, Rally for Reentry: Windham County Reentry Council, Bridgeport Disability Resource Fair, CT Town Clerks Association – Spring & Fall Conferences, Celebrate Belonging in your Community – The B.E.R.E.A.D.Y. Project of Torrington, Hartford Yard Goats 5th Annual Trick-or-Treat Event, Transition Fair - Voting and Supported Decision-Making outreach focus of Tolland, The Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO), Community Access & Equity Fair 2024 A Night Out on Main Street - Watertown Parks & Recreation Block Party, and Willimantic Third Thursday Street Festival.
At these in-person events, DRCT included voting rights advocacy, housing, and legal educational tables and booths which provided information and self-advocacy resources to individuals with disabilities who live in these communities.
Furthermore, the expansion of trainings, clinics, presentations, and community engagement events has enabled DRCT to provide educational and informational outreach to individuals with disabilities throughout all eight Connecticut counties.
Finally, I want to recognize and thank all of our staff for their amazing dedication, passion, and teamwork in advocating and serving the thousands of individuals with disabilities throughout Connecticut’s unserved and underserved communities. It is an honor and privilege to work with all of you!
Michael Whilby is Strategic Partnerships Manager for Disability Rights Connecticut, a statewide non-profit organization with a mission to advocate for the human, civil, and legal rights of people with disabilities in Connecticut. DRCT’s mission is to advocate, educate, investigate and pursue legal, administrative, and other appropriate remedies to advance and protect the civil rights of individuals with disabilities to participate equally and fully in all facets of community life in Connecticut.
