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Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska, Inc.
Our Services

Developmental Disability Services

Embracing Differences & Creating Opportunities

How We Can Help

Goodwill employees work with individuals to help them acquire, improve and retain the skills needed to be as independent as possible. Services provided help people living with an intellectual or developmental disability use their strengths and talents to accomplish their goals, achieve greater independence, learn to make choices and participate in and contribute to their community.

Our Programs

Group exercise, book club, shopping, going out to eat, and doing things that are important to you, all while feeling safe and comfortable

Day Support

Services primarily take place in a non-residential setting operated by Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska. Teaching includes activities to build skills which includes, but is not limited to:

  • gross motor skills, including grasping, stacking, or transferring items
  • fine motor skills, including picking up small objects, holding small items, or using a keyboard
  • attention to task
  • improving physical abilities, such as sitting in a chair or standing for an extended period of time to complete a task
  • following one to two-step instructions
  • general social skills or self-help skills

Community Integration

Services primarily take place in the community in a non-residential setting. Teaching includes, but is not limited to:

  • supporting an individual to join and participate in a community group, church group, book club, card club, or a fishing club
  • how to go shopping, attending a concert, going out to eat, or attending a sporting event
  • how to join and participate in volunteer activities, such as an animal shelter or Meals on Wheels
  • navigating the community by using public transportation or riding a bike

Person-Centered Planning

  • We support person-centered planning. We support individuals to be the center of their planning for their life, their services, and their goals. We focus on what individuals want and support them to create a plan that meets their needs. We support an approach to services that empower individuals to plan their life, advocate for themselves, and reach their goals.

Small Group Vocational Support

These services are intended to help individuals learn skills that lead to competitive employment in the community. Skills include, but are not limited to:

  • career exploration
  • job seeking skills
  • interview skills
  • workplace communication skills
  • on-the-job safety skills
  • understanding workplace expectations
  • workplace problem solving skills & strategies

Supported Employment (Individual & Follow Along)

These services are intended to teach skills that support employed individuals in maintaining competitive employment. Skills include, but are not limited to:

  • job coaching to learn and maintain job tasks
  • developing job accommodations
  • following workplace expectations
  • getting along with co-workers
  • communicating with supervisors
  • problem-solving
  • self-advocacy

If you or you know someone that would be interested learning more about our Supported Employment program, contact Tamara Snider at (308) 455-7571 to discuss service options.

Independent Living & Supportive Family Living

  • Independent Living services primarily take place in the individual’s private home.
  • Supported Family Living services primarily take place in the individual’s private family home.

Services offer habilitative teaching which includes, but is not limited to:

  • supporting an individual with skills for personal hygiene
  • laundry & household chores
  • meal preparation
  • activities in the community
  • social & leisure skills

Shared Living

Services offer continuous habilitative teaching to an individual in a private home with an independent contractor, teaching the individual skills related to living independently and community integration. Teaching includes, but is not limited to, supporting an individual with skills for:

  • personal hygiene
  • laundry & household chores
  • meal preparation
  • activities in the community
  • social & leisure skills.

Respite

Services offer non-habilitative assistance to an individual providing temporary relief for the individual’s usual caregiver. This includes, but is not limited to assistance with:

  • provision of medication
  • supervision for activities at home or in the community.
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Goodwill helped 130 people in 2023 with our Developmental Disability Services.

Sarah & Paul

Success Story

Sarah & Paul Learn New Skills

Paul and Sarah live with Down syndrome and receive Goodwill’s residential services. On a Thursday night, you can find Paul and Sarah and their Goodwill Direct Support Professional experiencing something that most of us take for granted – preparing a meal. Together, Paul, Sarah and their support professional plan a meal, shop for ingredients at the grocery store and make the meal in one of their homes. Because of your gift of support, you give Paul and Sarah the opportunity to experience the joy of increased independence.

Our Locations

Grand Island

Grand Island

(308) 384-7896

1804 S Eddy St
Grand Island, NE 68801

Kearney

Kearney

(308) 455-1400

4009 6th Ave, Suite 42 & 45
Kearney, NE 68845

Hastings

Hastings

(402) 463-1467

835 S Burlington Ave, Suite 110 & 112
Hastings, NE 68901

Referral Information


If you or someone you know would like to get more information on the steps to enroll in our services, please contact our Director – Developmental Disability Services listed below.

Laura Schenk

Director, Developmental Disability Services

402-984-2566

External Resources

Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
Caring.com
Nebraska VR
The Arc of Nebraska
Special Olympics Nebraska
Chariots 4 Hope
Journey of Hope - The Ability Experience
Nebraska Association of Service Providers

State of Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health certifies that Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska, Inc. meets the provisions of Title 404 NAC, Community-Based Services for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities.

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