Welcome to Ability Building Services...
Ability Building Services, Inc. is a non-profit community agency that provides residential services, pre-vocational and vocational training, alternative services, nursing services, service coordination, supported employment, community inclusions, and many other services needed by individuals with developmental disabilities.
Emphasis is placed on high quality services that are flexible, creative, innovative, and oriented toward practical and useful life skills. We create an environment where people with disabilities can reach their highest potential, and we're striving to make our community one in which all abilities are valued.
"The mission of Ability Building Services is to provide opportunities for enriched lives"
2011 – 2012 ABS Strategic Plan
PLAN DEVELOPMENT
ABS began the process of “Becoming a Person Centered Organization” in late 2007. Part of that initiative was to organize two groups to create organizational change. One group, made up of primarily Direct Support Staff, became known as “Coaches” group. The other group, made up of a cross section of people; Direct Support Professionals, Supervisors, Administrators, Parents/Family members, and people who receive services, became known as “Leadership”. The Leadership group met every other month with the Coaches group and had outside facilitators who worked with us to plan and carry out meaningful change within our Agency.
In September - November 2010, this Leadership Group held a series of 3 meetings with outside facilitators review recommendations from surveys, reviews, past plans, etc. and to start crafting our strategic plan. It was decided that our strategic planning goals could fit into 3 broad outcome areas. They were:
People Love Their Lives
Employees are Valued
ABS partners with Yankton to create a welcoming community
Additional workgroups were developed to create a list of some of the things we have already started doing in each of these categories. These groups were also encouraged to suggest additional actions they would recommend to enhance our plans in these areas.
In December 2010 ABS hosted a noon luncheon to gather input and ideas to further enhance our Strategic Plan. Over 50 invitations were sent to Community members, public officials, legislators, city leaders, board members, families, people served, and a cross section of ABS staff. Everyone in attendance was provided an overview of our planning process, a copy of ABS’s Mission, Vision, and Values statements, the lists of “what we are already doing” created by the workgroups, and 1 page profiles of ABS (attached). They then broke into small groups and brainstormed ideas for further actions, and prioritized the ideas.
In January 2011 workgroups consolidated all the information developed to that point and created ABS’s Strategic Plan. On January 13, 2011 this plan was reviewed and approved by ABS Board of Directors.
To read more about our Strategic Plan click here!