More Than a Month: How DakotAbilities Lives Developmental Disabilities Awareness Every Day

Every March, Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month invites communities to reflect on inclusion — but for DakotAbilities and the more than 135 adults we support in Sioux Falls, awareness isn't confined to a calendar. It's lived every day, in every home, program, and interaction. First proclaimed in 1987, the month shines a light on the barriers people with developmental disabilities face and the contributions they make, and reminds us that about one in six Americans lives with a developmental disability. These are our neighbors, coworkers, and friends.

A Meaningful Day Looks Different for Everyone

Take Stephen. Every morning when he arrives at his job at the GreatLIFE at Avera McKennan Fitness Center, he pulls out the task checklist he built for himself and gets to work. He cleans the facility, chats with members, and, by his own words, puts in his best effort every single day. "Having this job makes me feel a lot happier," Stephen has said. "Every day, I put in my best effort at work, and it makes me feel good about myself."

Stephen is one of the people supported by DakotAbilities through its Meaningful Day Services program, and his story is a quiet but powerful illustration of what this month is really about. Not charity. Not a limitation. Contribution, connection, and the simple dignity of a job well done.

A Foundation Built on Dignity

DakotAbilities was built on a simple belief: everyone deserves a meaningful day and the opportunity to live their best life. Six core values anchor everything they do — dignity and respect, relationships, celebration of accomplishments, authentic compassion, excellence, and advocacy that impacts change. These values are visible in everything we do. From the way our staff shows up each day, to the stories we share on social media of people we support who bring humor, talent, and big goals to every room they walk into. Behind each of those people stands something just as powerful: a network of friends, family, community supporters, and advocates who believe in them. A Sunday concert at Levitt at the Falls, hands in the soil of a community garden, the notes of the South Dakota Symphony filling a room — these are the moments where belonging stops being a word and starts being a life.

Day Services: Pathways to Community

Through day services at Longfellow Center and across Sioux Falls, DakotAbilities offers activities tailored to each person's personality, goals, and abilities. From swimming at Midco Aquatic Center and Miracle League Baseball to volunteering at The Foster Closet and performing with 605Theatre. These aren't activities to fill time. They're pathways to belonging.

Inclusion isn't a single grand gesture — it's thousands of small decisions by organizations and neighbors to welcome and celebrate people of all abilities.

Building Homes — and Community

True inclusion starts at home. In March 2025, we opened new twin homes, achieving a long-standing goal of giving every person in our care a private bedroom. In July 2025, we broke ground on a second set of twin homes for adults with complex medical needs, replacing an aging 1980s facility. The new homes feature private bedrooms with lifts, en suite bathrooms, whirlpool therapy tubs, dedicated office space for the 24/7 nursing staff, and wide hallways for wheelchairs.

For families, this kind of investment means everything. Heather Powell, whose two siblings are supported by us, put it simply: "As they prepare to transition into their new homes, it's another testament to DakotAbilities' dedication to adapting and meeting the evolving needs of those they serve." When people with disabilities live as neighbors — not apart from the community — awareness follows naturally.

How You Can Get Involved

Building an inclusive community takes all of us, and it doesn't happen by accident. This March, here are three meaningful ways you can show up and make your impact felt:

Give. From a single gift to a monthly commitment, every contribution fuels the programs, homes, and care that make meaningful, dignified lives possible.

Volunteer. Share your time and talents to enrich the lives of the adults DakotAbilities supports.

Advocate. Speak up for accessible spaces, equitable opportunities, and policies that honor every person's dignity.

The people DakotAbilities supports aren't waiting for one month of recognition. They're volunteering in the community, growing gardens, making music, and building friendships — every single day. When we choose to meet them there, our whole community becomes more welcoming, vibrant, and inclusive.