Brightside: Dove Pointe
WICOMICO COUNTY, Md.- On this week’s edition of the Brightside, brought to you in part by Choptank Electric, we’re headed to Dove Pointe in Salisbury to see how they help those who can’t always help themselves.
Included not Isolated
From Rotary Club meetings to grand weddings, Dove Pointe is an organization that serves the community. Executive Director Don Hackett says out of all the things they do, what’s most important is keeping those who’ve been isolated, included. “Folks with disabilities should be included, should be a part of our community.”
He goes on to say, “We have 37 residential homes that we operate here in Salisbury, and of course, they’re 24-hour operations, where we have staff around the clock in each of those homes. Most of them come to the day program here for meaningful day services, and others are scheduled for employment opportunities.”
Life Experiences, Life’s Work
Be it children or senior citizens, they help roughly over 200 people daily in 3 different counties. They opened in 1968 in a vacant elementary school, and over the years have grown to the facility you see today. Don says his life experiences shaped his life’s work
“We had developmental disabilities in our family when I was growing up. It made a lasting impression on me, and obviously affected my career choice as an adult…. With our family member, we wanted him to very much be a part of the local community, whether that be going to the local church and greeting people as a greeter at the door as he became older.”
Don’t Downplay Disabilities
Integration and interaction is Important, and Don says there’s no reason to downplay those with disabilities. “When you visit Dove Pointe, we can go into an area where you’ll be able to clearly observe the level of abilities. Their ambulatory; they’re able to assemble crafts, put things together, make things that they enjoy. And we can walk throughout the building and see folks that require total care, still requiring a level of dignity and respect, and having a meaningful day when they come here.”
Don wanted to leave the community with something to keep in mind. “All of us have abilities, all of us have strengths, and if you come here, right away you’ll identify with people who’ll give you a big smile and clearly relate to you. People can express themselves in many different ways other than just verbally.
Dove Pointe is on Mount Herman Road in Salisbury and if you would like to contact with them, feel free to call (410) 341-4472. Don says they will continue to look on the Brightside of life.
