Menumenu

  • Spring for Abilis Save the Date
  • Golf for Abilis Sunshine Fund 2024
  • Together We Shine Photos 2024
  • Abilis Winter Newsletter 2023
  • Join Our Team
  • Project Search Applications - 2024
  • Quarterly Discussion Series for Parents
  • Abilis / Project SEARCH Information Night for Programs in Darien, Stamford and Greenwich
  • Project Search Externship
  • Golf Scramble 2024

By Greenwich Daily Voice | November 24, 2016

GREENWICH, Conn. — Frances Contardi enjoyed her Thanksgiving dinner with other Abilis clients and staff in Greenwich — although she did offer a small critique on her turkey.

"The turkey was a bit dry," she said as she finished up her plate, filled with Brussels sprouts. "I like the dinner." She was one of about 50 clients and 20 staff members at Abilis who gathered in the Greenwich headquarters for its ninth annual Thanksgiving dinner. Abilis is a nonprofit group that provides people with developmental disabilities and their families in Lower Fairfield County with support and advocacy services.

Abilis Thanksgiving 2016

 

Amy Montimurro, chief program officer with Abilis, has overseen the Thanksgiving dinner since it began. It's a way for clients who may be alone and for the staff who work with them on Thanksgiving Day to enjoy a meal with others, she said. "We have one or two residents who don't go to their families or are by themselves, and we wanted people to have a full table, to eat together and nobody be alone," Montimurro said. "And for the staff who work 24 hours, we want to be able to serve them on the day that they are giving up from their families."

Abilis operates 23 homes with residents and many don’t have close family nearby. Among the staff enjoying the meal was Marjorie Beauchette of Stamford. She was working Thursday to care for Rocchina Ambrose. She was working a 12-hour shift Thursday that would end at 10:30 p.m. "This is my home away from home," Beauchette said. "I enjoy being here with the girls, and they all enjoy having dinner with their friends. It's really a wonderful atmosphere."

Many of the dishes are provided by the Board of Directors and volunteers at Abilis. Others in the community — including the Greenwich Police Department — also contribute. Director of Development Nancy Heller said Abilis seeks to create a community for everyone. "We want everybody to feel included and part of a larger community where they're celebrated, they're special and no one's alone," she said.

800+

People Served

24

Hours a Day

365

Days a Year

70

Years of Service

40+

Homes

400

Staff Members

5

Businesses

80+

Community Partners

Therapeutic Services

Abilis is home to experts who work together to create a cohesive approach to personalized therapeutic care. Our therapies, housed in our Therapy Center, are administered using best practices and are available at Abilis or in the environments you choose, including your home and places in the community where the therapy will be the most effective.

Read More

Life Services

Abilis provides needed supports to people throughout their lives. Our goal is to enhance each person’s quality of life through social activities, meaningful employment and high quality residential services. Our Life Services programs include health and wellness care delivered by certified professionals.

Read More

The Individual Life Plan

The Individual Life Plan (ILP) is our signature service. Abilis works collaboratively with families to assess existing needs, plan for future needs, and create a personalized roadmap for anticipated therapeutic and life skills services for their family member with disabilities. From birth through adulthood to later stages in life, the ILP will help families and individuals with disabilities prepare for and successfully navigate major life transitions.

Read More

Activities

Abilis offers social and recreational programs for children, teens, and adults. These programs range from weekly music, art, and cooking classes to monthly birthday parties with dancing and teen social gatherings with games and pizza. In addition to these regular events, Abilis schedules special outings to New York City and other destinations to enjoy arts events.

Read More

Get Involved

Abilis depends upon dedicated staff, volunteers, donors, and community partners to provide the wide range of high quality programs and services that individuals with developmental disabilities and their families need to live, learn, work, and enjoy life.

Read More

Mission Vision Values

Abilis provides people with developmental disabilities and their families in Lower Fairfield County with supports and advocacy for building able lives and strong communities.

Read More