Hi there,

Happy fall. I hope you are enjoying these warm October days and finding time to rest, rejuvenate, and reflect in between the busyness of work and life.

I was reminded that it’s National Disability Employment Awareness month, which has me thinking about the ways work and employment impact our feelings of value, purpose, and connection.

News Worth Knowing

Supporting People with IDD to Join the Workforce

Now is a great time for people with disabilities to find a job. In August, the U.S. unemployment rates was at 3.5%, the lowest in 50 years. Many different Aspire employees can be involved in helping individuals find and keep jobs.

In Memoriam 

Anne Petriccione, who lived at Janet Drive and attended Michael’s Place Day Program, passed away on October 13. She was known and loved by many during her 30 years as part of the Aspire community. She will be missed, and our condolences are with her family and everyone who worked with Anne.

Building Relationships, One Skill at a Time

Social-emotional learning has been part of Aspire’s educational curriculum since ALL Academy was founded. At ALL Academy, social skills are taught using a variety of evidence-based programs starting in kindergarten right through to post-high school transition services.

Aspire Clinicians Present Their Research

Aspire clinicians are sharing their applied research with other practitioners to support the growth of best practices in the field. In addition to a recent journal article, two Aspire posters and four workshops were presented at the annual BABAT Conference October 12-14 at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA.

CT Vaccine Clinic - Tomorrow!

Join us on Thursday, October 20 from 10 AM to 3 PM in Meriden for the CT Fall Vaccine Clinic. Protect yourself and your community by making an appointment for the upcoming, FREE vaccine clinic. We’ll be providing the flu shot and the newest COVID booster. This clinic is open to all individuals supported by Aspire and employees.

Support Aspire with Every Amazon Purchase

Whether you're holiday shopping or getting a new fall outfit, you can support Aspire when you shop on AmazonSmile via your desktop or mobile app simply by selecting us as your favorite charity! A percentage of your purchase will be donated to Aspire at no additional cost or extra effort required on your part.

Spotlight: 

Molly's Day: It's All About Community

At age 30, Molly Richards has really established herself in her community on the Seacoast of New Hampshire. People appreciate her great sense of humor and her kind heart. A longtime volunteer, Molly landed herself a job at Market Basket this past year.

Celebrations & Aspirations

Anniversaries

Congratulations to our colleagues who are celebrating milestones at Aspire in October. We are deeply grateful for your service.

New Team Members

Welcome to our new colleagues. We’re so glad you’ve chosen to join the Aspire Living & Learning community. Click below to see who’s joined us in September and reach out to give them a warm welcome!

Health & Wellness

Secure Your Benefits for 2023

Open enrollment for medical, dental and flexible spending account benefits starts Monday, Nov. 7 and ends Nov. 21. Re-enrollment is required to receive benefits in 2023. New this year, employees can choose from three medical insurance plans. The People team can help you navigate the process and learn about options, costs and how to enroll at upcoming in-person and virtual information sessions.

Wellness Page Visitor Raffle 

Thanks for visiting the new wellness page on Aspire’s Employee Benefits Portal. Twenty visitors were randomly selected to win an Amazon Gift Card. Congratulations to the winners!