Our Bylaws

1. Mission Statement

   Connecticut AHEAD is a statewide organization of professionals committed to full participation in higher education for qualified individuals with disabilities. The Association is a vital resource, promoting excellence through education, communication, and training.

   The objectives of this organization are:

   1. To develop communication, cooperation, and coordination among institutions of higher education on issues relating to individuals with disabilities;
   2. To promote public awareness of the needs and issues of individuals with disabilities;
   3. To support institutions in balancing academic integrity with academic accommodations;
   4. To work with other professionals, public and private agencies and consumers to promote institutional and statewide initiatives to meet the educational needs of individuals with disabilities;
   5. To collaborate with secondary schools and employers to facilitate transition to and from postsecondary education and public and private businesses;
   6. To provide professional development for Association members and other professionals working within this field;
   7. To promote and support policies (e.g., admission, staffing, and accommodations) which increase access and opportunity in higher education for individuals with disabilities; and,
   8. To promote systematic data collection to gather information across institutions for enhancing knowledge and awareness of factors relating to postsecondary education for individuals with disabilities.
    

2. Membership

   Regular membership in Connecticut AHEAD will be limited to professionals in the field with at least one meeting per year open to invited guests and interested individuals.

    

3. Organizational Structure

   The organization shall consist of a membership and a Steering Committee.

   The Steering Committee is composed of the four officers and at least two at-large members. The Steering Committee acts as the nominating committee and shall designate the four officers and the at-large members at the annual meeting. The Steering Committee is responsible for making decisions regarding the direction and focus the association will take.

   The At-Large Members attend all Steering Committee meetings and perform all other assignments as determined by the Steering Committee.

   The four officers and their respective responsibilities shall be as follows:

    
   President
   • Supervises the conduct of the organization’s business and activities;
   • Serves, ex-officio, on all committees;
   • Presides at meetings;
   • Serves a minimum of one year; and,
   • Serves, ex-officio, in the year following his/her final year as President.
    
   Vice-President:
   • Acts in place of the President when necessary and presides at meetings when the President temporarily vacates the chair. In the absence of the President, the Vice-President can not change rules, or fill vacancies required to be filled by the President and does not serve as an ex-officio member of committees;
   • Upon the death, retirement, or completion of term of the President, assumes all the duties and privileges of the President, unless the Bylaws provide another method of filling the vacancy;
   • Assists the President in the work of his/her office and performs other duties as determined by the President.
    
   Secretary:
   • Is the recording officer;
   • Handles correspondence;
   • Issues notices of meetings;
   • Informs those elected or appointed to office or committees; and,
   • Receives and files Committee report.
    
   Treasurer:
   • Receives funds;
   • Deposits funds in a CT AHEAD bank account; and
   • Pays bills for all authorized expenses.
    

4. Association Meetings
   • There shall be a minimum of three (3) meetings per year (Fall, Winter, Spring), with additional meetings as necessary, to be decided by the Steering Committee;
   • At least one meeting per year may be open to invited guests;
   • The last meeting of the year will be the annual meeting at which the formal business of the organization shall be conducted and passed by a simple majority of the members present; and
   • The membership year runs from September 1 to August 31.
    

5. Membership Dues
   • Membership dues will be $100.00 for institutional membership and $50.00 for individual membership;
   • Institutional memberships are limited to a maximum of three individuals;
   • Dues can be changed by a simple majority of members in attendance at the yearly meeting; and
   • Dues will be made to the Association, c/o the Treasurer.
    
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