EPI helps people with disabilities thrive in their community.

For Eric, living with Exceptional Persons, Inc. (EPI) means more than just having a place to stay—it means having a life filled with independence, support, and purpose. “Living in community means to me… I have like a lot of support, but I also have a lot of independence,” he said. “I haven’t had that my whole life.”

EPI has been a pillar in Black Hawk County and surrounding areas since 1957, supporting people with intellectual disabilities, mental illness, and brain injuries. “We create opportunities, and we facilitate opportunity,” said Nicole Ericson, EPI’s community development director. “We believe in mutually beneficial relationships.”

One of EPI’s greatest missions is fostering a sense of belonging while helping individuals overcome barriers to independence. For Eric, that includes having his own job, friends, and future goals. “I have my full-time job with the Isle Casino in security,” he said. “I volunteer at Americans for Independent Living, and I just hang out with my friends when I can.”

The journey hasn’t been easy. “In the past I had people say that, ‘you’re never going to be able to have a normal life,” Eric shared. “I used those as stepping stones to prove that people with disabilities can and will succeed.” Today, he’s well on his way to transitioning into his own apartment. “It makes you feel really awesome,” he said. “I’m actually proud of myself and how far I’ve come.”

Nicole has seen firsthand the transformation that happens when people are given the right support. “The hardest thing to overcome is a stereotype of employing a person with a disability,” she said. “But once folks get in and they’re able to showcase themselves, it all comes together. Eric is a security guard at the Isle, which is a national organization. He is showcasing his own skills and his own abilities.”

The Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa is a partner in helping EPI support and advocate for people with disabilities. “Disability services has been chronically underfunded,” Nicole said. “But we’ve always had the partnership of the Community Foundation who has helped fill those gaps.” Since 2009, CFNEIA and its generous fundholders have granted more than $315,000 to EPI. The organization also holds a nonprofit endowment fund with CFNEIA that provides sustainable funding and allows donors to give to a trusted source that will support EPI forever. 

Serving more than 400 people in the Cedar Valley, EPI continues to change lives. “People with disabilities bring passion and inspiration and an undying dedication to succeed,” Nicole said. “When they are supported and empowered to live, work, and grow—they shine.”