DAKOTABILITIES

We love construction season! Great progress is being made on our new twin homes in Sioux Falls.

July marks the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. “By removing barriers, access and inclusion occurred, leading to societal changes and new generations seeing the person, not the disability. This has helped challenge stereotypes and promote a more realistic understanding of disability.” - Nathan Stallinga, Executive Director at DakotAbilities. Click here to read our full article: https://lnkd.in/gk2Qexje

Meet Marty Jolley, BSN, RN, CDDN. Marty is our Director of Nursing who joined DakotAbilities in 2019. She recently earned her credentials as a Certified Developmental Disabilities Nurse (CDDN). The designation is awarded by the Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association's Certification Committee and Board of Directors. We thank Marty for pursuing this designation, and for the compassion she shows in living our mission. Read about her recent accomplishment and the personal attributes of a Certified Developmental Disabilities Nurse on our website https://lnkd.in/gkGPrvtJ

gen·er·os·i·ty: the spirit and action of freely and frequently giving to others We thank First Bank & Trust, Minnwest Bank, Avera Health, and Vern Eide Motorcars for their recent contributions to our new twin homes. Visit our News & Events page to learn more about the support for accessible housing and why it's important for the growth of Sioux Falls. https://lnkd.in/gr6v-9BW

Congratulations to our June "Living the Mission" nominees and winner, Misty Lemburg. Thank you for demonstrating our core values in all you do for the people we support. Read Misty's full nomination on our News & Events page: https://lnkd.in/gXpSiJ4w

On July 9, we welcomed the Sioux Falls Canaries Baseball and Bluestone Federal Credit Union to DakotAbilities for coffee, donuts, and BINGO. We love our community partners who spend time with us and get to know our mission. Visit our website to read what they had to say about it. https://lnkd.in/g8_niiYe

Our local business community is the best. Landscape Garden Centers is supporting people with disabilities with a register round-up during July. Buy something nice for yourself, and give a little green to support local nonprofits. A little change goes a long way!

We thank Midcontinent for the gift from their Foundation, presented to us today by Kim Burma. Their gift will go towards the construction of two new twin homes. Accessible housing for people with disabilities is one of our top priorities as the Sioux Falls population grows in size and diversity. https://lnkd.in/gAXfnwS9

A few words come to mind here. Respect. Kindness. Thoughtfulness. It may be a little hard to see what's happening here. Sioux Falls Canaries players are holding their hats over people we support to help shield them from the rain. We had a fun night planned at Miracle Field last night, but Mother Nature had other plans. But life is in the little moments, and this is a good one.

"I work here because you said 'we want you to help us.' No one had ever said that to me before." Local businesses value people with disabilities as employees, volunteers, and customers. Read our latest blog post about the 13-year relationship of a person supported by DakotAbilities with his employer, First Dakota Title, and two other stories about our mission coming to life through community partnerships. https://lnkd.in/gtm9b62R