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PANDEMIC
UPDATES

Virtual Adventures

Our ACTIVITIES 4 U link and our COMMUNITY RESOURCES link are two places to find important information. You can always access them here on our PANDEMIC UPDATES PAGE

and on the HOME PAGE of our website. We add information regularly and welcome your ideas.

ATTENTION! Family Members & Caregivers

People with IDD May be Accompanied at Emergency and Hospital Admissions

The Department of Developmental Services (CT DDS) has issued a notice that a family member or caregiver of someone with IDD living in their own home may accompany them during emergency department visits and hospital admissions. CLICK HERE for more information.

The person (one only) accompanying the patient must fill out and present the following FORM.

Monday, May 4, 2020

A Message from Kathleen Stauffer,

CEO of The Arc Eastern Connecticut

Good Morning Everyone,

The Arc Eastern Connecticut has officially embraced virtual service delivery thanks to each team member who’s learned new ways of doing things and stepped forward to walk In Partnership for Full Equality! Over the weekend, we received positive headlines in The Day for our virtual service delivery. You have made all the difference for people with IDD in our community!

Connecticut is taking a cautious approach to dealing with COVID-19, and so are we. At the same time, I have been reading about every potential vaccine and treatment for the Coronavirus that I can find. Some very smart people are working very hard to find viable treatments, and I am hopeful we will be back to our routines before too long. So, hang in there!

Tomorrow (May 5th) is Giving Tuesday Now – an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. The Arc ECT has joined the “Together We Give” campaign, and we are asking you to like and share our Facebook posts and other social media. Please help us to get the word out!

Also, please give our nurses a shout out since National Nurses Week begins May 6. A special thanks to our nurses this week! And . . . this Sunday is Mother’s Day, so be sure to thank yours and congratulations to all our wonderful Moms at The Arc ECT!

The Arc of the United States is asking YOU to share your story. In particular, The Arc is looking for stories that show why people with IDD should be able to remain in their homes and not be forced into institutions, why paid leave should be available to all caregivers, why personal protective equipment is necessary for the vital Direct Support Professional workforce, and why stimulus payments are essential for human services workers and the people we serve. Share your story here!

RECIPE! Lots of people are baking bread these days, and many of us have had trouble finding yeast. So, my partner Kimberly is sharing her bread recipe with us this week. If you would like to bake bread and have had trouble finding yeast, you can make this wonderful recipe with flour and a starter culture that is included in Kimberly’s recipe.

Finally, don’t miss The Arc ECT’s latest podcast. You can find the link right below this message. We’re hoping to give you, our wonderful team, encouragement while also giving you a few laughs. Don’t miss it. Remember: we need you, and we appreciate you.

This Week's Recipe

Basic
Sourdough Bread

Ingredients

1 cup "fed" sourdough starter*
1 1/2 cups warm filtered water
5 to 6 cups unbleached all-purpose or bread flour
2 1/2 teaspoons salt

Instructions

The sponge: Pour the cup of starter into a large mixing bowl. Add the warm water and 3 cups of
flour. Beat vigorously with a wooden spoon. Cover this sponge with plastic wrap and put it aside
to work. This period can be very flexible, but allow at least 2 hours and up to 8 hours. A longer
period (at a lower temperature) will result in a more sour flavor.
The dough: After the sponge has bubbled and expanded, remove the plastic wrap. Blend the salt
and one cup of flour. Stir the flour and salt into the sponge then add more flour, a little at a time
until the dough comes together. Turn it out onto a floured board and knead it for 3 to 4 minutes.
Give the dough a rest while you clean out and grease your bowl. Continue kneading for another 3
or 4 minutes, adding extra flour as needed, until the dough is smooth and elastic. Add only
enough extra flour to keep the dough from sticking. Place the dough in the bowl, turn it once to
grease the top, cover, and let it rise until doubled (1 to 2 hours).
Shaping and Baking: Turn the dough out, then divide in half. Shape each half into a loaf, and
place on a lightly greased, cornmeal-sprinkled baking sheet. Cover, and let rise until doubled (this
can take up to 2 hours). Remove the cover, slash the tops, and bake in a preheated 450 degree
oven for approximately 20 minutes, until golden brown. Turn the oven off, crack the door, and
leave the loaves in for another 5 minutes. Remove loaves to a cooling rack and let cool
completely before slicing.

*Starter is really easy to make, and takes the place of yeast. It’s fun—and educational. Kids love making starter. You need to let it sit and think for about 6 days, though (it needs to ferment), so make up a batch ahead of when you’re planning to make your bread. You can keep unused starter in the refrigerator and use it later. Here’s a link to show you how it’s done.

The Arc NEWS

Meet The Arc ECT's Seniors

A mid-week visit to The Arc’s Retired Senior Program (RSP) in Danielson finds cooking class in full swing. Director Paula Kowalski has worked with The Arc’s Seniors for over 20 years. “I just love these folks,” she says. “Many have been in the workforce their entire lives, so you think they’d just want to take it easy, but most days we have to work hard to keep up with all the things they want to do!” Although the program, which operates 5 days a week, is designed for people with IDD who would like a bit of a quieter,

The RSP program serves not only Arc participants and residents but those people with IDD receiving services from other agencies. “We’re one of the few day programs in the region that offers this service,” notes Paula. “And although it’s mostly for older people, there’s no real age cutoff—it just depends on whether the person would benefit from a bit of a calmer day. It’s really a beautiful program.”

sometimes slower-paced day without as much noise or stimulus as some younger participants enjoy, the RSP program is anything but dull. “Our goals are to get people participating in as many activities as they’d like—especially in the community,” says Paula. “Here at our offices we have cooking classes, sign language activities, sewing, crochet, games . . . but we also take lots of trips to museums, shopping, restaurants, the Senior Center, and we also do some volunteer activities—we try to keep it interesting. We have one big trip a year. Last year all 22 of our participants visited the Mashantucket Pequot Museum—what a great experience. In a large group, the Seniors’ enthusiasm is contagious, and it really makes for an enjoyable day for everyone. Our goal is for these trips to be talked about all year long.”

Jane Navarro, Direct Support Professional (holding tinfoil), joins Seniors from L to R Shirley, Randy, and Doris as they prepare their “Unstuffed Cabbage Casserole” for the oven.