Stevens County Developmental Achievement Center

Sarah stays very busy in her community work assignments through the DAC. Sarah cleans at several local businesses including the university café, the senior community center, and the nursing home.

Her favorite job is working at the university because of the relaxed atmosphere and friendly people. She also performs work assignments onsite at the DAC in the Retail Crafts Department.

Sarah enjoys being a part of the DAC and says that her job coach, Pat, “understands my disability and works with me on my goals.” DAC staff have described Sarah as being a good worker, creative, prompt, and versatile. She demonstrates patience with co-workers who struggle with a greater level of disability than she does. Sarah says staff at the DAC are “easy to talk to” and that “[they] encourage me in my strengths.”

Sarah feels that being a client at the DAC has benefited her personally and professionally. Through job coaching and her work assignments, “my work ethic has improved.”

Sarah says, “[Staff at the DAC] are easy to talk to. [They] encourage me in my strengths.”

Sarah enjoys her family and likes to spend part of her earnings on her nieces. When she is not working, Sarah enjoys cross-stitching, bike rides and participating in a local fund-raising event (Relay for Life).

DaNan is a very pleasant individual who has many interests and goals.  She currently works at the DAC in Retail Crafts, sanding and painting wood products for resale and chipping scrap wood for use in the DAC fire starters. DaNan also enjoys vacuuming at the DAC as part of the janitorial training program.

DaNan says that the DAC staff is very supportive and encourages her to achieve her goals.  She likes the Program Director, John, because “he is a good listener and he likes the Minnesota Twins.”  Susan, who supervises the paper route delivery, states that DaNan demonstrates good organizational skills.  “She counts the number of papers each client needs to deliver and hands them to clients for delivery,” says Susan.

Staff members who work with DaNan claim she has great hand-eye coordination and is a very versatile worker. She gets along well with co-workers and is always prompt.

“She counts the number of papers each client needs to deliver and hands them to clients for delivery.”

DaNan loves to travel and is excited about visiting her sister in a neighboring state. She participates in Special Olympics and has won awards in swimming and bowling, and says she would “love to win a trophy.”

Mel has been a DAC client since the early 1990s. Onsite Mel works in the DAC dining room, clearing tables and mopping the dining room floor.  In the workshop Mel bags and weighs corn.

Offsite Mel works at the nursing home, collecting, filling and delivering water pitchers to residents.

Mel visits each room at the nursing home and asks residents if they want fresh water and removes empty water pitchers.  Then he fills clean pitchers with ice and fresh water and delivers them to the residents.

“Mel is consistent and works independently. He is good about reporting hours and any changes from work sites that staff or other crews may need to know.”

He is good at remembering residents’ names and really enjoys interacting with them and keeping track of the water schedule.

Pat, a DAC job coach, says, “Mel is consistent and works independently. He is good about reporting hours and any changes from work sites that staff or other crews may need to know.”
Lorna, who cooks at the DAC and supervises Mel’s work in the dining room says that he is dependable and takes directions well. Other DAC Staff who work with Mel say that he is upbeat, stays on task and is willing to ask questions.

Mel enjoys the staff at the DAC and likes working to earn money to go to camp or on trips.  He also enjoys buying new clothes.  Mel participates in the DAC Fitness Program at the University of Minnesota Regional Fitness Center.  His favorite is the exercise bike.

Lynn is a very versatile worker. She most enjoys working in the Retail Crafts Department at the DAC because she likes sanding and painting wood crafts for sales throughout the year. She also enjoys cleaning at the DAC.

In the community, Lynn works at the senior community center doing janitorial work.

Lynn credits the DAC job coaches with helping her to be more assertive and to express herself in a healthy way. She reports that she has improved her social skills and overcome much of her shyness. Lynn says, “The DAC staff encourage me to do my best, and even when I hit a rut or experience a lack of confidence they know how to push gently to get me back on track. They are good at preparing me for the work world.”

DAC job coaches consider Lynn to be a “dedicated worker, responsible, consistent, and punctual.” Lynn states that because of her work at the DAC she has experienced increased fine motor control, increased strength and coordination.

“The DAC staff encourage me to do my best, and even when I hit a rut or experience a lack of confidence they know how to push gently to get me back on track. They are good at preparing me for the work world.”

Lynn likes to volunteer in the community as well. She participates in the Mobile Blood Drive for the Red Cross through a local women’s group and at her church working with crafts for young children or as a chaperone for youth group activities. In her spare time, Lynn enjoys reading, singing and doing craft projects.

DAC staff describe Nancy as an “eager worker.”

Nancy does the interior cleaning in the Car Detailing Department and her supervisor, Dave, calls her a “meticulous inside cleaner.” Nancy loves her detailing work because “customers are so happy when they see their cars clean.”

Nancy also works on the paper route and in the workshop shredding confidential documents.  She especially likes the paper route because she enjoys seeing friends along the way.  Susan, who supervises the paper route, says that Nancy really “wants to work.”

Nancy loves her [car] detailing work because “customers are so happy when they see their cars clean.”

When they used to do a larger route, “Nancy would organize all the labels by address.” Nancy says that Susan has “helped me to be more independent. She is patient and kind.”  “So is Kvatum,” says Nancy, referring to the former DAC Executive Director, who recently retired in December, 2014.

Nancy attributes the DAC staff with “helping me to learn new skills.”  DAC staff “guide and help me,” Nancy says.  “I call them if I have a problem or a question.”

Nancy has made several friends at the DAC.  One special friend, Michael, shares her love of the Minnesota Twins and they “get together and watch the Twins’ games on the weekend.”

Nancy actively volunteers at her church, and enjoys going to the dinner theatre with DAC friends and staff.  Nancy also likes to bowl during her time off from work.