| About St. Vincent's Special Needs Services
St. Vincent's Special Needs Services traces its roots back to 1955 when United Cerebral Palsy of Fairfield County was first founded to provide therapeutic services and shortly thereafter as a private, special education school, for children with cerebral palsy. Adult day programs were established in the early 1980s to meet the needs of graduating students still requiring daily intervention and support for activities of living and employment. In 1985, residential services for adults with multiple development disabilities were added with the opening of the organization's first group home. In 1987, to become a member of St. Vincent's Health Services (a health care system and ministry that includes St. Vincent's Medical Center), the organization was renamed the St. Vincent's Special Needs Services (SVSNS).
Today, SVSNS is a major Southern CT provider of services for individuals from birth through senior years with multiple developmental disabilities and complex medical needs. In partnership with the Department of Development Services, SVSNS offers day programs for 175 adults in Stratford and Norwalk, and operates eight group homes in Trumbull, Stratford, Bridgeport, Shelton, Monroe, and Stamford. Additionally, SVSNS operates a school program, provides Birth-to-Three early intervention services, and operates three residential homes for children with multiple developmental disabilities and complex medical needs in Trumbull, Stratford, and Newtown.
SVSNS has a staff of over 335 professionals and paraprofessionals including special education teachers and assistants, physical and occupational therapists, speech/language pathologists, adult day program specialists and assistants, job coaches, residential direct care counselors, registered and licensed practical nurses, family support facilitators, and other specialists in the education, health, and human services fields. Over 400 children and adults and their families attend SVSNS programs and receive services each year.
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