Deb | New Directions, Inc.

Building and Maintaining Relationships

New Directions, Inc. recognizes that unpaid relationships are fundamental in a fulfilling life and have positive impacts to the physical and mental health of a person. As such, we assist and encourage people to build and maintain personal relationships. When people we serve are connected to a community, they are recognized for their strengths and can make positive contributions.

We talk about people's strengths and where those strengths would be appreciated. We talk about about people's interests and how they can connect with others over those interests. We talk about how we can bring community into the lives of the people we serve. As a guide, we use Dr. Angela Amado's Workbook, "Friends: Connecting People with Disabilities and Community Members" published by the University of Minnesota's Research and Training Center on Community Living.

We have helped people connect through various different groups and organizations. Here are just some examples:

various churches and church groups
pickle ball groups
puzzle meet ups
drum circles
sports teams
music cafés
VFW socials
anime groups
walking and hiking groups
Boy Scouts
Community Education classes

Covid-19: Updates

Deb Sherman

Program Director

What is it about your work that energizes and inspires you?

Seeing the smiles on the faces of people we serve when they get to do something they've been dreaming of doing. Watching their lives change in a way that makes sense to them. Getting a call from two people I serve on a regular basis asking to go out eat.

What’s your favorite tradition?

I call each of my family members on their birthdays and sing Happy Birthday

to them.

What’s your idea of perfect weekend?

Spending the entire weekend at the Wisconsin Dells at the wave pool with all my grandchildren would be my perfect idea of a perfect weekend!

How did you get into this field?

In 1992, I needed a part time job to help raise 4 children as a single parent. I knew nothing of the field and was scared to death. I immediately fell in love with the people I serve and then worked my way into a full-time job. I left what I thought was a “prestigious” job and wage and never looked back!

Ross Kigner

CEO

Deb Sherman

Program Director

Jana Guggisberg

Program Director

Melissa Burke

Program Director

In-home, Access Housing,

ILS and SILS

Karen Holt

Director of Corporate Compliance

Residential Openings

Kim Rhein

Director of Human Resources and Finance

Laurie Kigner

Leadership Team Member-at-Large

Simone LaBonté

Advocate of Person Centered Strategies

Carrie Tjaden

Recruiting and Training Coordinator