With help of vaccines, programs for people with disabilities return to normal operations 'We're just glad that this day is finally here' Share Updated: 10:42 PM CDT May 10, 2021 'We're just glad that this day is finally here' Share Updated: 10:42 PM CDT May 10, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript VACCINATED MORE THAN 735,000 IN TOTAL AND THOSE GROWING VACCINATION NUMBERS ARE INSPIRING CONFIDENCE IN THE REOPENING EFFORT CREATING MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE IN NEED OF CARE AFTER MONTHS OF PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS HANDS OF HEARTLAND IS WELCOMING BACK PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES TONIGHT. WE’RE HEARING FROM NEBRASKA’S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND GETTING AN EXCLUSIVE LOOK INSIDE. INSIDE HANDS OF HEARTLAND BUDDING ARTISTS WORK ON ALL SORTS OF PROJECTS WE WANT TO WATCH HIM DO THAT REAL QUICK THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF PROGRAMMING FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES THAT INCLUDES DAY SERVICES AT THIS MAKER SPACE IN BELLEVUE. WE GO THE NOW BUSTLING FACILITY FACED. YOUR PANDEMIC CHALLENGES FROM LIMITED IN-PERSON ACCESS TO CLOSING DOWN ALTOGETHER PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS. BRETT. SAMSON SAYS THAT HAD A BIG IMPACT. THE ART SKILLS ARE GREAT. BUT REALLY IT’S ABOUT BEING AROUND PEOPLE BEING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY. I MEAN THIS LAST YEAR HAS BEEN TOUGH ON FOLKS THE ISOLATION TONY GREENE DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES DIRECTOR FOR NEBRASKA SAYS PROGRAMS FOR THE 5,000 PEOPLE. THEY SERVE WENT VIRTUAL OR WERE SIGNIFICANTLY LIMITED IN CAPACITY. WE’RE JUST GLAD THAT THIS DAY IS FINALLY YEAR THAT WE CAN START WELCOMING OUR FOLKS BACK INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND AND WITH THEIR FRIENDS BOTH GREEN AND SAMSON SAY A BIG FACTOR IN THIS SHIFT BACK TO PRE-PANDEMIC OPERATIONS IS VACCINATIONS ARE REALLY WOOD WHAT ALLOWED US TO FEEL COMFORTABLE STARTING TO OPEN BACK UP GETTING MORE CLOSE TO NORMAL AS WE CAN NEBRASKA’S HEALTH DEPARTMENT. HELPS SO THE VACCINATION RATES FOR FOLKS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES THAT WE’RE AWARE OF THAT PARTICIP. IN OUR PROGRAMMING IS ACTUALLY HIGHER THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION NUMBERS THAT WE’RE SEEING TODAY, WHICH IS REALLY GOOD. GOOD, NICOLE BELL ATTENDS DAY SERVICES AT HANDS OF HEARTLAND, AND SHE’S GOTTEN HER VACCINE KIND OF HARRISON. ED BEING STUCK AT HOME TRYING TO FIND DIFFERENT THINGS TO DO. NOT ONLY HAS NICOLE BEEN ABLE TO ENJOY IN-PERSON ACTIVITIES. THEY’VE ALL SO BEGUN TO VENTURE OUT AGAIN TO PLACES LIKE THE LEAD CENTER OR LOCAL PARKS. SHE HAS BLOSSOMED HERE. HER SELF-CONFIDENCE. WE WERE GLAD WHEN IT OPENED UP SO THAT SOME OF THEM COULD COME BACK AFTER A LONG YEAR SERVICE PROVIDERS AND FAMILIES THEM. SAY THIS MOMENT IS ONE TO CELEBRATE.