2009 Business of the Year

Oak Hill recognizes Reid & Riege and Mr. Jack Horak at its 2009 Business of the Year.

Jack Horak is the chairman of the nonprofit practice group at Reid & Riege, leaders in the community.  Mr. Horak is a true champion for people with disabilities. 

Photo: (from right, Patrick Johnson, president, Oak Hill; Jack Horak, honoree; Gayle Wintjen, general counsel, Oak Hill; and Alan Desmarais, chairman, Oak Hill Board of Directors)

Oak Hill Helps Businesses and Employers

1. Oak Hill’s Vocational program for people who are blind or visually impaired: provides help for adults who are blind and visually impaired find employment; computer training and assistive technology; interview skills and job readiness; work site evaluations and adaptive equipment consultations. Established in January 2006 from a generous donation from the Gibney Family Foundation and Eleanor A. Brooks; this program is filling an important need in the community.
2. Oak Hill Day Services: provides work and volunteer opportunities for adults with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities; supervised employment training in the community is designed to maximize their potential, increase their level of independence and enhance their self-esteem. Competent and committed staff provide support and expectations needed for participants to lead dignified and fulfilling lives and is based on an individual's abilities and interests.
3. The NEAT Center at Oak Hill: provides worksite assessments and assistive technology recommendations to assist employees with disabilities to live and work more independently; restores and sells durable medical equipment; and offers extensive AT training and professional development opportunities.   

Oak Hill is a recognized private provider by the State of Connecticut’s Home and Community Based Services Comprehensive Waiver and Individual and Family Supports Waiver through the Department of Developmental Services (DDS)

Learn About DDS

How do I get started?

For more information, call (860) 242-2274 or email at info@ciboakhill.org

Benefits to Employers

We believe that people with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities bring value to the workplace and so do our employers who tell us Oak Hill workers are:

• Hardworking, trustworthy and efficient
• Cost effective, reducing recruitment, training and supervisory costs
• Highly productive, with low absentee rates and above average safety records
• An incentive for other employees to work harder and be more productive

Download Oak Hill Day Services Program brochure; click on link

Benefits to Oak Hill Employees

Working and volunteering in the community provides independence, integration and empowerment, as well as:

• An opportunity to become contributors to society
• Enhanced self-esteem
• Recognition for accomplishments
• Earned paycheck for their work

Download Vocational Center for Adults who are Blind or Visually Impaired brochure; click on link 

Helping Build Better Lives

 Jeremy, who is visually impaired, uses a screen reading program which enhances his independence and employment opportunities.  For over a century,Oak Hill provides high quality, innovative programs for people with low vision and blindness and is proud to provide computer access training to our U.S. veterans in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. 

Did you know?

Over 70% of all adults with intellectual, developmental and/or physical disabilities (includes visual and hearing impairments) are unemployed. Oak Hill is filling an important need; we provide:

• daily living skills
• vocational training and supervised employment
• work site evaluations
• recommendations on assistive technology and adaptive equipment