Ability Building Services is a private not-for-profit community agency that provides pre-vocational activities, vocational training, residential training and other supports and services as needed by people with developmental disabilities.
Emphasis is placed on high quality person centered services that are flexible, creative, innovative and oriented toward practical and useful skills.
On January 6, 1975, the program or sheltered workshop opened on West 9th Street with 9 “client workers”. The program was originally a part of the mental health center. Later the two separated and the name of the program was changed to Community Projects Unlimited.
In 1978, the program moved to 229 Broadway and became a new corporation known as the Yankton Area Adjustment Training Center. Inc. In the fall of 1978, the Yankton Area Adjustment Training Center, Inc. opened its first residential facilities at 206 E 4th and 405 Linn. In January of 1982, the program moved to its newly constructed facility at 909 West 23rd Street.
Today our new name is Ability Building Services. We provide services to approximately 140 individuals, we own eight residential facilities, and our clients rent or own at several locations around Yankton.
Our agency is governed by a local Board of Directors and is required to meet established standards in order to be certified by the State of South Dakota Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities, The South Dakota Department of Education and the Council on Quality and Leadership.
Ability Building Services Foundation exists to provide Ability Building Services, Inc. with long term financial support in regard to expenses related to helping people with disabilities live richer lives.
Our vision and values are centered around supporting people in a variety of community based settings while embracing the right of people to live as independently as possible, supported to the extent that is necessary to meet needs in a manner that uses and respects the ordinary resources in the community.
Ability Building Services makes the following documents available to the public:
Comprehensive Plan for Special Education
Ability Building Services Special Education Programs Monitoring Report
Policies and Procedures
Please contact us for more information on these documents.
Community inclusion
Providing supports in the most integrated environment possible
Person-centered supports
Promoting physical and emotional well-being
Promoting fairness, equality and justice for people with disabilities
Encouraging family involvement
Self-empowerment
Self-advocacy
Self-determination
Supporting people in a variety of community based settings.
Ability Building Services is certified by the State of South Dakota, Division of Developmental Disabilities.
Nationally accredited by the Council on Quality and Leadership.