Governor Dannel P. Malloy Thursday selected Terrence W. Macy, Ph.D. of Madison to serve as Commissioner of the state Department of Developmental Services (DDS).

“As everyone knows, I spend a great deal of time talking about our citizens with developmental and intellectual disabilities, the community providers who serve them, and the need for state government to be a better partner to both,” said Governor Malloy in a prepared release. “This is an agency that many people don’t know much about.  I’m hoping that will change.  Caring for some of the neediest in our society is a moral obligation government has, and should have.  I’m counting on Terry to help this agency and this state government live up to that ideal.”

“Understanding the fiscal reality both the state and country face, I’m hopeful that my experiences in partnering with community private and public providers in a quest to expand creative support systems while generating efficiencies will allow these programs to be maintained in an efficient and cost-effective manner,” Macy said.  “I’m thankful to Governor Malloy for this nomination and I’m looking forward to continuing the notable work of this agency.”

 Macy has served as the Executive Director of SARAH Tuxis Residential & Community Resources, Inc. since 1990, where he has led efforts to provide support to individuals with disabilities along the central Connecticut shoreline, focusing on direct care and creating environments where individuals with disabilities thrive, Malloy's office said in the prepared release.

He was responsible for administering a staff that grew from 42 to 300 and has since become one of the largest providers of individual supports of any DDS funded agency in the state, Malloy's office said. He led the agency to develop a culture of collaborating with community partners wherever possible to expand creative support systems, including the development of innovative and individualized supports for seniors.

Macy previously worked for seven years at DATAHR Rehabilitation Institute (currently Ability Beyond Disability) as Director of Vocational Services and Director of Residential Services, developing training programs, training staff in new work skills development programs, and growing services for persons with autism and traumatically brain injured adults.  Prior to that, he held several leadership positions in the public sector in Ohio and began his career working at the Hartford Regional Center in the recreation, education and residential programs.

He is an active participant in many statewide and national organizations, including as a current member of the Board of Directors of the National Conference of Executives of the ARC and past chair of the Connecticut Conference of Executives, as a member and previous President of the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Association of Nonprofits (CAN), and as Chair of the Region X Chapter of the American Association on Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD).

The Department of Developmental Services serves over 19,000 individuals with intellectual disabilities, including over 4,000 infants and toddlers.

The Connecticut Association of Nonprofits, the largest membership organization in the state dedicated exclusively to working with nonprofits in Connecticut, applauded Macy's appointement.

“Dr. Macy’s longstanding involvement with nonprofit organizations and advocacy groups throughout Connecticut will bring a wealth of first-hand knowledge and industry perspective to the position of Commissioner of the Department of Developmental Services,” said Ron Cretaro, executive director, Connecticut Association of Nonprofits, said in a prepared release.  “We are thrilled that Governor Malloy has recognized Dr. Macy’s commitment to nonprofits and persons with disabilities and has invited Macy to join his leadership team.”