Ability Building Center History

In 1956, at the recommendation of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on the Handicapped and a small group of citizens from rochester, a committee was formed to identify the needs of people with disabilities in the area. They found the need for employment in a safe supportive environment to be a top priority. In those days, many people with disabilities had either never worked or had not worked for a considerable amount of time. After several months of planning by the committee, Ability Building Center (ABC) Incorporated, a non profit organization, opened its doors in the basement of the Samaritan Bethany Nursing Home. On January 4, 1957, with three employees, ABC began assembling 50,000 souvenir tom-tom drums for LeRoy Shane Company.

Within the next 10 years ABC made several moves and expansions as they continually added employees, jobs and services. ABC finally settled into its current location, 1911 14th Street NW, in 1979 and again found the need for additional space by the late 80’s.

Program and Expansion Histories

In 1980, Woodland Industries, a satellite of ABC, opened in Houston County. Twenty-five years later Woodland Industries continues to provide vocational services to people with disabilities in several rural SE Minnesota communities.

The 90’s marked a time for program additions and transitions. Ability Building Center programs took to the community, moving away from the main site. VDS (Vocational Development Services) moved out of the main ABC building to their office space in the DeWitz Plaza. This move created a comfortable atmosphere for new participants being served by ABC. Additional needs sprang up and ABC responded. Ability Enterprises (AE) opened its doors in the 1500 building in NW Rochester in 1991, serving people interested in working but with a higher level of need for support. AE later moved to the main ABC building, filling in the space previously utilized by the Vocational Development Services Department.

PACTT (People Achieving Change Through Technology), once a single entity located in cramped quarters at the Rochester Community and Technical College, was adopted by ABC in 1995 and moved to a location on Elton Hills Drive.

Abilities Unlimited opened their Adult Day Program for people with brain injuries to three participants in the fall of 1996. Originally located at 1240 4th Street SW, AU utilized local businesses, public transportation and peer supports to offer participants natural learning experiences. Now located in the main ABC building, AU serves 70 participants in their Day Program and Independent Living Skills Program combined.

In the summer of 2001 ABC made yet another expansion and added ABC Works to the list of programs and services available throughout SE Minnesota. ABC Works has two locations, LaCrescent and Caledonia, and offers employment opportunities as well as social, recreational, communication and therapy supports.