Harrisburg Disability Awareness Commission

08/25/2026

We are excited to partner with Harrisburg Community Library and bring back another AAC Storytime!

Monday, September 28th at 6 pm.

Storytime at the library will be back starting Tuesday, September 22 at 10:15am! Join us for stories, songs, and crafts.

Storytimes are free and open to children and their caregivers. No registration is required.

Our Fall Storytimes will be...
- Tues, Sept 22 at 10:15 am
- Mon, Sept 28 at 6 pm (special AAC storytime with the Harrisburg Disability Awareness Commission!)
- Tues, Sept 29 at 10:15 am
- Tues, Oct 6 at 10:15 am
- Tues, Oct 13 at 10:15 am
- Tues, Oct 20 at 10:15 am
- Tues, Oct 27 at 10:15 am

08/19/2026

“The Sensory Friendly Experience will be held on Wednesday, September 2 from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm.

Another inclusive element that is coming to the South Dakota State Fair is the Momentum Refresh mobile restroom and universal changing station. The ADA-compliant unit includes a height-adjustable adult changing table, a lift system, and ample space for caregivers, all with professional staff to ensure clean and dignified access for everyone.”

We love to see these great inclusive opportunities in South Dakota!

08/15/2026

Check out this new addition to Zion National Park!
How cool!

We’re excited to announce the launch of a new all-terrain wheelchair lending program designed to expand trail access for visitors with disabilities, mobility challenges, or injuries. Thanks to the generous support of the Zion Forever Project, Zion now has an Extreme Motus all-terrain wheelchair available for free check-out!

Visitors interested in the program can come to the Zion Canyon Visitor Center to rent the Extreme Motus for the day. The chair is available on a first-come, first-served basis; we don’t take reservations.

For more information about the program, visit our website at go.nps.gov/motus

NPS Photo

07/27/2026

PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS! 🤩

✨ We’re Growing… and We Need YOU! ☕💙

Something exciting is happening at Yakkity Yak Coffee Shack!

Our foundation is growing, and with that growth comes the opportunity to create even more meaningful programs, employment opportunities, and community connections for people of all abilities. We have some fun and exciting things in the works, but we can’t do it without an incredible team of volunteers who believe in our mission.

We’re looking for passionate people to join us in one of these volunteer roles:

🎉 Event Team Member
Help plan, organize, and work events throughout the year. If you love bringing people together and making events memorable, we’d love to have you!

🤝 Impact Ambassador
Be the voice of our mission in the community. Help build relationships with local businesses, sponsors, and donors to expand opportunities and create lasting impact for individuals of all abilities.

☕ Crew Companion
Become part of our Brew Crew family! Learn the ins and outs of the coffee shop while supporting our amazing employees during their shifts. We’re looking for someone who is patient, encouraging, easygoing, and isn’t afraid to be a little goofy—bonus points if you love making fun reels and videos!

📝 Grant Research & Writing
Help us find funding opportunities and work alongside our team to research and write grants that will allow us to grow our programs and serve even more people.

No matter your background or experience, if you have a heart for inclusion and want to be part of something that’s making a real difference in our community, we’d love to connect with you.

💙 Join us as we continue changing our community—one cup of coffee at a time.

Interested? Send us a message or stop by the coffee shop to learn more!

07/27/2026

3️⃣6️⃣

07/09/2026

July is ADA Anniversary Month.

Before 1990, there was no legal guarantee that a person using a wheelchair could enter a building through the front door. No requirement that a job interview couldn't be denied because of a disability. No promise that a child with a disability would be welcomed in the same classroom as their peers.

On July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act changed that. It didn't just add ramps and curb cuts — it said, in law, that people with disabilities belong. In the workplace. In school. On the bus. At the ballot box. In every part of public life.

Thirty-six years later, we can see the ADA's fingerprints everywhere: accessible entrances, captioned television, sign language interpreters, reasonable accommodations at work, service animals welcomed in public spaces.

But the ADA was never the finish line. It was the floor, not the ceiling. Attitudes take longer to change than laws, and true belonging is still a work in progress in many places.

This month, Dakotabilities is taking time to reflect on the barriers that have come down, the people who fought to bring the ADA into being, and the work that's still ours to do together.

To everyone who has lived through the "before" and the "after": thank you for leading the way. Check out this ADA resource to learn more: https://adata.org/ada-timeline

04/20/2026

What a fun way to kick off National Library Week!

04/14/2026

Check out all these activities next week!

Monday we will partner with the library the host a sensory friendly build event.

04/10/2026

The Harrisburg High School Unified Chapter will be participating in the South Dakota Special Olympics Polar Plunge on Saturday, April 18th.

Use the link below to support them. 50% of funds will stay with our local high school chapter.

I'm excited to take the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics South Dakota. This organization's mission of inclusion is important to us, and I'm proud to help them make a difference. Please support us by giving to our page. Every dollar counts! Thank you.