Pathway to Employment: My Day Updates

By 7017444915 June 26, 2026
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others…” 1 Peter 4:10 At Hope Haven, we believe every person has God-given gifts to share. That belief is at the heart of the Hope Haven Ambassadors, a group of individuals served through Hope Haven’s My Day program who are learning to use their voices, share their stories, and advocate for themselves and others. The Ambassadors were formed in January 2025 after a community experience sparked a bigger conversation about inclusion, dignity, and the way individuals with disabilities are perceived. Since then, the group has been working to help change that narrative. The Ambassadors have presented to community groups, attended advocacy trainings, traveled to the Capitol, and spoken about issues that matter. Along the way, they are building confidence, developing leadership skills, and helping others understand that every person deserves to be included and respected. For Maggie, being an Ambassador is about helping her community see people with disabilities as equals. “I want individuals with disabilities to be treated as equal to everybody else,” she shared. “I want my community to know it’s okay to be different.” For Lori, the message is simple but powerful. “We are regular people who have different challenges,” she said. “I want to help my community understand that people with disabilities are not less of a person because of their disabilities.” For Octavio, advocacy means using his voice not only for himself, but also for others who may struggle to speak up for what they need. Through his experience with the Ambassadors, he has learned something important: “Our voice matters.” Programs like My Day are about so much more than daily activities. They are about friendship, confidence, purpose, community, and belonging. They create opportunities for people to discover their strengths, build relationships, serve others, and take part in the world around them. Your support helps us continue creating opportunities like the Hope Haven Ambassadors, where individuals can build confidence, share their stories, and discover the power of their voice. Your gift allows us to keep growing alongside those we serve, making an impact that lasts. If you wish to contribute, plea se CLICK HERE to donate today. Thank you for your continued support, prayers, and partnership in Hope Haven’s mission .
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Our “My Day” program (formerly known as “Day Habilitation”) is designed to enable an individual to enrich his or her life and enjoy a full range of community engagement by providing opportunities for developing enhancing and maintaining competency in personal social and community activities.

The Iowa Department of Human Services recently made an amendment to the rules governing  Day Habilitation. The purpose of this was to clarify that day habilitation services may provide a pathway to employment. The amendment clarified that activities provided through day habilitation to assist members in participating in the community developing social roles and responsibilities and increasing independence can now also  include the potential for employment. These new rules went into effect Feb 1 2021.

All staff providing My Day services will now complete additional training in adherence with the new rules. Our staff have completed training in the areas of person centered planning job readiness skills and community inclusion. Examples of  employment driven activities include: Volunteering for non profit organizations connected to potential career interests workplace visits/tours soft skill development (dressing for work social interactions at work time management) and community integration experiences to support fuller participation in community life.  

We want to continue to think work for all members participating in the My Day programs and that those having aspirations to work will be able to have that dream realized.  We strive to be an outcome focused program and that outcome supports a person to become a valued member of the community or part of a community group or leads to a volunteer opportunity or leads to employment.