Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month

National Disability Employment Awareness Month Each October, as we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), we take a moment to honor the contributions of individuals with disabilities in the workforce. This year’s theme, “Access to Good Jobs for All,” resonates deeply with our mission to empower individuals with physical and developmental disabilities to lead […]

Ryan Day’s Success Story with Fry’s Foods

Ryan Day standing in front of Fry's grocery story where he works

Ryan Day’s Success Story with Fry’s Foods When Ryan Day sets his mind to something, nothing can stop him.  Through Quality Connections adult learning program, the 25-year-old has tackled everything from creating recipes in the culinary program to being an on-air DJ for QC’s online radio show.  So it is no surprise that when he […]

New School Year, New Director at Evergreen Academy Preschool

New Director for Evergreen Academy Preschool A new school year is starting at Evergreen Academy Preschool, and it comes with some exciting changes for our organization.  The first is a new director. After launching Evergreen Academy Preschool and serving ably as its first director, Kelly Arnold recently relocated to Phoenix. In May of last year, […]

QC Summer Camp: Building Forts & Confidence

Members of QC's Summer Camp build a lean-to in Fort Tuthill County Park

QC Summer Camp: Building Forts and Confidence Twice a week, since the beginning of summer, QC Adult Day Program – Quality Connection’s Montessori-based classes for adults with developmental disabilities – spends the day at Fort Tuthill County Park, providing a summer camp experience for its participants.  “The whole Montessori philosophy is based on hands-on learning, […]

A Life Full of Adventure

Doug Arnett, Tonnya Jensen, and Armando Bernasconi, surrounding John Thoren.

A Life Full of Adventure John Thoren does not let his wheelchair keep him from finding adventure.  You can find the 45-year-old Phoenix native, who has cerebral palsy, on the slopes at Arizona Snowbowl participating in adaptive skiing. During the summer, he loves to camp in the forest. And he’s gone on several long-distance road […]

Overcoming Adversity to Teach Future Generations

Susan Decker standing in her preschool classroom

Overcoming Adversity to Teach Future Generations Susan Decker didn’t go to college planning to be an early childhood educator.  The Flagstaff native was in her first year at Coconino Community College, working on her general education requirements, when she started looking for a job to save up for the following semester’s tuition.  “There was a […]

Empowering Our Support Teams

Brandon Gill, Behavioral Health Coordinator, leads a training session at Quality Connections.

9 Empowering Our Support Teams Caregiving staff at Quality Connections – from workers in our six group homes to job coaches to the instructors in our adult day program – undergo extensive training before they work with our members with developmental disabilities. That training is conducted by Brandon Gill, our Behavioral Health Coordinator, who joined […]

Board Spotlight: Candy Owens

Candace "Candy" Owens helping organize the Quality Connections Fourth of July float.

Board Spotlight: Candace “Candy” Owens About 45 years ago, Candace “Candy” Owens came to Flagstaff as a leap of faith. Her former husband had gotten a job offer in the area and the couple were ready to leave southern California to find a place where they could raise a family. So she moved, sight unseen, […]

9 Essential Job Search Tips for Everyone

Young Downs Syndrome man sitting on bed getting dressed for work.

9 Essential Job Search Tips for Everyone With our overarching goal of increasing employability and independence for individuals with physical or developmental disabilities, we are incredibly aware of the importance of all aspects of the job search process.  Figuring out what you want to do (and whether you can do it) is the first part […]

Join Us! Evergreen Academy Preschool Open House 5/1

Front door at Evergreen Academy Preschool

Join Us! Evergreen Academy Preschool Open House 5/1 One of the most important principles at Evergreen Academy Preschool is that exploration is the foundation of education.  Experiencing a place – the sights and sounds and textures – is one of the most powerful ways we learn at any age. Which is why we are inviting […]

Another Banner Year for Quality Connections

Another Banner Year for Quality Connections As we head into our 25th year, Quality Connections is continuing to make a huge difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities through its programs, whether it’s at our member’s homes, in the workplace, or through our training and employment programs.  We’ve just completed our 2023 Community Impact […]

A World of Opportunities

A World of Opportunities We couldn’t let March go by without talking about Developmental Disability Awareness Month.  The observance was created through presidential proclamation in 1987 and every March, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) and its partners collaborate on an annual campaign that highlights how people with and without disabilities can […]