Family Resources

The Anne Carlsen Center is a one-in-a-million place .... just ask any of the individuals we’ve empowered for nearly 70 years. With a rich past and a sparkling future, ACC continues to be an inspirational cornerstone in countless lives.

Read what people think about our conferences and workshops.

Can’t Doesn’t Exist
Todd Kollman
ACC Staff
This place has always been, and is top-notch at changing people’s lives. Anyone who needs a little extra help, they need to come here and see that the word ‘can’t' doesn’t exist.

Grows Into Friendships
Rene Spitzer
ACC Staff
When a business agrees to become a vocational site for a student at the Anne Carlsen Center, it receives more than a set of tasks completed. It helps the community to experience our individuals, as well as for our individuals to understand a field of work. Business places really don’t say ‘no’ ... we explain the program and they usually give it a try. From there it usually grows into a really nice friendship.

Bountiful Opportunities
Lisa Kapp
Comfort Inn Manager
The (vocational) program helps give these individuals the opportunity to go into that social setting and gives them respect and meaning. it helps them feel they are important. That is very important for anyone.

Extremely Grateful
Christine Michaelson
Parent
A support system was mobilized for our family. Because of the Center, our little boy is catching up to his peers, and starting to do many ‘typical’ activities. He is a very happy, silly, strong-willed little boy who loves life! We are extremely grateful to the Anne Carlsen Centers for the love they have shown our family.

Easy to Be Involved
R.J. Lang
Donor
With the Anne Carlsen Center, the majority of the money goes right to the needs of the students and the people who receive their extended services. That is why I like to get involved.

No Longer Lost
Missy Brademeyer
Parent
To be honest, it was all very stressful and emotional—unitl the Anne Carlsen Center got involved in our lives. (Our son) was lost. He was viewed as a ‘naughty’ child. He simply didn’t have the resources to know how to express himself. Now, he can communicate with us and his true personality is shining through.

So Many Miracles
Stephanie Warken
Parent
(My son) is a lot stronger in his lower limbs. He was crawling in January. Thanks to the Anne Carlsen Center, he conquered that milestone in just two weeks. I don’t think we’d be as far as we are—by any means—without the Center. We have seen so many miracles happen there.

New Levels
Darrell Kilzer
Parent
“We go to Jamestown now—and as we go to Perkins, or any restaurant, or to church—people, that we have no idea who they are, are saying hi to Ben and asking how he’s doing. They like him, and enjoy being around him. It is so neat for (our son) to be associated with people on that level.

There When Needed
Brandon Dickerson
Parent
If it wasn’t for the Anne Carlsen Center, I literally would have had to stay at home with (my daughter) and hire a nurse. It would have been extremely difficult to care for her and take care of her sister at the same time.

Branch Out
Sharon Maertens
Parent
Every kid at her age is expected to leave home and branch out on their own. The Anne Carlsen Center is giving (my daughter) the ability to do that, just like anyone else.

Fun Work
Jenny Maertens
Community Services Client
It is fun working right now. Oh yeah, it is really fun. I make coffee and do towels and washcloths. And I walk the dogs and lots of stuff.

Individualized Services
Laurie Skadsem
ACC Community Services
The program is individualized. We don’t say we’ll make a program only in Jamestown. We say, ‘Where do you live?'

Answered Prayers
Patty Hofmann
Parent
My prayers were answered with the (Community Services) program.

So Nice
Jennifer Schneider
Parent
Everyone was so nice. They’d take pictures of what they were doing in class (with my son) and send them home. You could just see he was so happy.

Exceptional Staff
Arlene LeCroix
Parent
The staff is exceptional. They are there for the kids. They treat Chris as an individual. They give him what he is deserving of.