EVERYDAY HERO

As the coordinator for the Washington County Developmental Center in Washington, Liz Van Dyk keeps busy.

She has worked for WCDC for 10 years and oversees the needs of 70 clients.

WCDC assists those with disabilities to live in the community and be productive members of Washington.

Van Dyk oversees the day habilitation and prevocational services at the main building.

The Adult Day Habilitation program provides clients with social, recreational, educational and therapeutic activities, according to the organization's website. The provocation services provide communication skill development, self care skills, work training, work or personal development and more

Her work involves annual meetings, yearly assessments, assess funding needs, learns the clients' interests and goals and organizes outings.

She also volunteers for Special Olympics and the Action Club. She is in charge of helping to organize and problem solve.

'I just assist with everything that goes on in the day, I'm very involved,” she said.

Whatever needs doing, she helps.

She said the work is rewarding. At the end of the day, she feels she made a difference.

She gets to see the individuals grow and achieve their goals. She added that people with disabilities are like everyone else just with extra challenges such as communication issues.

'They surprise me every day, I learn something every day,” she said.

She started her career at a REM Iowa in Kalona. REM provides services to adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

'I cried my first day on the job,” she said. 'All these people were making noises, and I didn't know what they needed.”

She stayed and eventually loved the job. When the opportunity to work at WCDC came, she made the change.

She said she loves helping people and it gives her satisfaction to help people.

- Caitlin Yamada