Chapel Haven

Catherine Sullivan-DeCarlo, Vice President of Admissions and Marketing, had a column published in the October/November edition of Insights, the newsletter for Independent Educational Consultants. Her article is entitled, “Building Blocks to Independent Living for Young Adults with Special Needs.” To read the story, click HERE: IECA_Insights-Oct-Nov-2011

As the new coordinator of Chapel Haven’s Best Buddies program, EmilyAnne Westman is in a position to advocate from the heart. First, EmilyAnne chose to attend Southern Connecticut State University because they had a Best Buddies chapter. She quickly signed up and found time whizzed by when she was with her buddy because, “You’re in the moment having fun,” she said. “You learn so much about the people and building a friendship… It really is just like any other friendship,” she said.

Best Buddies is an international nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Chapel Haven has the largest chapter in the state and the sixth largest in the country. “It gives the students an opportunity to meet friends outside Chapel Haven,” said Michael Verzella, Supervisor of Recreation and Operations. “It expands their social opportunities.” As in any friendship the pairs choose what they want to do — it may be a movie, dinner, play, sporting event or a hike, They also have the opportunity to get together every Wednesday evening for an organized event at Chapel Haven. The friends are matched through mutual interests. “It really opens your eyes about capabilities — you can’t put a price tag on it,” Michael said.

Chapel Haven resident Lauren Meltzer has a beautiful way of describing the friendship that emerged between herself and Amanda Wright, a former Southern Connecticut State University student. “She’s special right here,” Lauren said of Amanda, putting her hand over her heart. “If I was having an off day she always put a smile on my face. No one can replace the bond that we share.” Lauren said Amanda attended her Special Olympics competition and even met her family. Continue reading →

James Trimble is passionately dedicated to helping others and campaigning for his peers to do the same. So, it’s no wonder that his Musical Tribute for the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and the victims of Hurricane Irene came off with such heart and success. As part of the night of reflection he held for the Chapel Haven community, James also took the opportunity to collect non-perishables for Connecticut Food Bank,

James has been doing great things since high school where he got the helping spirit as part of the Leo Club, a high school version of the Lion’s Club and the group Friends Helping Friends. “Students need to make a difference after graduating,” from high school, James said. “It’s not just hurricane season or holidays — it’s every day throughout your whole life.” After coming to New Haven, James landed an internship at Connecticut Food Bank, where he got see up close the need for food in the community. He also volunteered with the New Haven Symphony and assisted in collecting food as part of a benefit concert they held for victims of Hurricane Katrina. At the recent benefit/tribute held at Chapel Haven, dozens of residents quietly reflected as James played CDs of music he describes as “patriotic and sacred.” As residents watched — some with bowed heads and some standing along with him as a sign of respect to victims of both 9/11 and Hurricane Irene, James sang along with facial expressions that aptly reflected the depth of the lyrics. His carefully chosen musical lineup included two versions of the National Anthem, God Bless America, Ave Maria, Amazing Grace, Bridge Over Troubled Water and one of his favorite new songs, “The Prayer” by Celine Dion and Josh Groban.

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Chapel Haven’s REACH program offers a summer residential program to give young adults (18+) experience in building independence.

Many families have found the REACH summer program an ideal  stepping stone toward independent living for individuals with developmental or autism spectrum disabilities.

Chapel Haven’s REACH program focuses on life skills, functional academics, recreational/social development and early vocational skills. Students accepted into the summer residential program have the chance to live in an on-campus apartment, surrounded by new friends, along with the support and instructional guidance of Residential Life Skills instructors and Special Education teachers.

Students follow a schedule of functional academic classes, where they are learning how to budget money, grocery shop, clean their apartments and cook with their peers in a structured and staff-supported setting. Life skills takes place Sundays through Thursdays with the help of instructors, giving our students a chance to practice what they have learned in an authentic apartment setting.

Recreational activities and social skill-building outings include chaperoned trips to Six Flags theme park, baseball games, barbecues, hikes, shopping, movies and a day at the beach at a Chapel Haven beach cottage on Long Island Sound. Access to amenities at the Chapel Haven campus include a computer lab, digital media lab, ceramics studio, fitness center, basketball court and  many fun activities such as DJ dances and Karaoke Night in Chapel Haven’s Outreach Center.

A campus interview, visit and intake materials are required prior to admission. For more information, click here REACH summer flyer 2011 and call us at (203) 397-1714, ext. 148. Or send an email of inquiry to cdecarlo@chapelhaven.org.

Chapel Haven, founded in 1972, is a nationally accredited, transitional life skills program and state approved by the CT Dept. of Education.  Summer students often matriculate into our two year residential  program.

Chapel Haven exhibits and presents at conferences and transition fairs all over the U.S. and sometimes internationally. Read on for a schedule of where Chapel Haven will be throughout the U.S., click below. Continue reading →

Chapel Haven sends out a quarterly e-newsletter. Click HERE to read the winter 2011 edition of Chapel Haven’s e-newsletter.

When Tom Ames stood up to provide the musical interlude at the June 11 graduation for ASAT, he chose to sing “Wild World,” by Cat Stevens.

At first, Tom sang alone but within moments, the enthusiastic crowd of more than 100 family and friends began singing along.

It was one of many uplifting moments, capped by the poignant words of Jacob Shore, one of the 9 graduates. Jacob brought many to tears and received thundering applause as he talked about how he has come to terms with his diagnosis. Jacob is pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Southern Connecticut State University.

“Over the course of two years, and really throughout my life, I’ve wondered about what I would be like if I didn’t have Aspergers, and I would be able to go to school, college, and work, as a neurotypical kind of person, it wasn’t always wondering too, it was a deep desire, and I desperately wanted to be normal, and be rid of this handicap, and all the different not good effects that came with it, more than once, it may have gotten me in trouble, and caused me to be embarrassed. I just wanted to be cured of this thing that had kept me from being a normal person, that I thought held me back from what I, and maybe a lot of other people wanted from me, I just thought it would make me feel liberated, and able to make people happy and proud with me, if I did things better or right to them, if I didn’t have my disability. But now, I know the truth, I know now that maybe we can’t change who we are, or what we’re born with, but we can live with it, embrace it, and make our lives, and the lives of everyone else, just a little better, and I know that people are pleased and proud of me, no matter what I do, and most important of all, I know who I am, and how I expect to live and be treated as, and even if I do change my mind about something, especially if like it, I’ll still be who I am inside. I am Jacob Adam Shore! And nothing’s gonna change that.” Continue reading →

Eleven students showcased their unique personalities and shared highlights of the past two years on June 18 when they became the third graduating class of Chapel Haven West.

Chapel Haven West's 2011 graduating class

“We are gathered here today to celebrate the end of one phase of life’s journey and the beginning of another,” said Robert D. Nurin, Director of Education at Chapel Haven, Inc. who made the trip west to Tucson for the ceremony.

“Life is a journey,” he continued. “A course that you set and determine by the decisions you make each and every day. Eleanor Roosevelt once said ‘the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams’. So as you step out to meet the challenges of the future, your minds prepared and your skills honed by the experiences you have had at Chapel Haven West, I urge you to set your direction with a positive “can-do” attitude and a strong spirit.”

Among student speakers was graduate Josh Friend

The graduating students – Michael Augerson, Gary Blomquist, Chris Brown, Sara Christensen, Joshua Friend, Mike Hurson, Sydney Kramer, Aaron Monihan, Jonathan Shuman, and Stephanie Tse – took the stage to say a few words about their Chapel Haven experiences. The speeches were filled with a combination of humor, candor, and heartfelt thanks that drew both laughter and sentiment from family, friends, and CHW staff. Continue reading →

There were tears and joy on Friday, June 24, 2011, when 16 students graduated from REACH.

Matt Tietjen, supervisor of REACH, summed up the poignant ceremony this way: “There is something in this room today that wasn’t here two years ago. It is visible in your faces today and even in the way that you carried yourself as you walked into this room just now. That thing is confidence.   Confidence in yourselves – confidence that you have the skills to succeed as you prepare to take another major step in life. ”

“From mobility and cooking to new jobs and friendships, You have all accomplished so much in the past two years that it would take us all afternoon to cover it. So instead I will just thank you. You came to Chapel Haven with the determination needed to get yourselves to this point, and we are grateful to have been partners with each of you along the way. You can now take with you the self-confidence needed to be successful in the next step. I also want to thank the parents and family members here today. Your hope for your son’s and daughter’s futures and your trust in Chapel Haven has allowed us to work with the best students an educator could hope for. And, Finally, I want to thank the REACH staff. It is entirely because of this amazing team of dedicated and talented people, who’s cars you will see in the parking lot well after their shifts are supposed to have ended – it is because of them that Chapel Haven is able to keep the promises we make to our students and their families.”   Continue reading →