DakotAbilities

04/07/2026

Spring came early, thanks to the wonderful Jen Peterson! This talented volunteer demonstrated how to craft a charming wind-up butterfly — a simple yet magical creation that spins and flutters beautifully when released, mimicking the graceful flight of a real butterfly. It's a reminder of how much joy our volunteers bring to everything they do. We couldn't do it without you, Jen — thank you! 🦋🌿

04/03/2026

DakotAbilities Director of Nursing Marty represented our organization at the South Dakota Nurses Association 2026 Spring Workshop, serving as a panelist on the "Panel of Roles RNs Play in Our State", moderated by DakotAbilities Board Member, Deb Fischer-Clemens, BSN, MHA.

Marty was alongside school nurses from Sioux Falls districts and nurses from LifeScape and their Specialty Hospital. She shared how DakotAbilities supports adults with disabilities — including those with complex medical conditions and specialized equipment needs. Marty highlighted the pathways that bring individuals into adult services, touched on the Front Door to Supports (Dakota At Home) and Choices Waiver programs, and detailed her three core job components: Education — reaching providers, staff, people we support, families, and the broader community; Trend Monitoring — tracking changes in condition and coordinating with local providers; and Advocacy — championing the individual desires and needs of those we serve.

Together, we create a warm and welcoming community enriching the lives of those we support.

04/03/2026

04/03/2026

🎭 A few more weeks of rehearsal as we prepare to take the stage!

We're thrilled to invite you to our upcoming production of Aesop's Fables! Join us for a collection of short stories full of magic, whimsy, and beloved classical characters — the Tortoise, the Hare, the Wolf in Sheep's Clothing, and more!

📅 Thursday & Friday, April 23 & 24
⏰ 1 PM – 2 PM
📍 Longfellow Center
🎟️ Free Admission

We can't wait to share the wonder and imagination of this timeless production with you. See you there! 🎭 Theatre 605 Black Hills Playhouse

04/02/2026

We are so proud to announce our Living the Mission Award winner for March 2026 — Michelle Snelling! 🎉

Her nominator said it best: "Michelle always goes out of her way to make sure her coworkers are happy, and she is great with all the supported people. She is always willing to help out where she can. She is a joy to work with every day."

We also want to celebrate all of our March nominees: Weedor Harris, Jace Bridges, Tanner Gluhm, Michael Vigants, Akira Cleveland, and Marla Lang. Every one of you is living our mission, and we are grateful for all that you do.

Thank you, Michelle — and congratulations! 💚 Read the full nomination here: https://www.dakotabilities.org/news-events/living-the-mission-award-march-2026-winner

04/01/2026

April is National Volunteer Month, and we want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible people who show up for us — and for the people we support — each and every day.

Our volunteers bring more than just their time. They bring joy, connection, and a sense of belonging to the adults at DakotAbilities. Whether they're leading an activity, sharing a skill, or simply spending time with someone who values their company, the impact is immeasurable.

To our volunteers: thank you for helping us create a warm and welcoming community where everyone can live their best life.

Want to be part of something meaningful? We'd love to have you join our volunteer family! Learn more and get started at the link below. 👇

🔗 https://www.dakotabilities.org/get-involved/volunteer

04/01/2026

Starting in April, we have three new organizations that you can now donate towards. For every bag you bring in, we will donate 5¢ to the organization you choose. Our new organizations are American Heart Association, Children's Home Society of South Dakota, and Breakthrough T1D.

Thank you to our customers who helped raise $184.60 for DakotAbilities, $262.70 for HorsePower, and $415.20 for Feeding South Dakota!

03/31/2026

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, and as we close out this month, we want to carry its message forward. For the millions of people living with developmental disabilities, every day holds moments of incredible resilience, creativity, and joy alongside real challenges that deserve understanding, not overlooking.

This month, that understanding showed up in a beautiful way. University of South Dakota nursing students spent time at Longfellow Center, stepping into our Day Services programming and walking alongside the people we support. Watching them engage — curious, open, and eager to learn — was something special. The optimism in those halls was contagious, and the awareness they carried out the door will follow them into every corner of their careers.

Moments like that are exactly what this month is about. Awareness isn't a checkbox; it's a practice. It's built in conversations, in shared space, in choosing to show up with an open heart.

So as April begins, we're not closing the book on this. Keep showing up. Keep listening. Keep making space. The people in our community deserve nothing less — every single day of the year.

03/27/2026

🎉☕ We teamed up with POET for a morning filled with coffee, laughter, and friendly bingo competition. Days like these remind us why community partnerships matter so much!

03/26/2026

Meet Dan! He has been part of the team for 2 years and serves as an Overnight Direct Support Professional in Spring.

“The best part about working at DA is the positive atmosphere that focuses on abilities, rather than disabilities. As a staff, my answer is generally always 'Yes' and almost never 'No'. It's a can-do attitude that carries over into my personal life and inspires me to maximize my own abilities.”

Four things Dan can’t live without:
Warm summer days, warm winter vacations, books, and the people he loves.

We’re grateful for the positivity, dedication, and can-do spirit Dan brings to DakotAbilities every day.

03/25/2026

🍀 Leprechaun traps, laughter, and lots of green — our USD Nursing volunteers brought the St. Patrick's Day joy this last week! Moments like these remind us that community care goes far beyond the walls of Longfellow. Here's to the warmth of togetherness and the bright, blooming energy of spring!

03/20/2026

🎉 10 years of making a difference — and what better day to celebrate than the first day of Spring and ! 😊 This month marks a decade of dedication, growth, and purpose. Our move to Longfellow Center has doubled our space, opening even more doors for the incredible people in our Meaningful Day program. Pictured are moments of joy through incredible opportunities and connection, spanning the past decade!

Here's to 10 years of joy, community, and endless possibilities. The best is yet to come!