Challenge disability. Create opportunity. Cultivate success.
Our Values
Service
We passionately serve individuals, our organization and our community.
Respect
We are committed to honoring individuals, ideas, actions and abilities.
Dedication
We are dedicated to empowering all individuals.
Leadership
We are leaders in providing a framework of possibilities and support.
Excellence
We are responsible, accountable and passionate in pursuit of excellence.
Stewardship
We are financial stewards of our resources; time, treasures and talent.
Celebration
We celebrate growth, accomplishments, and contributions to our community.
Teamwork
We work together in a spirit of cooperation and integrity to achieve success.
A Brief History
Udac has evolved through the years, but the organization has always had one powerful mission – to support individuals with disabilities. We are dedicated to the lifelong education and training of individuals of all abilities.
**Udac is a word and not an acronym. Udac is always spelled capital “U” small “dac.” The word “Udac” represents 50 years of support for differently-abled individuals to advance community inclusion through employment and civic life.
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Present Day
The pandemic brought many changes. Udac's 14c special-minimum wage program in assembly, mailing and document shredding closed. Navigating the new normal allowed Udac to focus on community inclusion and develop independent employment opportunities more fully. This shift in programming helps advance independence and confidence as individuals stretch to reach new levels of growth. -
2019
2019 marks the 50 Year Anniversary of Udac providing leadership for individuals with disabilities.
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2018
Joseph and Nancy Bullyan committed a $3,000,000 transformational gift to Udac in April which allowed Udac to purchase the former DBU building at 4724 Mike Colalillo Drive.
In October, we moved into the new space with renewed energy and focus on leading community integration and customized employment.
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2000s
Udac is a thriving organization that continues to build on its experience and is expanding to serve a more diverse population of people with disabilities and other challenges.
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1990s
Udac continued to expand services, allowing clients more choices in employment and activities. This included developing a mailing business, which received national recognition for its innovation in providing employment. Udac became the organization’s legal name.
Social Entrepreneurship Book
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1980s
Community integration became more and more popular, and services for people with disabilities began to move outside the confines of buildings and into communities. Udac began offering supported employment,
in which people with disabilities worked at community sites with the support of a job coach.
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1970s
Changes in federal law mandated public education for all children, regardless of the nature of their disability or severity of need. Udac celebrated this change and began focusing more on adults. Our new name: United Developmental Achievement Center of Duluth, Inc (UDAC).
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1969
United Day Activity Center was incorporated in Duluth as one of the first organizations in the state to offer out-of-home activities for children and adults with disabilities.
Leadership Team
Board of Directors
Members at Large
- Joel Kolquist, Kolquist, Seitz & Goldman, LLC., Past Board Chair
- Erin O’Hearn L'Allier, Hanger Clinic
- JC Welles, Marsh and McLennan Insurance Agency
- Jenna Warmuth, Vote Solar, Midwest Regional Director
- William Watson, Northwestern Mutual
- John Vidmar, Essentia Health, Vice President, Facilities
- Julie Visger, Flint Group
- Abhi Devireddy, Essentia Health, Infrastructure Architecture Manager
- Ronda Bliss, Anoka County Guardian
- Kim Brody, Kolquist, Seitz & Goldman, LLC.