COCO’s Mission Statement
Our mission is to provide opportunities in the community through
employment and social experiences for people with developmental
disabilities.
Click here for a note from our Executive
Director.
Click here to read some Testimonials.
Click here or scroll down to Meet
Our Staff.
Click here or scroll down to learn about Job
Openings.
About COCO
COCO is a not for profit, tax
exempt organization with 501(c)3 status, incorporated since
1978. The agency was originally founded by a group of concerned
parents. We currently serve more than 55 people who reside in
the towns of Cheshire, Waterbury, Wolcott, Meriden, Bristol,
Southington, Terryville, Watertown, Thomaston, Plantsville, and
Prospect. We typically serve adults (over 21 years of age) but
have entered into special contracts with local schools to serve
students who are at least 15 years of age.
Our mission is to provide
opportunities in the community through employment and social
experiences for people with developmental disabilities.
We accomplish this mission by establishing relationships with
local businesses who will employ the clients we serve. For our
group employment (enclaves) we hold a certificate from the
Department of Labor that allows us to pay our clients based upon
their actual productivity. This is a type of "selling
point" we use when contacting potential employers - that
they will receive exactly (if not more) than what they pay for.
In these situations, we provide an on-site Job Coach (paid by
COCO) to assure that quality and productivity needs are met. We
support individuals in the community who work quite
independently - with only periodic follow up from staff. We also
bring in a small amount of subcontract work for the individuals
who like to work and earn money, but are not quite ready for a
community placement.
The individuals who participate in
COCO's Community Experience program are provided with the
opportunity to go on community outings each day. Outings are
tailored to meet the needs and wishes of the people in each
group. These outings become as much of a learning experience as
possible. The groups have visited local parks to watch others
play ball, feed the water foul, etc. At the malls, the
folks learn purchasing & money exchange, go into the candle
stores & bath / body stores to experience the different
aromas of the products, eat at the restaurants & food
courts-learning appropriate dining skills, go to the pet stores,
to see and touch the different animals. They also plan larger /
longer trips to attractions like Lake Compounce, The Maritime
Museum, the Beardsley Zoo, Mystic Aquarium, and Yankee Candle.
We offer in-house opportunities
for skill building such as cooking, money exchange, sign
recognition, and safety skills. There is also a specially
equipped stimulation room to offer sensory stimulation
activities.
Our new Opportunities for Older
Adults Program (OOA) offers some of our retirees the
chance to participate in activities geared towards seniors.
The group has joined Cheshire Senior Center for a few
activities, attended functions at the Cheshire Library, and
worked on in-house art projects. Each month the group
chooses a theme, and all activities and projects for the month
surround this theme.
We here at COCO
are responsible for the care and supervision of people with
disabilities. A daunting, yet rewarding task, that we
accept with gratitude. Our standards of conduct are high,
but necessary. We will accept nothing but the best from
our personnel in regards to the safety of all we care for.
Our customers are not only those we provide services for, but
our clientele as well. They will strive for perfection and
acceptance, and we will provide the tools for them to succeed.
We must not fail in our attempt to provide them with a safe
environment in which to work and a “sense of accomplishment”
in their every day lives. It is our purpose. It is
our goal. In this endeavor, we will not stand for less.
Click here for
some Significant Dates in COCO's
history.
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