Our team members and management team know how important it is to respect and meet the needs of each person we support.
Our mission is to provide communities across Nebraska with viable solutions that humanize the process of providing support and provide clear paths for community integration at all levels for individuals with developmental disabilities. In order to accomplish this, Hands of Heartland has built a number of programs across our facilities that help to enable people with disabilities to experience life, employment, and independence, as well as provide benefits to families of individuals with developmental disabilities and the communities where they live. In order to understand how these programs help everyone involved, it’s important to first understand the people for whom we provide support and the challenges they face.
What is I/DD
When we talk about individuals with I/DD, we’re talking about people who have some form of intellectual or developmental disability, generally present at birth. Intellectual and developmental disabilities can affect a person’s physical, intellectual, and emotional development.
How Does I/DD Present
As a result of an intellectual or developmental disability, people may struggle to perform simple self-care activities, to understand or express themselves with language, or with mobility, learning, or living independently.
People with I/DD are often viewed as incapable of living lives full of achievement and independence. Often, this isn’t out of malice or prejudice, but rather a lack of understanding of what’s not only possible, but achievable, by people with I/DD living in supportive environments dedicated to their improvement and success. We have built a number of programs with the ultimate goal being community integration of those with I/DD under our support, and a full acceptance of the value they bring to the community.
Residential Services
Residential Services programs designed to boost independence and social skills provide opportunities and options for every level of independence and support. From Continuous Residential Services and Independent Living solutions to Supported Family and Shared Living arrangements, we have a residential services solution that will meet any support requirement.
Day Services
Day Services include habilitative day programs for both groups and individuals, skill development programs, and community integration events. Our Day Services give visitors meaningful interactions in short guided sessions, providing loved ones access to a wider range of care solutions than they might have otherwise.
Respite Services
Respite Services programs have been designed for primary caregivers to have access to short-term relief while still providing those under their care with compassionate support options without having to sacrifice their own well-being. Over time, our respite services help to strengthen the continued support the caregiver provides while exposing their oved one to opportunities they might not otherwise have access to in their daily routine.
Community Services
Community Services programs are designed to encompass a wide array of inclusive community programs at Hands of Heartland. With goals like community integration and vocational skills development, we’re especially proud of the work those we support have accomplished through the Create-Ables community arts center, where people with I/DD can work with community members and local businesses to create goods for sale.
Supported Employment
Supported Employment programs take everything the people we support have learned through their other programs that helped prepare them to enter the workforce. We work with local businesses to create community employment while providing them spaces to learn job skills and work with our professional vocational rehabilitation specialists to hone their interpersonal and tactile skills.
The Impact on The Families of People With I/DD
The sum of their intellectual and physical challenges can often make it difficult for people with I/DD to establish self-direction, live on their own, and achieve any level of economic independence. Often, when families don’t understand their options or solutions that are available, either a family member themselves will take on the role of caregiver, or the family will hire a third-party service to provide care and support. In some situations, this can be a viable long-term option, but what many families might not know is that there are alternatives.
That’s where Hands of Heartland and community providers like us operating across Nebraska come into play.
What to Expect from Hands of Heartland
Our team of experienced professionals is trained to provide the best possible support and opportunity for the I/DD communities in which we operate. You can be assured that people with I/DD who receive our services will have the assistance they require to learn the life and professional skills they need to integrate into their community. Over time, these supports provide them with a quality of life and a sense of accomplishment few other providers can match. To learn more about our developmental disability services and about our community events and programs, reach out to our team who can guide you to the resources you need.