DICKINSON — The North Dakota Association for the Disabled (NDAD) has been serving individuals with disabilities since 1975. The goal of the non-profit organization is to help people with the financial burdens that come when dealing with health challenges, so people can live life to the fullest and focus on their health. Whether that is medication, vehicle modification, home accessibility or adaptive recreation, NDAD is there to help.
Last year, the organization opened up an office in Dickinson, N.D., which is the sixth location for the NDAD, with the other five locations in Williston, Minot, Bismarck, Grand Forks and Fargo. The reason for opening another office was to make traveling easier for those that are in need in the surrounding Dickinson area.
The Dickinson office will serve 10 counties in the surrounding Dickinson area: Golden Valley, Billings, Dunn, Stark, Slope, Hettinger, Bowman, Adams, Grant and Sioux.
“We know that for people in more rural areas, it's more difficult traveling to different areas of the state and if we had an office there, it might be a little bit easier for people to access our services. So we thought the growth in that area of the state was the right thing to do,” NDAD Marketing Director DeAnn Burckhard said. “Having more people see who we are, and the difference that we're able to make and the financial help that we're able to provide people, and making it so it's closer for them and making it so it's easier to get access to the services that they might need.”
While the organization is always willing to help those in need, Burckhard says that the NDAD serves as a “last resort” for people in need. Even though the word “disabled” is in the abbreviation for NDAD, the services that they provide are not just for people with disabilities. It’s for anyone with health challenges.
“We offer direct financial assistance for things like medical equipment and supplies, prescription medications, out of town medical travel, if people have those needs, we can help provide assistance with gas and lodging assistance,” Burckhard said. “As long as people have used all their other resources, and have gone through insurances, governmental programs, different things like that, we help them make sure that they've got access to all of their other services first before they can use us.”
Burckhard has had personal experience with NDAD, having borrowed medical equipment for herself and also equipment for her mother. A graduate of the University of North Dakota in 2003, Burckhard studied communications and then worked in the local health system in Grand Forks for the past 15 years. However, she missed being involved in marketing, and saw that NDAD had an open position for a marketing director.
“I get the opportunity to visit with a lot of different clients and just hear their stories. I've had clients that have said that they don't need to choose between their groceries and their prescriptions. They can afford to do them both because we're able to help them with it,” Burckhard said. “I always had this passion for wanting to help people, and that is a really cool thing that I've noticed with every single person that works at NDAD. We're a very eclectic group of people all with the same vision and goal in mind, and that is to make sure that people are able to live the most fulfilled lives.”
One of the best events that NDAD hosts is the annual “Escape to the Lake,” at Nelson Lake Recreation Area in Center, N.D. For the past 28 years, the Escape to the Lake provides people with physical disabilities from all ages to water ski and enjoy a summer day on the lake. The 29th edition of Escape to the Lake will take place on Saturday, Jun. 21 and it’s expected to be bigger than last year.
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“It was the most exhilarating event I've ever been part of. And when I worked for the health system, I got to be part of a lot of really cool things and saw a lot of really cool procedures happen and make a big difference in people's lives,” Burckhard said. “It has really grown from just a handful of people to really making a difference in the lives of about 50 different families. And then it just goes from there. When you leave a day filled with having so much fun, it just extends beyond what you can even believe.”
NDAD has played a huge role in the growth of adaptive recreation in the state of North Dakota. They are currently offering a recreation grant, which gives organizations up to $5,000 to help support their own adaptive recreation opportunities. Adaptive sports provide people the ability to play sports despite their physical hindrances.
“To watch someone who has been bound to a wheelchair get to go in the water and ski, it's incredible. I'm able to walk on two legs and do everything every day,” Burckhard said. “For the people that don't have that ability, they get to enjoy a day at the lake. And they get to overcome those physical barriers and experience the excitement of water sports. It’s really powerful.”
With an office now in Dickinson, Burckhard is hoping that Dickinson residents in need of support will go to NDAD for help.
“We are continually growing. … There's that opportunity to touch 800,000 lives, so it's definitely continued growth and making a difference,” Burckhard said.
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