Mission Statement

The CRC Board is encouraging deaf elderly people to stay at home and seek assistance to live at home. The state government as well as the federal Olmsted Act support the concept of "aging in place" as both healthy for elders and cost effective.

History Bits of CRC

On November 14, 1995 at American School for the Deaf, Ed Buell of CT Deaf Senior Citizens (CDSC) called for a meeting to highlight the need for housing options in retirement and a nursing facility in the state for Deaf senior citizens. He wanted the following organizations:

• American School for the Deaf Alumni Association (ASDAA)
  and
• Connecticut Association on the Deaf (CAD), to join CDSC in an effort to implement this project. The retirement/nursing home committee needed seed money the fund for various needs.

CRC had been working on a housing project with Larry Marino, (brother of three deaf siblings) and town officials of Middletown, CT. CRC allowed the town to take over the project. Now Monarca Place, the housing project for the sensory-imparied elderly is operating successfully under Middletown Department of Housing Authority.

Goal Statement

* Independent in ASL-friendly environemnt!

* American Sign Language

Provide a safe and comfortable living environment, specifically designed and adapted to address the special communication needs of this community.

Establish a supportive senior community that encourages personal dignity, communication, maintenance of independence and elimination of isolation & loneliness.

Design housing units for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf-Blind Adults which are equal in quality and accommodations to housing provided to the general public with the addition of specialized communication access.

Improve quality of life through provision of visual and auditory oriented activities, lectures, and other "hearing-
loss-friendly" learning events.

Officers

Harvey Corson President Representative Connecticut Association of the Deaf (CAD)	Alex Witkowski Vice President Representative CT Deaf Senior Citizens (CDSC)	Susan V. Pedersen Secretary Representative Connecticut Association of the Deaf (CAD)	James Pedersen Treasurer Representative Connecticut Association of the Deaf (CAD) Trustee & Representative (ASDAA)
Michael E. Fiorino Trustee & Representative American School for the Deaf Alumni Association (ASDAA)	Edward Frith Trustee & Representative American School for the Deaf Alumni Association (ASDAA)	Shirley Desrosier Representative CT Deaf Senior Citizens (CDSC)	Basil Brackett Representative CT Deaf Senior Citizens (CDSC)
Vacancy Representative CT Deaf Senior Citizens (CDSC)	Thomas Desrosier Sub-Committee for Housing  Member-at-Large	Keith Vinci Sub-Committee for Housing Member-at-Large	Mary Ann Corson Mail Drive Project Volunteer
Doreen Simons Sub-Committee Volunteer	Diane Wixted Sub-Committee Volunteer