DESCRIPTORS: people with disabilities, Village Northwest Unlimited, opportunities, therapy, team work, equal approach to everyone.
SYNOPSIS: The author describes the mission, goals and services for people with disabilities provided at Village Northwest Unlimited, Sheldon, Iowa, and shows what sets this institution apart and makes it so special.

There’s nothing quite as precious as looking at a newborn.  We look and wonder, “What will they be doing in a month, a year, or even as an adult?” When a baby is born, the parents have hopes and dreams for that child. 

Hopes and dreams might change as the child grows and shows areas of strengths as well as preferences.  And what about the mom and dad who have a child who is born with a disability?  Yes!!! They have hopes and dreams as well.  They want their child to be happy, to live an independent life, and for that life to have purpose.

Village Northwest Unlimited is a place where those hopes and dreams come true. 

Over 40 years ago a physical therapist who worked with disabled children had a vision of what life might be like for some of those children as adults.  He saw a place where they could live, grow, develop and lead productive happy lives.

Village Northwest Unlimited is one of the facilities that came out of his vision.  It is home to approximately 180 people with a variety of disabilities. The main purpose is, to assist people with disabilities in pursuing their hopes and dreams and providing purpose, privacy and dignity for all people.   The Village is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ as found in Matthew 25:40, “In as much as you have done it unto the least of these brothers, you have done it unto me.”

The vision of the Village today is to build successful lives through opportunities and choices.  People can choose where they live depending on their skill level.  They can choose from a variety of jobs as well as activities.  In the residential as well as work situations, skills are taught that will help them reach their potential.  It is our desire that each individual is the very best they can be.

During the day many different health and therapy services are offered including occupational, physical, speech and language therapy, education, psychological and counseling services.  The work place also offers a large variety of jobs to meet the different skills of each individual.  Imagine someone being employed for the first time in his life and bringing home a paycheck.  This adds to the purpose and dignity of their lives.

The people we serve are encouraged to participate in activities in their communities.  They attend the circus, go out to eat, to movies, vacation, etc.  Anything you and I would like to do, they do as well.  Our job is to try to make those things possible. 

Although everything mentioned above is true, our job is much more important. I believe it is part of my job and your job to try to teach all people that it doesn’t matter what your skill level is, how beautiful or intelligent you are or even how successful.  People are valuable just because they are people.   When we place judgments on who is valuable and who deserves our time and effort, we might be missing out on some amazing opportunities.   I began working at the Village 36 years ago.  I am a little ashamed to say that when I first started, my thought was how much I could help and teach “those people.”  I was only 16 years old and little did I know, “those people” would teach me far more than I could ever teach them.  I learned compassion and appreciation for the little things.  I learned a lot about humor and how to look at situations with grace and dignity.  I learned that it is important to value life and look into the heart.  Once I learned to look inside the person and past the disability I was blessed beyond words.  Many times I have wondered who I would be had I not started working at Village Northwest Unlimited at such a young age.  The answer I have come up with is I will never know and I don’t want to.  I only know that I am better because of it.

What sets the Village apart and makes it a nationally accredited facility?    Each person served has an entire ‘team’ that works with him/her to help set goals and make decisions that will give him/her the best possible life.  The team meets a minimum of once a year to discuss progress as well as new goals to ensure that progress continues.

In each area where they are scheduled whether in education, therapy, or in the vocational or residential zones, one to three goals are set each year to help the individual reach his/her potential.  If a person starts his day in the work setting, he/she may have a goal to keep on task for a certain number of minutes without staff intervention.  In the educational setting, he/she might have a goal to increase his/her reading level, to learn to tell time, or possibly to identify coins. Residentially, we often work on skills for life such as laundry, hygiene, cooking or social skills.  We have a nursing staff that assists with medical needs and decisions for those we serve as well. 

At Village Northwest Unlimited, the whole person’s life is considered and served.   It is not a place where they go, but it is home.