ACCESS Adult Vocational Services

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For any questions, please call: 203-901-4640 or email Carissa Moy at cmoy@aces.org.

ACES United Lawn Care (AULC) provides lawn care services to customers primarily in New Haven County. It provides work opportunities for individuals in the ACCESS program who have an interest in this line of work. This entrepreneurial project was started in 2014 to build on the interests & develop the skills of the ACCESS individuals who participated in the Gardening for Life grant. The individuals who work on the lawn care crew are proud of the work they do to meet the needs of their customers.

The mission of ACES Designs by ACCESS (DBA) is to create and produce pieces that will enhance your event and serve as a reminder for those special moments you shared with others. Consumers work side by side with staff to make custom pieces for customers, and are involved in design meetings with customers; and also attend some of the events that the centerpieces were created for. ACES DBA take pride in the custom pieces it creates for its customers, especially those that support worthy causes.  In the past, Designs By ACCESS donated a centerpiece to Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven Hospital. For the third consecutive year, ACES DBA, designed and produced customized centerpieces & stage banners for the Special Olympics of CT annual Hall of Fame event. DBA worked with Girl Scouts of CT on the centerpieces for two annual fundraising events held at the New Haven Lawn Club. ACES DBA is hopeful that these mutually beneficial relationships with its customers will last for years, and that the pieces it creates will continue to serve as a memento for many more years.

For information regarding your inquiry, please contact:
Designs by ACCESS
203-507-6139 or designsbyaccess@aces.org

Individuals in the Group Supported Employment (GSE) program receive continuous onsite support from a staff at community based job site. The program also provides training to consumers who seek and have the skills for competitive employment. Consumers in the GSE program receive minimum wage, or sub minimum wage for the work they do. Types of jobs available range from fine motor to gross motor. For consumers with an artistic flair, Designs By ACCESS (DBA) provides opportunities to create customized pieces for customers to cherish for a long time.

A number of consumers in GSE work on the lawn care crew. They are tasked with maintaining the lawns of the customers. This entrepreneurial project was started in 2014 to harness the interests and skills of consumers who had been a part of the Gardening for life grant.

For individuals in group supported employment who desire their own jobs, a Comprehensive Situational Assessments at community employment sites determine the individual's work abilities, interests and dislikes, and stamina. The assessment also identifies the level of support needed for the individual to be successful. This service facilitates appropriate career development. Mobility Training and Transportation services are offered on a case by case basis.

Individual Supported Employment (ISE) provides supports to individuals who already have their own jobs, or are interested in competitive employment. The type of support each individual receives is based on their skills, and/or need, and is determined through a Work Evaluation/ Interview, funded by the Department of Rehabilitation Services (DORS). DORS is a state agency that provides funding to programs such as ACES ACCESS, to develop appropriate work environments for individuals seeking competitive employment. DORS funding is typically short term basis. Support staff in ISE, act as liaison for the individual and their employer; ensuring that each parties needs are met.