South Dakota - Prairie Freedom Center for Independent Living

301 South Garfield Avenue, No. 9
Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57104

Ms. Navessa Dean
Program Director

Tel: (605) 367-5630
TTY: (605) 367-5630
Fax: (605) 367-5639

Organizational Profile:

Full-time Staff: 0
Part-time Staff: 4
Volunteer Hours:
Projected Total 2007
Income: $21,653
(including in-kind contributions)
Direct Participants: 255
Indirect Participants: 0

Staff interacting with adults with disabilities

The mission of Prairie Freedom Center for Independent Living is to empower individuals with disabilities who choose to live independently. Providing independent living-related information and referral services for South Dakotans with disabilities, Prairie Freedom Center for Independent Living’s programs include a training on living independently; consumer advocacy information on accessing support services; community living services; and attendant service programs.

Programming Partners and Other Funders:

Prairie Freedom Center for Independent Living; Children’s Home Society; Oscar Howe Native American Art Institute through the University of South Dakota; Western Resources for dis-Abled Independence

State Programs

Educational Programs and Artist Residencies

ArtWinds Program

The goal of learning through the arts is to encourage children with disabilities and other at-risk youth to develop self-expression through activities such as performance and media arts projects under the direction of professional artists.

Professional Development and Technical Assistance

Artist Residency-Employment Training through the Arts

The Prairie Freedom Center for Independent Living recognizes that the arts have the potential to assist individuals with disabilities as they develop a greater capacity to express themselves, explore, discover, and make decisions. Participation in creative arts activities can develop problem solving skills and new ways to communicate needs and desires. Increased social skills, self-awareness, and self-esteem help individuals maintain a more positive attitude about themselves, their work, their co-workers, and their employer. The Prairie Freedom Center for Independent Living provides a five-day residency to an artist.