DSI Together with LIFEDesigns

04/24/2026

Today, we celebrated something truly special, Jennifer’s retirement after more than 20 years with us at DSI.

Jennifer joined our office in October 2004 and has been part of our team ever since. For decades, she worked three days a week, showing up with consistency, heart, and a presence that made our workplace brighter. After the COVID 19 period, her schedule shifted, but her impact never did.

Anyone who knows Jennifer understands how remarkable she is. She is a true social butterfly, full of life and emotion, and never holding back her laughter. Her joy fills a room in a way that stays with you long after she leaves.

One of our favorite stories comes from her dad, who shared that Jennifer’s favorite job was shredding papers back when we handled it in-house. Jennifer would say goodbye to every single piece of paper as she shredded it. That small moment captures who she is, thoughtful, present, and uniquely herself in the most beautiful way.

While we will miss her deeply in the office, this is not goodbye. You can still find Jennifer shining in the community, singing and performing with the All Abilities Choir and bowling with her Special Olympics group.

Jennifer, thank you for the joy, the laughter, and the light you have brought into our lives for over two decades. You have left a mark here that will not fade.

We will miss you so much.

04/17/2026

We are so grateful to have been part of the 12th Annual Aktion Club of Options - LIFEDesigns Bloomington Indiana Talent Show yesterday! 💙

It was incredibly heartwarming to see so many familiar faces from the community come together. We were especially proud to see some of our own clients take the stage and share their talents. From singing to ventriloquism (the art of bringing a puppet to life), every performance was inspiring and full of personality.

It’s moments like these that remind us how much more there is to each person than what we see day to day. Watching individuals we know step into the spotlight and showcase talents they have been practicing at home was truly amazing.

A few members of our DSI family, including clients, staff, and loved ones, stayed after to soak it all in, and it left a lasting impression. Experiences like this reinforce something important: people with disabilities are people first, each with their own passions, talents, and unique stories. No one can be defined by a single label.

Thank you to everyone who made this event so special. Thank you SCI Kiwanis Club, Vanessa McClary, ALL Abilities Choir, Kristen King, and all of you who helped putting this event together! And we are proud to be part of Kiwanis Hoosier Division. If you missed this event this year! we are already looking forward to next year! ✨

04/10/2026

03/27/2026

We were so glad to see this from Bloomington Meals on Wheels!

Our Grant Manager, Haoxi Wang, had the opportunity to volunteer alongside the Bloomington Rotary Club to help pack meal kits for the Groceries to Go program. It was a meaningful experience to support a program that ensures families in our community have access to reliable, nutritious food.

As a proud Rotarian, Haoxi truly enjoyed being part of this effort, and we’re excited to continue building this connection. We’re looking forward to bringing some of our clients out to volunteer as well in the upcoming future, creating more opportunities for community engagement and meaningful involvement.

Thank you to Bloomington Meals on Wheels and all the volunteers who make this work possible!

We were grateful to welcome two volunteers from Bloomington Rotary today, who helped pack 100 meal kits for our Groceries to Go clients. These kits will be distributed over the next 4–5 weeks, helping ensure families have access to reliable, nutritious food.

This effort is made possible through generous grant support from the Indiana Uplands Realtor Association and Psi Iota Xi Sorority.

Pictured here, our Rotary volunteers stand in front of one of three refrigerator/freezers they helped fund in 2025—equipment that continues to expand our capacity to provide fresh and frozen items to the community.

Thank you to our partners and volunteers for making this work possible!

03/26/2026

Today’s the day! 🎉 Join us tonight at Panera Bread for our Dine & Donate :) we’d love to see you there!

We kicked things off early with a Panera lunch in the office today, and it was such a great time. Our staff came together, enjoyed some good food, and took in the beautiful weather!
If you’re out and about this evening, stop by, grab a meal, and support a great cause. Every order helps us continue serving individuals with developmental disabilities in our community. Don't forget to tell the cashier code "FUND4U" when checking out! If you are using online website or app, type code "FUND4U" in the promo code section.

See you tonight! 🥪💚

03/25/2026

We’re so glad to be able to provide a space for ALL Abilities Choir to hold their practice today. There’s something special about seeing people come together through music, sharing joy, energy, and connection in such an effortless way. Our office was full of life, laughter, and sound today, and it truly felt like a celebration. Moments like this remind us how important it is to create spaces where everyone can belong and express themselves freely. We’re here for everyone in our community, whether you’re part of our programs or just stopping by.

03/25/2026

More celebrating during National Disability Awareness Month!

03/25/2026

Our Panera Dine & Donate is happening tomorrow from 4–8 PM, and every meal helps support our clients’ YMCA access. Come grab dinner, bring a friend, and support inclusion in our community 💚 Don’t forget to use code FUND4U! (You can use this code to order all day long through the Panera App.)

03/24/2026

We are so proud of our clients performed at the Kiwanis Indiana District Mid-Year Conference as part of the ALL Abilities Choir. It truly brings us so much joy to witness our clients achieving milestones and performing what they love! 💚

Oh My Goodness! The All Abilities Choir sang one of our favorites - You’ve Got A Friend in Me! Bravo on a job well done! 🙌🙌

03/18/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Community Fun Day today. Our office was full of creativity, laughter, and some friendly competition, from co****le in the hallway to a full table of tie dye butterflies and pipe cleaner flowers in the making.

It was so special to see everyone creating, sharing, and simply enjoying time together. Moments like these are what community truly looks like.

We are incredibly grateful for the support from our community. Your presence helps create spaces where the individuals we serve feel included, valued, and connected. Thank you for being part of it and for continuing to support a more welcoming and inclusive Bloomington 💛

03/17/2026

🌿 One Day Left! Community Tour at DSI 🌿

We’re excited to welcome you tomorrow from 1:30 to 2:30 PM at our Bloomington office for our Community Tour Day. Due to the weather, we will not be hosting the outdoor parachute activity, but we still have a fun and creative afternoon planned indoors.

Join us for hands on art activities including tie dye coffee filter butterflies and pipe cleaner flower bouquets so you can bring a little piece of spring home with you. Our team has been practicing and we are excited to share these with everyone.

This event is open to the public, as well as our clients, families, and case workers who would like to spend time at our office and experience a special day program together. This is a completely free event and a great opportunity to see firsthand what you are supporting and the work we are doing for individuals with developmental disabilities in the Monroe County community.

We would truly love to see you there

03/14/2026

Since 2022, a group of our clients and staff have been voluntarily hosting a monthly lunch gathering on the second Saturday of each month. What began during the post-COVID period as a simple way to reconnect has grown into a meaningful community tradition.

Each month, some of our clients and staff come together to share food, conversation, and friendship. Over the past four years, the gathering has continued to grow, with many familiar faces returning regularly and even clients and staff from other providers joining in.

Today we hosted our March gathering at the DSI office. One of our staff members, Ellen Roth, prepared delicious BBQ chicken and beef, while others brought chips, salads, and a variety of side dishes to share. Ellen also baked a birthday cake to celebrate participants who have birthdays this month. Today we celebrated our March birthday client, Joni!

Moments like this remind us why our nonprofit exists. Supporting people with disabilities is not only about independence, but also about belonging, connection, and opportunities to build friendships in the community. 💙