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By: Hollie Hojek hhojek@kcautv.com Kaitlyn Bourn is spending her Memorial Day Weekend making a splash at AquaVenutre water park in Norfolk, Nebraska. "You just play around here, you play in the waterMore>> AquaVenture Water Park Opens Up in Norfolk, Nebraska. More>> By: Hollie Hojek hhojek@kcautv.com For the 3rd Memorial Day Weekend in a row, the Girls of '68 celebrated and shared part of Sioux City's rich history. The local organization dedicated to keeping SiouxMore>> Girls of '68 Share Story of Sioux City's First White Settler, Theodiphile Bruguier. More>> By: Diana Johnsen djohnsen@kcautv.com On Saturday, at Wal-Mart and the Southern Hills Mall in Sioux City, the Sioux City Police Department helped parents create "children identification kits". TheMore>> On Saturday, at Wal-Mart and the Southern Hills Mall in Sioux City, the Sioux City Police Department helped parents create "children identification kits". More>> By: Diana Johnsen djohnsen@kcautv.com On your mark…get set...paddle! About 130 kayakers took to the Missouri River in the "3rd Annual South Dakota Kayak Challenge" on Saturday. "It's an opportunityMore>> About 130 kayakers took to the Missouri River in the "3rd Annual South Dakota Kayak Challenge" on Saturday.More>> By: Hollie Hojek hhojek@kcautv.com Rain, rain go away, come back and other weekend but this one. The rain in the forecast isn't ruining everyone's plan, but it is keeping some campers away. The sunMore>> Siouxland Campgrounds Still Packing in the People Despite Poor Weekend WeatherMore>> By: Tim Seaman tseaman@kcautv.com On Thursday, a pretty cool relay put on by law enforcement officers from across the state ran through central Iowa for the Special Olympics Torch Run. The event helpsMore>> When the torch arrived Sioux City West sophomore JJ Reeg–Beckner had the honor of igniting the Special Olympic cauldron. Reeg-Beckner was selected from more than 2,500 athletes to finish the run.More>> By: Channel 9 Eyewitness News (AP) About 110,300 South Dakotans are expected to travel over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, a slight decline from last year. AAA says that mirrors an expected dropMore>> About 110,300 South Dakotans are expected to travel over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, a slight decline from last year.More>> By: Channel 9 Eyewitness News (AP) Nebraska students showed improvement in this year's statewide writing proficiency test. Nebraska Education Commissioner Roger Breed announced Friday that 66 percentMore>> Nebraska students showed improvement in this year's statewide writing proficiency test.
Nebraska Education Commissioner Roger Breed announced Friday that 66 percent of 8th graders met or exceeded state standards, a 2 percent increase over the previous year.More>> By Channel 9 Eyewitness News news@kcautv.com Iowa investigators say the discovery of blood of a missing 15-year-old girl has diminished hope of finding her alive. Bill Kietzman of the Iowa DivisionMore>> 15-year old Kathlynn Shepard went missing on Monday.More>> By: Scott Larson slarson@kcautv.com How comfortable do you feel strolling the streets in Sioux City? That's a question that the Blue Zones Project is asking. And today they brought in an expert toMore>> Walkable and Livable Communities Institute's Dan Burden assists Sioux City & Blue Zones Project with working out more pedestrian friendly roads.More>>
By: Tim Seaman
tseaman@kcautv.com
Communication is a cornerstone of society. Maintaining that link is a daily focus for workers at Mid–Step Services Courage Homes.
"There really isn't any other way for them to decide or understand how or what they want to be doing or what they need to do," says Jeremy Dumkrieger of Mid-Step Courage Homes. "These instruments are very important for us," he adds.
About 70 clients with varying degrees of intellectual and physical disability reside at Courage Homes. Touch-to-talk tools are one example of the kinds of adaptive equipment supported by Variety the Children's Charity.
Dumkrieger says, "They can tell when they want to go to their room."
Modified writing and eating devices as well as specially fitted wheelchairs also help keep clients connected.
"Adaptive equipment devices allow this person to, who would otherwise be at the subject of a care giver to have a voice to communicate their desires and needs," says Jack Ellis, Administrator at Courage Homes.
"These are made of space age materials. Very expensive. When I first started it was a carpenter working with a physical therapist and occupational therapist," says Ellis.
Enabling others while adapting to change. A mission you can help complete.
"On a daily basis we try and teach them how to be independent and have their own sense of freedom that they can makes choices on their own," says Dumkrieger. "It takes gradual steps to try and effect the environment and to understand how to act with in it."
Ellis adds, "They're things that can open up a world that would be closed otherwise."
