We will be holding a Time Capsule Ceremony at the Mosaic Centennial Festival on June 28, 2013.

This will contain items related to Mosaic's history and will be opened on February 19, 2038, our 125th anniversary.

Your Invitation to Participate

If you are interested, we invite you to send a note, photos or keepsake items that fit in a #10 business envelope to:

Mosaic Centennial Time Capsule
attn: Brenda Solomon
4980 S. 118th Street
Omaha, NE 68137-2200

Agencies wishing to solicit participation from your local communities may do so and send envelopes together from your agency. Please connect with Davina Leezer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 402.896.3884 x31149 if you have any questions.

Or, you are welcome to submit your envelope at one of the following Centennial celebration events:

• Home Day at Mosaic in Beatrice - June 7, 2013
• Centennial Festival at Mosaic in Axtell - June 28, 2013
• Centennial Gala at Mutual of Omaha Dome - October 24, 2013

For the past six years Mosaic's “Disability for a Day” program has been teaching young children in western Iowa about disabilities, adaptability and inclusion.

Mary Morgan, Staff Development Manager for Mosaic in Western Iowa, leads the program every year in March during National Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Morgan shared the program is usually conducted with seventh and eighth graders, depending on how big the class is. This year 17 of the fourth and fifth graders at St. Rose of Lima Catholic School in Denison, Iowa participated.

On March 8 students took turns wearing knee braces, walking with a walker and using a wheelchair. Others experienced being blind by having bandages taped over their eyes or wore ear plugs to experience being deaf. Some students had a hand taped so they could only use one and two students had to go half a day without talking. Students also helped each other, learning what is like to depend on another person and helping a person with a disability.

At the end of the day Morgan led a discussion on inclusion and invited the students to write an essay about the topic and their experiences from the day. “The essay contest is my favorite part because we really get to see some deep feelings about what they experienced and learned,” said Morgan. “Some say they want to now help others in their family or friends who have disabilities. Some are surprised by what they learned. Some say they will never make fun of others who have disabilities again.”

Essay contest 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners receive gift certificates from area businesses in the amounts of $75, $50 and $25. Here are some excerpts from the winning essays:

 
1st Place

“I think disability for a day was a good experience for us. I learned that you shouldn't be sorry for anyone with a disability because they don't want you to. They don't because they want to be treated the same, because they are. … Everyone is the same in gods eyes, so lets keep it that way.”

2nd Place

“I learned a lot in disability day. Now I know how disabled people feel. Now I know how my aunt feels when she asks me to get her something and I don't want to because I am busy with something. Now I am going to help my Aunt and other disabiled people. I'm also gana try to be there for disabiled people or more like by telling people not to laugh at disabled people or by helping them if someone is hurting them.”

3rd Place
“I learned that it can be difficult to have a walker a knee brace. I also learned that if you see a person with a walker or knee brace or even both you can include them because their not any different from you. It can also be difficult for them to get something so help them out, and don’t treat them any different than people without disabilities.”

View photo and story by the Denison Bulletin Review.

Have you seen our latest film Perfect Day yet?

For over 100 years Mosaic has been providing a life of possibilities for people with intellectual disabilities. At the core of this mission is the belief that every person deserves the opportunity to live each day with purpose and the way they choose to. Mosaic helps make that happen so that every person we serve is able to describe their perfect day.

This video titled Perfect Day shares our mission through the eyes and voices of the people we serve.

You can view the film here.

Over the past few weeks Mosaic has been a center of attention in the media due to the efforts of agencies sharing our story with local newspapers, magazines and broadcast stations! You can view a listing of many of them here.