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About Us Connections In the mid-1970's, parents in Linn County who had adult sons and daughters with developmental disabilities looked to the future with serious concerns. The local community had a growing variety of specialized programs, but residential services, such as small group homes, were few in number. Those that did exist were already full and had long waiting lists of people wanting to live there. Four local Knights of Columbus councils had been participating in a national project to raise funds for people with disabilities through an annual "Tootsie Roll Fund Drive". The effort was very successful in Linn County, raising thousands of dollars each year. The desire was to use these funds to meet the needs of local people with disabilities. Representatives from the Knights of Columbus decided to meet with members of the local Association for Retarded Citizens (The ARC) chapter to find an answer. Parents at The ARC were very clear: their #1 priority was the creation of more community-based housing for adults with developmental disabilities. In 1977, The Knights of Columbus formed a non-profit organization called Discovery Village (which would one day be renamed Discovery Living, Inc.) to meet this need. On December 1, 1981, Discovery Living opened its first 8-person group home. The cook's bedroom, in historic Brucemore Manor, acted as an office for the 2-3 person administrative staff. Over the next 7 years, four more homes were built and opened. Also, a supervised apartment living program was initiated for those who needed less support services. In this short time, more than 45 people with intellectual disabilities were being served at Discovery Living. By the late 1980's, the Iowa Department of Human Services began to promote the development of smaller-scale living units of 3-5 persons. Over the next several years, Discovery Living opened several of these homes. Community acceptance was very good, as people with intellectual disabilities took their place alongside their neighbors. The fabric of the community was becoming more diverse. People with disabilities were enjoying richer lives, filled with new experiences. At the same time, the broader community began to understand the abilities and contributions made by people with disabilities. In 1993, Discovery Living undertook a major redesign of its residential services. That year the organization began a three-year process of converting to the "Supported Community Living" program under Medicaid's Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver. The major feature of this new program was the requirement that homes be downsized so not more than 3-5 persons live in each home. There were also philosophical changes that promoted more individual choices by those receiving services. As a result, many Discovery Living residents moved to new locations with fewer housemates. Today, Discovery Living serves over 140 people in over 40 locations. Every person served by Discovery Living has an intellectual disability, and most have other conditions such as autism, cerebral palsy, visual or hearing limitations and/or multiple disabilities. The organization employs 200 staff, most of whom provide direct support for the residents when they are at home. Despite ongoing funding challenges, the future for Discovery Living looks bright. Over the years it has kept its focus on providing high-quality residential support services to men and women who have various intellectual disabilities. Another area of focus has been modifying houses, vehicles, and equipment to meet age-related challenges. The ultimate goal is to enable people served to enjoy lives that are filled with meaning, worth, dignity and respect. In so doing, they can be recognized as valuable members of the community in which they live. Giving Employee Click here for an update regarding current state legislation and managed care information. Winston Jamison Team Michelle Coder Angela Wright Bob Hebl Executive Director Contact Us Melinda Collingwood Associate Director of Planning & Training Coming Soon! Mary Hand George Carpenter Director of Finance Carol Saddoris Director of Residential Services Tammy Vangen Jen Johnson ADMINISTRATION Brooke Kriegel Director of Human Resources Linda Christiansen Office Clerk COORDINATORS Laura Lerch Casey Wells Cathy Mahan Administrative Assistant Kim Larimer Health Services Coordinator Monica Ravn Member Advocate Amanda Tomlinson Lynette Vozenilek Finance/HR Assistant Guiding News People with disabilities should receive the support they need to live in local communities. ♦ It is not enough to just live in the community. Our goal is to assist each person served to be an active member of the community. ♦ Every person has the capacity to learn and develop, regardless of the nature of his/her disabilities. Our job is to enhance this development through the acquisition of skills that are needed to live successfully in the community. ♦ People with disabilities will receive support services in the setting(s) of their choice, to the greatest extent possible. ♦ Support services will enhance the dignity, worth, and respect of people served. ♦ Reasonable support services will be provided according to the principle of normalization, defined as: "Making available to people with disabilities, patterns and conditions of everyday life which are as close as possible to the norms and patterns of the mainstream of society." ♦ Individual support services will be driven by personal goals and developed by an interdisciplinary team. This team consists of the person with a disability, his/her family members, a case manager, Discovery Living employees, supplemental service providers, and other stakeholders. ♦ Services will be based upon the goals and objectives set forth in the written Essential Lifestyle Plan (ELP). ♦ Services shall be planned and implemented with priority being given to the health, safety, and personal security of the person served. ♦ We encourage the development of interdependent relationships that will result in a natural support system for the men and women we serve. ♦ Our employees show respect to the people they serve. Their job is to come along side each person to offer support, training, and encouragement. Matter Leon Bohn Information Services Coordinator Stephanie Orozco Director of Planning & Training Management Krista Sigel We are the culmination of our experiences. A life is built on the events that shape us and help us discover who we are - what we have, and sometimes what we need. As we get to know ourselves, on this journey, we begin to dream, gather supports, and plan for what our future could be. We surround ourselves with people we love - who we hope will help us to become better people. Our friends. Our family. Our caregivers. We, at Discovery Living, are honored and grateful that so many paths have led so many to us, and we couldn’t be prouder of the accomplishments our members have made. throughout the years. Principles Kim Carr Finance Assistant Tom Auterman • Dan Banyas • Anne Cunningham • Denis Duppong • Jeff Gibney • William Knapp • Terry Moran • Leigh Murdoch • Scott Olson • Ralph Savoy • Mike Stallman • Frank Varvaris • Karen Volz Our Stories Board of Directors President James Nelson Vice President Craig Clark Secretary Pat Schmitt Treasurer Dianna Young Lauri Becker Employment Support Matters It takes a well-crafted network of competence, compassion and commitment to support the goals of any organization driven to make a change for the better. If you're interested in becoming a part of ours, we'd love to hear from you! You can stop by our office during business hours (M-F 8:30a-4:30p) to fill out an application, or simply complete and submit the online form via the link below. Apply Today! Think you may have something special to offer Discovery Living? Why not apply right now? We are pleased to make available, for your convenience, o...