History of DSNWK

The Northwest Kansas ARC begin plans for a center serving the counties of Graham, Norton, Sheridan, Rooks and Phillips. Also, a group primarily made of special needs educators met to form the West Central Kansas Council for Exceptional Children. It was accepted by the national council on “applicant status” with 51 charter members representing 32 cities.

Later, the Human Development Programs, Inc. organization officially forms with three goals: First, identify all the persons with developmental disabilities in the northwest one-fourth of KS; second, examine and list all services currently available for these individuals; and last, determine what other services and opportunities can be made available. The feasibility study that came from this was known as “Project 22” because it represented 22 counties.

Nearly 400 persons from northwest KS concerned with doing something about special needs attend a three-day conference in Hays to find answers to the question “Where do we go from here?”

First public mention that Hays might be the site for a vocational rehabilitation center came Aug. 26 at a Chamber of Commerce governmental affairs committee breakfast meeting.

The official planning for the Homer B. Reed Adjustment and Training Center begins with its opening location to be the old ROTC barracks (now the Hays Area Children’s Center) across the street from Lewis Field on the Ft. Hays State University campus.

The Homer B. Reed ATC opens its doors on Feb. 5, serving six clients on a training program of five half-days per week. Later, hours will extend to five full days and be able to aid 30 individuals at a time.

More than 200 persons attend a meeting in Hays explaining the purpose of the center.

The Homer B. Reed ATC was one of the first workshops serving people with developmental and intellectual disabilities in Kansas and one of 40 in the U.S.

The Kobler Center for the Handicapped in Hill City (originally located at N. 5th St.) is donated Dr. Carl and Mrs. Elma Kobler and begins by serving four adults and four preschoolers. (It’s not be until 1973 when the Kobler Center merges to be part of DSNWK).

The Homer B. Reed ATC grew to serve 25 people, and housing was available for both men and women.

• 1. • Project Director for the Adjustment and Training Center and FHSU faculty member Dr. John D. King said that much credit for getting the project started was due to Clem Hammerschmidt, immediate past president of the Homer B. Reed ARC, and to the people in that organization. Also to be commended for his work is Wayne Miller, vice president of the Homer B. Reed ARC (now the Central Plains ARC).

The Homer B. Reed ATC receives tax dollar support from the Ellis County Commission -- Norton County follows suit.

Robert E. Smith is hired as executive director and negotiates a contract with the state of Kansas beginning the utilization of federal dollars through Title XVI.

Board members authorize the purchase of a renovated facility at 317 W. 13th St., Hays, and soon 60 people are receiving services out of Hays.

Planning begins for the establishment of a center serving the counties of Cheyenne, Rawlins, Decatur, Sherman, Thomas, Sheridan, Wallace, Logan and Gove. The plan is for the new center to be an affiliate of Homer B. Reed ATC.

Prairie Developmental Center in Atwood opens with the capacity to serve 35-40 adults from the 9-county area.

Homer B. Reed ATC grows at a phenomenal rate. Six group homes and one apartment are added and the center increases from serving 45 to 80 people.

Dane G. Hansen Foundation donates $27,500 in the form of a matching grant (for a hopeful total of $55K) to help establish and expand vocational services throughout northwest KS. Raising the donations is needed to secure the approximate $220K in federal vocational funds.

Kid-Link early intervention services begins for children birth to six years in eight counties.

The organization is renamed to “Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas, Inc.” to reflect the 18 counties served.

In February, the Kobler Center relocates with the support of Casey Jones to his building at 419 Pomeroy, Hill City.  

Preschoolers in 11 counties begin services under a cooperative agreement between DSNWK and the Northwest Kansas Educational Service Center. Known as Project PEEP (Parent Education-Early Prevention), the program was developed to meet the special educational needs of children in rural northwest Kansas.

The Title XX funds available to DSNWK and other Kansas programs get cut substantially. The first wave of a reduction greater than $400,000 results in approximately 50 staff position layoffs. Future cuts and losses lead to management restructuring and staff realignment.

Operation LINK, a program that assists with independent living, begins as a branch of DSNWK by providing services in nine counties. Operation Link (known now as Link, Inc.) is one of the first independent living projects in the country and the first in a rural setting in mid-western U.S.

DSNWK initiates the Shadow Training Program as a model of integrated employment.

Project Lifestyle is initiated, which is an innovative model of small group homes capitalizing on the strengths of the family and the learning process.

May 18, 1981 was the groundbreaking for the new Kobler Center for the Handicapped and May 2, 1982 was the official dedication for the building at 100 W. McFarland, Hill City.

DSNWK now serves 116 adults in the day service program and 103 adults in the residential program. 

New administrative offices, and a textile manufacturing plant open in Hays.

Jim Blume is named President of DSNWK.

DSNWK receives a grant for its supported employment program through the Job Training and Partnership Act of 1982.

DSNWK's long range goal to address the needs of individuals served who are aging results in the development of a Life Management Program.

DSNWK expands Deaf Services with the hiring of a certified interpreter.

Approval of the Community Development Block Grant helps establish LINK offices.

With Norton State Hospital closing, DSNWK opens three 6-bed homes, and the Frontier Developmental Center in Norton.

In Russell, DSNWK opens three 6-bed homes and the Pioneer Developmental Center.

In-home Family Support services are now available allowing for a new creative and flexible way to support persons with disabilities and their families from home.

The College For Living program launches, which teaches personal and social adjustment skills.

Expansion continues as DSNWK opens an office in Oakley and the Wheatland Developmental Center in Colby.

Operation LINK separates from DSNWK. This included separate financial records and personnel administration.

DSNWK moves its Administrative Offices from 660 Commerce Pkwy to 2703 Hall St. in Hays.

DSNWK opens an office in Hoxie.

In keeping with provisions of the Developmental Disabilities Reform Act, the Kansas Department of SRS designates DSNWK as the Community Developmental Disability Organization (CDDO) for all of the 18 counties of northwest Kansas. DSNWK works with other affiliate agencies in the area to ensure quality services that are cost effective and easy to access.

A Community Development Block Grant allows DSNWK to renovate and expand Kobler Developmental Center in Hill City.

A one million dollar renovation project of Reed Developmental Center is completed with help from a Community Development Block Grant.

The Business of My Own program is established. This program helps persons served in establishing their own business.

Two new specialized homes in Hays are started -- a medically fragile home to better meet the needs of those with more severe medical challenges and a home in the country to better serve the needs of people with behavioral issues.

Due to expansion, growth and the diversified population of people seeking employment, DSNWK brands its employment program as Employment Connections.

A transit facility opens in Hays housing 10 public transportation vehicles, including the Access vans, Caravan and Health Express shuttles.

Gerard L. Michaud is named DSNWK President/CEO.

Kid-Link relocates and remodels offices at 509 Main St. in Stockton with contributions from "Make A Difference Day" project.

Due to funding cuts, DSNWK eliminates and reduces services at several locations. Wheatland Developmental Center in Colby closes. Individuals receiving services in Colby are offered the opportunity to receive services in Atwood. DSNWK consolidates group homes raising most to maximum capacity and closes a group home in Hays. Other eliminations included the closing of a ceramics shop in Atwood and DSNWK's Customer Connection system.

DSNWK opens the doors to Esther's Place in Hays, a group living arrangement built for DSNWK through the support of Vaughn McMurtrie in the memory of his late wife Esther.

Due to funding cuts, DSNWK eliminates Agency Directed Supported Home Care and closes the office in Oakley. Individuals receiving services in Oakley are offered services in other DSNWK locations.

DSNWK opens the doors to Our Place in Norton. Our Place is a renovated group living arrangement for six individuals and was made possible through a grant from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation.

DSNWK celebrated its 50th anniversary on September 29th.  The event included a dance, balloon launch, group photo, open house at Reed Developmental Center and ribbon cutting by the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce.

DSNWK secures large Dane G. Hansen grant to support renovations in group homes, the Frontier Developmental Center in Norton, and Administrative offices in Hays.

COVID-19, the Coronvirus, contributed to many challenges for DSNWK.  DSNWK’s day centers were closed for much of the year with individuals served staying in their homes so that everyone could stay as safe as possible through the pandemic.

DSNWK introduced a new logo and slogan “Live with Purpose.”  The new logo  symbolizes love and compassion, central to DSNWK’s mission driven work. It also creates brand consistency for all DSNWK our programs and services.

DSNWK opened Custom Creations at 1107 Main Street in Hays.   The downtown store is used for learning, collaborating and developing talent, as well as sharing the creations of persons served.

DSNWK began its Shared Living program.  This is a nationally recognized model for residential services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This newly-opened Shared Living model is an individualized Family style form of residential services.