Our Staff Making Positive Impressions Without Even Trying!
By Deb Nygaard, Director of Development and Mark Jaszewski, father of an ACR resident.
This spring, while at the Disability Services rally at the MN State Capitol, a wonderful thing happened. The story is so encouraging, I asked the father to share it from his perspective.
For a little background, Mark and Jane had approached me around 10 years ago about supporting their daughter in an ACR home. At the time, we didn’t have any appropriate openings for her, and we really hadn’t had the right thing since. Their daughter moved in with another residential provider but remained on our waiting list.
Here’s what Mark had to say:
Back in 2016 or 2017, when we were first looking for a group home for our daughter Jilli, I had done a lot of research trying to locate a place that we would feel comfortable with and Jilli would be well cared for, safe and grow. The place that was at the top of my list was ACR Homes. Unfortunately, the timing wasn’t right and we ended up in a different group home. That group home was fine; however, I always wished that we could have gotten into ACR Homes.
I have attended the Disability Services Day and Disability Advocacy Day at the State Capitol for at least ten years now. This rally, within the rotunda of the State Capitol building, is huge. I have spoken to a few Minnesota Representatives, and they have said that it is the biggest rally all year. So in 2026, once again I attended the rally. I was inside the capitol building trying to make my way to Jilli’s current group home congregation that was on the second-floor balcony. Due to the huge crowd, I couldn’t quite see where they were and, even so, couldn’t make it through the crowd to get to where they were gathering. I decided to just hang out in the back and listen to the speakers who were talking and take in what I could.
As I stood there and listened, I started to glance around me. What caught my eye was three young caretakers paying such good attention and showing so much thoughtfulness towards two special needs individuals in wheelchairs. I just took a moment to look at how they were showing a caring attitude towards their clients and it just made me smile. I thought to myself, “That is how I would like Jilli’s caretakers to interact with her.
After a minute or so, I decided to make my way towards these three young female caretakers and asked them who they worked for. When I got to them and asked them that question, I wasn’t surprised when they responded, “Oh, we work for ACR Homes”. I spent a minute or two conversing with them, asking them how they liked working for ACR Homes, which house they worked at and related questions. I then recalled the name of the director that I had spoken to back in 2016 and 2017 and asked them, “Does Deb Nygaard still work for ACR Homes?”. One of the caretakers responded, “Yes and, in fact, she is here somewhere”.
It was maybe five minutes later that, after I moved away to back where I was previously before approaching the caretakers from ACR Homes, that saw a face that I recognized. I thought, “That’s Deb Nygaard. I wonder if she’d remember me?”. I then went back to where the three ACR workers were and where you had joined them and stuck out my hand and said, “Hi Deb. My name is Mark Jaszewski and I’m Jilli’s father. Do you remember me?”. A smile came across your face and you answered, “Of course I remember you”.
We struck up a conversation and when I said to you, “We always wanted to get Jilli into ACR”. I was pleasantly surprised when you responded, “We would love to have Jilli at ACR” and then “In fact, we have an opening at a house in Arden Hills right now”. To me it was all serendipity ! However, I am so glad I went to the rally at the State Capitol, saw the three caretakers from ACR, went over to talk to them and then ran into you. It certainly was a blessing!
-Mark Jaszewski, Father of Jillli
Stories like this are so encouraging, and it’s because of the incredible staff we have working at ACR. One of my favorite things about working at ACR these past 37+ years is working with competent, friendly, caring people. I’m so proud to work alongside these staff who are positively representing ACR without even trying! Thank you for the difference you make in the lives of each of the people in our care.