March was Developmental Disability Awareness Month, and even though the month has come and gone, the work to help those with disabilities continues. Now, more than ever, people are seeking out services that specialize in helping those with disabilities. This is due in part to greater public education on the issues, said Amber Maes, the coordinator of services at the Developmental Disabilities Center of Nebraska (DDCN).
“This is where a majority of the intense programming happens – group home and SLP. This is where we establish a baseline of where they need help and what little details we need to work on for them to be able to get through a day without assaulting someone, or breaking something, or yelling, or cussing, or screaming,” Amber said.
In addition to group homes, individuals can learn technical skills at the DDCN like carpentry to help them find jobs in the community. A fully functional woodshop is available for individuals to learn carpentry skills to build just about anything, from birdhouses to bookcases.
Those who participate in the workshop can then sell their creations in the adjacent store. Wendy Briley, the vocational coordinator of services at DDCN said she hopes programs like these, along with community engagement, will lead to greater public understanding.
“You don’t know their past, you know, and people who just automatically want to judge someone based on how they look – because someone may be blind or look different – they can still accomplish the same things as you and I,” Wendy said.
Both Amber and Wendy said they encourage people to ask questions, be supportive and stay open-minded.
Through other business connections, DDCN helps find long-term employment for those with disabilities.
According to the CDC, around 22% of adults in Nebraska struggle with some form of disability.
