This is the OFFICIAL page of Big Lakes Developmental Center, Inc.
12/05/2025
🎙️ Tune in to the latest episode of the Within Reason podcast featuring Liz!
Attitudes toward those with intellectual and developmental disabilities are evolving positively, but new government funding guidelines may make the work harder.
Today we got to explore how Christmas is celebrated in Spain! ✨ We learned about their festive traditions and even made a delicious Spanish treat: apples with walnuts and honey! 🍎🍯
Such a sweet way to experience another culture's holiday celebration.
12/02/2025
Have you started your holiday shopping yet? 🎁 This season, every Target purchase earns you votes in the Target Circle app. 🎯✨ Use your votes to support Big Lakes Developmental Center, Inc. and help us make a bigger impact in our community. 💙
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Here's how:
Step 1: Choose 'My Target' in the Target app or 'Account' on Target.com
Step 2: Tap 'Cast votes'
Step 3: Find us & vote
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Every vote helps us make a bigger impact for the people we serve. Thank you for your continued support!
11/27/2025
Congratulations on your retirement, Lloyd! Thank you for your dedication and for making a difference every day at Big Lakes. You are truly irreplaceable and will be missed beyond words. Wishing you all the best in your well-earned retirement! 💙
11/26/2025
Happy Thanksgiving from everyone at Big Lakes! 🦃🍁
We're thankful for the amazing individuals we support, our dedicated staff who provide care around the clock, our generous donors and partners, and our supportive community. Thank you for making a difference every day!
Please note: our day services and administrative offices will be closed on November 27th and 28th.
We wish you all a safe, and happy Thanksgiving!
11/25/2025
We had so much fun last week laughing and playing Bingo with some amazing ladies at our Ladies Bingo Night!
11/22/2025
Smiles all around this week! We enjoyed some festive fun at the Sunset Zoo! 🎄❤️
11/21/2025
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been learning all about hygiene in class! 🧼🦠
We talked about important terms and facts, like what germs are, how they spread, and how to prevent them so we don't get sick.
We also learned how to keep ourselves clean and protected so we don't get ourselves and others sick (especially during flu season)!
We did an experiment where we swabbed different areas to see how many germs are on everyday surfaces. It shows many germs are on things we touch every day and why cleaning regularly is so important.
At the end of our classes, everyone was quizzed on hygiene vocabulary and had to demonstrate how to wash their hands properly in order to pass the class. It is important to stay clean and healthy! 🙌
11/14/2025
Our monthly donut runs are a 'hole' lot of fun! 🍩✨
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Contact The Practice
Send a message to Big Lakes Developmental Center, Inc.:
Big Lakes Developmental Center, Inc, established in 1973, is a private, nonprofit-organization serving individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities in Riley, Geary, Clay and Pottawatomie counties in Kansas. Big Lakes Developmental Center is supported by county mill levy and federal and state funding. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.
Our administrative offices are located in Manhattan, Kansas, where we operate an Adult Training Center along with a second Adult Training Center just 40 minutes north of Manhattan in Clay Center, Kansas. Big Lakes also owns and leases various residential homes and apartments as part of our Residential Services provided for adults age 16 and older who are developmentally disabled.
Our Mission
In the belief that Big Lakes Developmental Center was incorporated to provide services for the citizen who is developmentally disabled, our mission is “to provide quality services and programs which promote independence, productivity, integration, and inclusion into the community for persons with developmental disabilities.” We advocate the rights of individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities.
CARF Accreditation
You can be sure that Big Lakes adheres to the highest quality standards as our programs and services are accredited by the Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission (CARF). CARF is a private, nonprofit organization established in 1966, committed to upgrading and continually improving the quality of services provided to individuals with disabilities. Big Lakes holds national accreditation in Community Housing, Community Integration, Supported Living, and Organizational Employment Services. We were initially accredited in 1980.
