DAC Connect

DAC Connect Programs: To create and cultivate positive connections with our peers, our family, and our community while emphasizing the importance of one’s own self-care, self-awareness, and self-respect.

Positive Peer and Family Connections: Implement a Positive Peer Program and related activities that cultivate a culture of positive interaction for all program participants, focusing on one another’s strengths and encouraging healthy relationships with peers, family, caregivers, and staff.

Bullying Prevention, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Establish a structured bullying-prevention program and resources for adult clients and in-school students with special needs. Increase advocacy and education programs for both the individual with a disability and their peers to foster positive relationships and reduce the negative impact of bullying, stereotyping, and non-inclusion.

Social and Emotional Wellness: Develop and offer programs and services to empower clients to better understand their emotions, handle adversity and stress, make good decisions, and embrace healthy relationships. Ideally, the program would expand to offer counseling and therapy services by contracting with a licensed mental health social worker or licensed professional counselor.

Community Connections and Program Navigation: Provide individual and group assistance for families faced with major decisions affecting their child’s educational, legal, financial, custodial, housing, and medical future. Informational forums will support families with applications to benefits programs, waivers, guardianship, Social Security, making a trusted professional available to offer guidance through life’s transitions.