History

Our beginning was fairly simple...families were seeking better opportunities for their children with disabilities.

"In 1957 Exceptional Persons, Inc. was created by a few visionary people with a 'can do' attitude and a determination to make the community a better place for everyone." - William E. Brown, Executive Director, 1957-1983

The 1950's

In the 1950's there were very few services for people with disabilities, only activities that families could provide or individual organizations working with people who had a specific type of "handicap." Several local leaders were determined to have activity centers within the community for people with "handicaps."  There was no one entity to coordinate this community effort.

The Beginning

EPI was created to facilitate and coordinate the development of local activity centers, and as it turns out, a variety of other services, programs, organizations, and agencies. Before services could be developed, agreements were put into place to clarify how services would be funded. With EPI coordinating the effort, soon there were seven activity centers in the community.

The commitment, values, and ideas of many community leaders decades ago melded an organization that continues to be a moving force in the twenty-first century. The community effort was characterized by committed people with a sense of partnership and foundational values that have stood the test of time.

Through The Years
1957	May 21, 1957, EPI is officially incorporated to provide program planning, service coordination, and advocate for people with disabilities.
1957	Bill Brown named founding Executive Director
1960	EPI establishes Goodwill Industries chapter in the Cedar Valley to provide vocational skills to those with disabilities.
1961	Goodwill Industries spins off as a separate and independent agency.
1961	EPI begins transportation services for children and adults with disabilities. (Service phased out in 2020 when residential services began keeping vans on site).
1969	EPI establishes a group home for men.
1971	EPI opens a group home for women.
1972	EPI begins lending durable medical and adaptive equipment to people who do not have insurance, allowing them to stay in their own homes.
1974	EPI establishes Key 7, which later becomes Adults Care, Inc., which later becomes Adults, Inc., which is now North Star Community Services
1976	Adults, Inc. becomes a separate and independent agency.
1976	EPI starts offering Child Care Resource and Referral services.
1982	EPI begins Supported Community Living Services for people with developmental disabilities.
1983	EPI names Gary Mattson Executive Director
1983	EPI began offering a counseling program for people with mental disabilities and their families.
1983	EPI becomes the administrative agency for the Child and Adult Care Food program.
1984	EPI begins residential and counseling services for people with traumatic brain injuries.
1988	EPI begins residential and counseling services for people with both intellectual disabilities and mental illness.
1989	EPI first offers Respite services for families who have children with disabilities. (Respite services concluded in 2016).
1991	EPI begins an Early Intervention program, for families who have a child up to age three with disabilities.
1995	EPI creates CHOICE Adult Day Care (now known as Day Habilitation) and Supported Employment programs.
1998	EPI names Chris Sparks Executive Director
1998	EPI assumes the operation of Independence Haven, an organization providing services to people with mental illness.
1999	Exceptional Persons Foundation is established.
1999	EPI purchases an 8-plex on Paige Drive in Waterloo.
2000	EPI purchases three residences for use as HCBS program sites.
2001	EPI completes construction of an 8-plex providing additional housing to people with disabilities.
2002	EPI purchases an additional residence in Waterloo.
2004	EPI becomes accredited by CARF for Community Living, Respite, and Personal and Social Services.
2005	Exceptional Bargains, EPI retail store/employment training center, opens.
2005	Child Care Resource and Referral program achieved Quality Assurance in consumer education.
2006	EPI Deery Center opens and becomes the home to the CHOICE program, Children and Family Services and Community Services Children's program.
2008	Multiple Sclerosis Services decides to dissolve and EPI assumes delivery of services for persons with Multiple Sclerosis. (MS Advocacy & Counseling services concluded in 2019).
2008	EPI begins offering Payee Services to the community.
2010	Exceptional Bargains, EPI retail store/employment training center, closes.
2013	EPI's Payee Services office opens on University Avenue.
2014	EPI becomes a BlueZone designated worksite.
2015	EPI's Day Habilitation program becomes 100% community integrated - a program without walls.
2016	EPI's Pedersen, Dowie, McCausland (PDM) Center opens providing additional space for service delivery supervisory staff.
2019	EPI's Hawkeye Child Development Center - ALC opens through a partnership with Hawkeye Community College.
2022	EPI Names Katie Slade Executive Director.
2023	EPI created My Life, My Way  - a supported community living (SCL) program providing endless opportunities within the community offered during days, nights or weekends.
2023	EPI's transportation & auto repair services close.
2024	Virtual Connection Center opens to offer technology enabled service opportunities for gaining greater independence.
2024	Statewide Parent Services begin as an expansion of our CCR&R regional contract.