BUILDING A CARING COMMUNITY FOR ALL OF US

HEAL

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6Impact Winter|Spring 2011

“ I've been through a lot,

and I came a long way, and I did it.”

Jordan’s journey began when she was diagnosed with

Williams Syndrome at 14 months – and HARC, a United

Way Community Investment partner, has been there for

her and her family every step of the way.

“HARC has been my best friend for 26½ years,” says

Jordan’s mother, Pamela Sobering. The agency has provided

socialization for Jordan, support for her family, job

placement and coaching, and a group home setting that

has enabled Jordan to live semi-independently since age 19.

“HARC turns 60 this year, and United Way has played an

integral role helping us emancipate people with intellectual

disability from large, overly restrictive and often inhumane

institutions,” explains Dr. Stephen Becker, HARC’s

president and CEO. “Virtually all of HARC’s lifespan

services – including early intervention, family support,

advocacy, employment, recreation and residential living

– got their start with United Way support.”

Those services have made a world of difference for

Jordan and hundreds of other HARC clients.

“After high school, when her brother and her friends

were getting ready to go to college, Jordan looked at me

and said, ‘I want to go to the group home,’” says Pamela.

“She realized that it was

the right place for her.

She took that step into

adulthood and she’s never

looked back. Jordan has

worked so hard to get

where she is today.”

Today, Jordan works

three days a week in the

cafeteria at CIGNA in

Bloomfield and two days a

week in the HARC offices

in Hartford. In her free time, despite difficulties with

physical balance, she dances the cha-cha and the tango

and plays defense on a Special Olympics basketball team.

She’s a keen UConn women’s basketball fan and also

keeps up with world events on her computer.

And every morning, Jordan makes the rounds at HARC,

greeting staff and clients by name.

“Jordan is our touchstone,” says Sue Noonan, HARC’s

director of residential services. “She contributes so much

to our community.”

“I care about all these people,” Jordan replies with a

smile.

Your contributions to United Way Community Investment

support a robust network of education, income, health

and safety net services – including programs that help our

intellectually disabled neighbors reach their full potential.

To learn more, visit unitedwayinc.org/health.

Impact Winter|Spring 2011 7

Hundreds of intellectually disabled individuals

in our region are able to live full and productive lives

because you give to United Way Community Investment.

Jordan assists her friend Tina

Gasper, HARC's coordinator of

vocational operations, in the

HARC mailroom.

JORDAN ANDREINI IS MATTER-OF-FACT ABOUT HER EXPERIENCES AS A YOUNG ADULT WITH AN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY.