SD Statewide Independent Living Council - SILC

08/25/2026

08/24/2026

What happens after an employee says, “I need something to change at work”?

That’s where the interactive process begins—and where employers often have questions.

During next week’s West Meets East: Access at Work, Moni Patterson of Monument Health will join us for Finding What Works: The Interactive Process in Practice.

We’ll talk about:

• How the interactive process begins
• The roles of the employer and employee
• Discussing workplace limitations and job responsibilities
• Considering more than one effective accommodation
• What to do when additional information is needed
• Why communication should continue after an accommodation is in place

This is practical information designed to help employers feel more prepared when an accommodation question lands on their desk.

Wednesday, August 26
9:00 a.m. MT / 10:00 a.m. CT
Virtual and free

Bring your questions—we’ll have time for Q&A.



Image: Promotional graphic for the August West Meets East: Access at Work session. The graphic features special guest Moni Patterson of Monument Health at the top, a gray map of South Dakota behind the West Meets East title, and the subtitle “Access at Work.” Photos of hosts Heidi Mecham and Vicki Stewart appear at the bottom with their organizational logos. The background is divided into dark blue and teal sections.

08/24/2026

They did it! LifeQuest's newest venture - Cottage Bend, a six unit Mircohome Village - each home is a fully equipped one bedroom, one bathroom home with a full kitchen. The homes will be fully accessible, with plans for one of the homes featuring additional accessibility. Check it Out!

Cottage Bend is a six-unit microhome village for adults with develo...

08/14/2026

https://www.keloland.com/news/local-news/lifequest-opens-micro-homes-for-independence-in-mitchell/

MITCHELL, S.D. (KELO) — LifeQuest has been part of the Mitchell Community since 1959. “We’re a nonprofit organization in Mitchell that serves people with developmental disabilities…

08/10/2026

A workplace accommodation does not always begin with a formal request or an immediate answer.

Sometimes it begins with an employee saying, “I’m having trouble with this part of my job.”

What happens next matters.
The interactive process gives employers and employees a way to talk through workplace barriers, understand what is needed, and explore reasonable solutions together.

Join us for the August West Meets East conversation as Moni Patterson of Monument Health shares practical insight into how the interactive process can work in real workplaces.

Finding What Works: The Interactive Process in Practice
Wednesday, August 26
9:00 a.m. MT / 10:00 a.m. CT
Virtual and free to attend



Image: Promotional graphic for the August West Meets East: Access at Work session. The graphic features special guest Moni Patterson of Monument Health at the top, a gray map of South Dakota behind the West Meets East title, and the subtitle “Access at Work.” Photos of hosts Heidi Mecham and Vicki Stewart appear at the bottom with their organizational logos. The background is divided into dark blue and teal sections.

08/05/2026

🤝 Strong Communities Start with Strong Connections.

Healthy communities aren't built by one organization alone—they're built by neighbors, families, schools, healthcare providers, businesses, faith communities, local leaders, and community members working together.

At the Central Prevention Resource Center, we believe prevention begins with listening. That's why we're asking people across our 15-county service area to complete our Community Needs Assessment.

Your feedback helps us:
💙 Understand community strengths
🤝 Strengthen partnerships
🌱 Guide prevention priorities
🏡 Support mental health and well-being
📈 Inform future programs, resources, and funding opportunities

If you live, work, attend school, or receive services in Buffalo, Dewey, Edmunds, Faulk, Haakon, Hand, Hughes, Hyde, Jones, Lyman, Potter, Stanley, Sully, Walworth, or Ziebach County, we'd love to hear from you.

📝 Take the survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CPRCCommSurvey

Together, we can build stronger, healthier, and more connected communities throughout central South Dakota.

If you're one of our community partners, please consider sharing this post to help us reach even more voices across our region.

08/03/2026

💙💛 Partners, we need your help! 💛💙

You know firsthand how Partners in Policymaking can change lives. Now it's your turn to help someone else begin that journey.
Year 35 applications are now open, and we're asking our incredible Partners network to help us recruit the next generation of leaders. Think about someone in your life—a self-advocate, parent, family member, friend, or coworker—who has the passion to make a difference but just needs the opportunity.
Send them the flyer, link, or both. Your recommendation could be the reason someone discovers their voice and becomes a leader in their community.
Together, let's grow the Partners family and continue building a stronger, more inclusive South Dakota.
Applications are now open for Year 35; classes start November 2026!
https://drsdlaw.org/be-an-advocate/partners-in-policymaking/

07/24/2026

Have questions about Shared Living? We're here to help! Stop by Vista Care's Shared Living Open House outside the Boys & Girls Club on July 28th. Learn about the support provided to Shared Living Providers, hear how the program changes lives, and explore whether this rewarding opportunity is right for you.

Stop by anytime during the event to meet our team and learn more about becoming a Shared Living Provider. We can't wait to meet you!

07/24/2026

Vista Care invites community members to attend a Shared Living Open House at Tripp County Library on July 29th. Discover how Shared Living empowers individuals with disabilities to live independently while building lasting connections within their communities. Meet our team, get your questions answered, and learn how you can get involved.

Stop by anytime during the event to meet our team and learn more about becoming a Shared Living Provider. We can't wait to meet you!

07/24/2026

Thirty-six years after the Americans with Disabilities Act became law, accessibility continues to evolve.

New technology, changing workplaces, and a growing understanding of disability mean there is always room to learn and improve.

The ADA established important protections, but creating truly accessible workplaces goes beyond legal compliance. It requires employers to listen, remove barriers, and recognize that accessibility benefits employees, customers, and communities alike.

Accessibility isn't a finish line.

It's an ongoing commitment to creating opportunities where everyone can succeed.



Image: Black-and-white photograph of a large gathering of disability rights advocates inside a government building. Many participants use wheelchairs and are assembled in a crowded hall while speakers and media stand nearby.