Advocates for 
Southbury Training School
Our Choice for Quality of Life 
and Care for I/DD Loved Ones

There is a crisis in Connecticut concerning long-term care and quality-of-life support services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).

Thousands of I/DD individuals are waiting for residential placement in a group home environment – some for as long as 25 years. They, and their care-giving families are aging.

There are also younger families with I/DD children who are facing an uncertain future in finding long-term, quality-care solutions for their loved ones.

We are the advocates for our loved ones living at STS.  We have a choice. We can move our loved ones into an uncertain group-home environment. Or they can age in place, within the safe environment of STS.

We choose STS.

Our concern is that other families of I/DD loved ones in Connecticut can’t make that same choice. Because we’re concerned for them, and for future generations
of I/DD individuals, we intend to do something 
about it.

The Home and School Association of the Southbury Training School (STS), is working in partnership with VOR, the national advocacy voice for I/DD individuals.

We seek to protect the interests of I/DD individuals living in Connecticut and to help their families overcome the wait for long-term, quality-of-life care and services.

Contact us for short and long-term care solutions for I/DD individuals.

Get Involved
[email protected]

Become a Member
The STS Home and School Association seeks to protect the interests of I/DD individuals within the Connecticut Department of Developmental Services (DDS) system by advocating for their right to long-term, quality-of-life care and services at the Southbury Training School. 

Join our Mailing List

Consider making a donation today:
Home and School Association of
Southbury Training School
P.O. Box 872 
Southbury CT 06488-0901
855-200-0490 
[email protected]

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We Support VOR
Please Join VOR!
VOR is a national organization that advocates for high quality care and human rights for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

VOR Supports a Full Spectrum of Services for Individuals with I/DD   Learn More

 VOR Legislative Action Alerts - take action!

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​The Home & School Association 
retains Rose Petruzzi-Cocozza as a legislative liason

Recently we thanked John Hirschauer for his outstanding service as Legislative Affairs Advocate, as he left for a new full-time position.  We have hired Rose Petruzzi-Cocozza in his stead.  Rose is a former H&S board member and is the guardian of her aunt, who has lived at STS since the 1960’s.  Rose has often advocated for STS in Hartford and, through her healing sound therapy practice both at STS and in the community, she has seen first-hand the many differences between the care and services provided at STS and those provided in the community.  We are confident that she will be a passionate and effective advocate. 
The Home & School Association suggests family and friends of residents contact their Cottage Charge to find out when they can experience one of Rose's therapeutic gong sessions for themselves.

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Watch John Hirschauer and Diana Mennone deliver testimony to legislators in Hartford about Southbury Training School on February 25, 2019.​

Please read the testimonial by Jane Anthony on the value of staying connected to parents, guardians, and advocates of those with I/DD on the VOR page of this website.

The DDS Council Advocacy Sub-committee plans to work with Governor Malloy’s Office, the leaders of both the House and Senate, and the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Caucus to advance the seven priorities.  Follow this link to the 7 priorities.
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Our Answer to the DDS
Call for Recommendations
on the Future of STS
In response to DDS Commissioner Murray’s request for public recommendations for the future of STS, (deadline December 31, 2015) the Home and School Association has made four recommendations to improve the I/DD waiting list crisis in Connecticut and the overall health of the DDS system in Connecticut:

1. Conduct a fair and comprehensive community vs. STS cost comparison study that assess the true costs of care for a significant population of individuals with severe and profound I/DD, such as the population of STS. The study should encompass sources of funding, intensity of services, staffing, and other considerations that distinguish this cohort from other individuals with I/DD for better suited to services provided through HCBS waivers.
2. Conduct a focused study that identifies costs and short-term issues associated with transitioning STS residents to community services.
3. Review the quality of life, services and supports in all settings, including specific comparisons for varying levels of need.
4. Keep STS and the remaining 3 regional centers open as vital parts of the service system and do whatever is necessary to enhance and re-invigorate them for the benefit of all Connecticut citizens with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Beds at these facilities should be made available to individuals on the waiting list.  DDS should also consider expanding the services provided at STS, including by developing a nursing facility within STS, providing intensive behavioral programs for autistic individuals and providing emergency short-term support and respite.  DDS could also use STS and the regional centers as bases for developing, possibly through public-private partnerships, medical, neurological, mental health and ancillary service centers that would provide services similar to those offered through ICF/IDs, but to those living in community settings. 

This is not a time to be closing STS; rather it is a time to be renewing it, updating its role, sharpening its services and supports, and integrating it with other DDS service elements.

DDS needs to make STS part of the solution to current DDS problems.

Please read our complete list of recommendations, backed by facts and statistics, to better understand why we believe closing STS and the five regional centers will cost Connecticut a significant amount of money over many years and will only worsen the waiting list crisis.  

In the News

Disability Housing: Institutional Avoidance
Huffington Post
Please read this eye-opening article in the Huffington Post that discusses the many positive aspects of Southbury Training School (STS) and how the advocacy push to “deinstitutionalize” facilities like STS  “has failed to focus on what it means to create communities” and “build life-giving places” for people with disabilities to “live and thrive.”   Read more… ​