Pathway to Employment: My Day Updates

By 7017444915 December 23, 2025
For the entire beginning of his life, Luke lived life on the floor. We met him on our fourth distribution day in Kenya. His arrival at the site was quiet, but his story spoke volumes. Luke, 11, lives with cerebral palsy. Before he was brought to a children’s home for the disabled, he had endured years of neglect. He was tied up, unable to move around, and kept inside his home so his disability would remain hidden. When they found him, he was emaciated, in constant pain, and X-rays revealed a broken hip that had gone untreated for years. His caregiver, Don, brought Luke to our distribution site for the first wheelchair he has ever owned. Fitting his chair took more than two hours, but Luke smiled through every moment of it. He seemed to understand that his world was opening up for the first time. During the fitting, one of our team members stayed by Luke’s side, comforting him. She shared, “I spent a lot of time with him, praying and singing and just stroking the side of his face. And I think that’s one of the things that really got me, I don’t think he’s had much human contact. He would just lean into me, wanting me to keep going, and he grabbed at my hands like he didn’t want to let go.” Every wheelchair you help provide becomes a turning point - a chance for a child to sit upright for the first time, attend school, join their peers, or simply experience life beyond the walls where they were once hidden. For Luke, it meant being seen, supported, and cared for in ways he had never known. This Christmas season, you can give the gift of mobility and change a life forever. Your support ensures that the most vulnerable are not forgotten and brings dignity and hope to children who have endured far too much. Luke is not alone — children like him are waiting across the world. “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” — Matthew 25:40 You can change a life today. Every gift brings light into the darkness and gives children like Luke a future filled with possibility. Thank you for giving children like Luke, and so many others, a chance at dignity and hope. If you wish to contribute, please CLICK HERE to donate today. We are deeply grateful for your support and prayers as we continue our mission to serve and uplift those in need.
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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.