DETROIT LAKES — The Becker County Development Results Center (DAC) is about to undergo a major renovation. The exterior of the building will be further spruced up and eight raised garden beds will be installed. The interior is also being renovated. Thanks to generous donations from area businesses and local residents, a large sensory room is being built.
DAC Executive Director Sarah Hill said they feel blessed to be able to benefit from such a generous community.
Each day, DAC serves approximately 37 adult clients with developmental disabilities, which does not include clients receiving employment services or residential care from Becker County programs.
Many of the customers are from Becker County, but others are from Polk, Mahnomen and Clay. The facility has approximately 17 employees, including management, who help customers set goals and provide support and encouragement to succeed.
DAC's goal is to provide clients with opportunities to develop skills and friendships. This raised garden bed project ticks both boxes and was the brainchild of Maddie Blahat, her senior at Detroit Lakes High School.
Blahut thought the DAC's appearance needed a little more work. She also heard that she had a goal of providing gardening skills to her clients.
A few years ago, Blahat was invited to a community garden by a mentor. She learned how to plant seeds, harvest crops, and can food. Brahut said her career goal is to study aerospace engineering at the University of North Dakota, but when she wants to find peace of mind, gardening is her go-to.
Blahat decided to answer the call to provide a flowerbed to DAC while still fulfilling his graduation requirements.
DAC Executive Director Sarah Hill stands in the new sensory room at the Becker County Development Results Center, which is undergoing renovations.
Barbie Porter / Detroit Lakes Tribune
Fourth-year students must complete a so-called capstone project in order to graduate. This project challenges students to identify a problem in their community, conduct research, and take a course of action.
“It (the garden bed) is going to make a difference for everyone here,” Blahat said. “That means more positive energy for our employees, our clients, everyone.”
Hill said DAC's next big fundraising effort will be to provide four-season gardens to its customers. She explained that the concept is to allow clients to garden in one of her locations and taste and smell the fruits of their labor in flower beds in another garden.
“When Maddie (Brahut) came to me with her capstone (project) and was talking about building garden beds, I couldn't have been happier,” Hill said. . “We are so grateful to Maddie for choosing us for her capstone.”
Blahat plans to remove the stone floor between the walkways leading to the entrance before installing a 12-square-foot ADA-compliant garden bed. She explained that the rocks may prevent some customers from accessing flower beds in their gardens.
Blahat is not tackling this project alone. In addition to our DAC clients, we welcome community volunteers to join us in this effort.
“People who can't volunteer can also donate,” Blahat said.
Your $250 donation will go to sponsoring a raised garden bed. A plate with the donor's name (or company name) will be placed on the front of the garden box.
If you are interested in donating, please contact Hill at (218) 844-9964 or email Sarah@beckercountydac.org.
Developing new sensory and desensitizing chambers for DAC
Multisensory rooms are not a new concept for DAC. In 2013, one such room was built with bubbling water columns and waterbeds surrounded by cushioned mats.
“In February of this year, we held a fundraiser to provide the funds needed for a major renovation of our sensory room,” Hill said, adding that local businesses sponsored the fundraiser and donated about 30 items. He pointed out that a raffle was drawn and food was provided. “With donations from the community and our own fundraising efforts, we raised $18,000.”
The DAC Board then decided to add $12,000 to the effort.
“I cried,” Hill said. “To have the community come out and support us so much. I was literally speechless.”
The former sensory room has been repurposed into the Calm Zone. Use the room's projector to provide ocean, animal, and nature scenes. A highly cushioned mat provides a place to relax and regroup.
“We’re also going to have sensory chairs,” she said. “For some clients, the sense of touch is very important, so they can sit and repeat that feel or touch (to reduce sensory overload).”
The sensory area has been moved to a much larger space.
“This room is going to be the opposite of calming,” Hill said. “It's going to use their senses.”
She pointed to the wall and explained that practical games would be set up to develop various skills. She points to another area and says a floor mat that lights up when you step on it goes there.
“The goal is to target one sense at a time,” Hill said.
“By stepping on the piano mat, they're using their gross motor skills,” Hill says. “But at the same time, they're also making music. It shows that different parts of their brains are working together.”
