Transforming traditional special education in Connecticut for more than 30 years

Futures Inc., Connecticut's first non-profit community-based individualized services program for individuals with disabilities was no overnight success. What began in 1988, as an idea to create alternative means of conducting vocational assessments for adults with disabilities, has evolved into a flourishing operation comprised of a special education school, gift shops, commercial kitchens, and several micro-enterprises. 

Without the benefits of start-up funds, contracts, loans, or grants, the founder and CEO of Futures, Pam DonAroma, used the driving forces of her beliefs, values, tenacity, and personal credit card to create a fairer way of assessing an individual’s work and social capacities. This approach has come to be recognized as “person centered situational assessments”, and Futures Inc. was the first to utilize this means of assessment in the State of Connecticut. 

“With person centered situational assessments we started doing strength-based evaluations rather than deficit-based ones. If someone loves what they’re doing, they can overcome a lot of barriers as far as performance goes,” says DonAroma.

Futures Inc. was born to support adults with disabilities, and eventually expanded to students with special needs, who lacked necessary educational and emotional supports to become active participants in the workforce. With Futures Inc. now providing those resources, this community has evolved into a fruitful exhibit of what the duo of passion-based entrepreneurship and community-based services looks like.

Her work to develop this new approach to vocational assessments, began at the University of Connecticut. The main challenge was funds, while office space and UCONN credibility was provided all the initial time and money was coming out-of-pocket.

But the lack of resources did not translate into lack of accomplishment. Within the first year, DonAroma had more referrals than she could manage alone. And the Futures Inc. team started to grow.

Contracts with the state were directed through UCONN, blurring the lines of Futures Inc. operational status. A program which began as an entrepreneur’s passion-project had burgeoned into a high-volume fee-for-service operation. ​​The solution? In 1995 Futures Inc. became a not-for-profit corporation. It was incorporated as an independent agency that could have a more immediate response to the individuals that the team was working with.

In Futures Inc.’s first year as an independent not-for-profit, its revenue hit $1 million. Then, in 1997, Futures Inc. was the first to be approved by the State Department of Education, taking on students with unique challenges whose educational needs were beyond the capacities of most other schools.

Futures Inc. School operates in West Hartford, CT, and has helped over 500 students to date. It maintains a 95% graduation rate. In its 25 years as a non-profit, Futures Inc. has worked tirelessly to provide innovative services and entrepreneurial opportunities to students between the ages of 14 and 22 years old with various special needs including, but not limited to, those with acquired brain injuries, as well as learning, emotional, cognitive, sensory, and/or behavioral disabilities.

Because of the unique and affordable services that Futures Inc. special education program provides, public schools have become the not-for-profit’s leading partner. 

The school’s curriculum includes community engagement, employment experiences, independent living training, in-the-moment teaching and counseling, social skills instruction, fine arts, animal therapy, culinary arts, and a number of other learning opportunities and programs designed to provide diverse opportunities to enrich and fulfill its students. Despite the difficult experiences that many students have with peers and strangers alike, Futures Inc.is persistent in encouraging community involvement. Students are expected to become more active in their community while knowing they have an infallible system of support with and behind them.  

For most students, Futures Inc. School is tuition-free. Students are referred to them by their local school districts have their tuition paid by that district although a small number of the school’s services are paid for by families who independently enroll their students. Anything left over is fundraised for independently. The Futures Inc. Annual Gala and Fashion Show is one such funding source.

In addition to its programming for youth, Futures Inc. also offers adult services programs through the state’s Department of Developmental Services. Adults with disabilities referred to this program are also the beneficiaries of individualized services through various innovative programs known as social enterprises.

The group’s first social enterprise, Good Cause Gifts, is a gift store with an online presence and three locations around the state.  Another social enterprise is a Middletown commercial kitchen which employs 15 people, including a staff of professional chefs. The Futures Inc. Kitchen, as it’s known, provides meals to students at Futures Inc. School, the Cafe at the Hospital for Special Care in New Britain and at the JCC Café in West Hartford.

Futures Inc.is a collective of creative and innovative individuals that has been testing the boundaries of traditional educational and rehabilitation services since its inception over 30 years ago, and with a supportive community and the right resources continually proves that everyone can decide, define, and excel at their own pursuits.