Voices and choices: DakotAbilities reflects on the past, acts for the future

This piece is sponsored by DakotAbilities.

As the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act approaches, DakotAbilities reflects on the progress made and the promise still ahead for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Founded in 1965, DakotAbilities is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. What began as United Cerebral Palsy, a small organization driven by parents and concerned citizens committed to serving people with cerebral palsy, has grown in both scope and impact, evolving to support adults with a wide range of abilities as they build lives of dignity, autonomy and connection.

The passage of the ADA in 1990 was a major turning point, not just in law but in mindset. And yet, as executive director Nathan Stallinga reminds us: “Thirty-five years isn’t that long ago. When the ADA passed, people with disabilities were still being denied basic rights such as access to buildings, jobs and even visibility. It’s a reminder that rights can’t be taken for granted, and progress is never finished.”

‘I want a life, not a service’

That mindset guides DakotAbilities’ work today, especially as a new generation of young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities grows up expecting more.

“People today, along with their families, seek not just support and services but opportunity,” said Joe Dvorak, director of day services and a 35-year veteran of the organization. “Our role is to create responsive programs that align with their evolving goals, offering tools, training and trusted relationships that build confidence and independence to help people define and pursue their goals.”

Having grown up with the protections of the ADA and access to special education, today’s young adults with disabilities know they have choices. They’re envisioning futures that go beyond basic supports, seeking purpose, independence and belonging, aspiring to:

• Live in a home that feels comfortable and personal, knowing support staff is on hand for safety and assistance as a familiar and integral part of their home life.
• Have a job they enjoy, where they can learn new skills, earn money and feel proud of what they do.
• Keep learning after high school through classes and activities that match their interests.
• Make friends, be part of their faith community, volunteer and enjoy hobbies and local events.
• Use phones, tablets or computers to stay in touch with others, communicate and do things on their own.

To address changing expectations, DakotAbilities created a new role in 2024: education and support manager. Heather Craig now leads expanded and enhanced programming, building partnerships with universities, nonprofits and experts in financial literacy, job readiness and digital safety.

In collaboration with Lutheran Social Services, the Better Business Bureau, vocational rehabilitation counselors and others, Craig’s work already has added new curriculum areas such as online safety and fraud prevention, personal finance and further development of employment skills.

Investing in accessible housing

At the same time, DakotAbilities is responding to Sioux Falls’ growing need for high-quality, accessible housing. The organization now owns 17 homes throughout Minnehaha County, each designed with residents’ specific needs in mind. Wide doorways, zero-entry showers, therapeutic whirlpool tubs, safety lifts and durable finishes ensure that each home balances safety, comfort and independence.

All homes are fully staffed around the clock, providing 24/7 assistance in a setting that looks and feels like a real home, not an institution.

This month, DakotAbilities broke ground on two new twin homes in northwest Sioux Falls. Designed for individuals with complex medical needs, these homes will replace a 16-person group residence built in the 1980s. “Back then, that was the standard,” Stallinga said. “But we’ve learned so much since then. Smaller homes with personalized care promote better quality of life and longer life too.”

Looking ahead

As the ADA turns 35, DakotAbilities remains focused on the voices of those it serves.

“A number of our folks are nonverbal,” Stallinga said, “but that doesn’t mean they don’t have something to say. We look for ways to make sure people are heard.”

Listening and acting is at the heart of DakotAbilities’ mission. And while much has changed since its beginnings in 1965, the future of people with disabilities will depend on continuing to elevate self-advocacy, choice and inclusion.

Because everyone deserves not just a service but a life.