A Brief History of the Soaring Eagle Center
The Soaring Eagle Center (SEC) began as the dream of one mother. As her daughter with intellectual disabilities approached high school graduation, she realized there were no programs in her community for her daughter and she did not want her sitting at home watching TV all day.
A group of parents who had become friends through Special Olympics decided to act. They wanted to better meet the needs of their adult children. With the help of a special education teacher and a grant writer, they began the Soaring Eagle Center in 2003.
In June 2003, the Center incorporated as a nonprofit organization in Texas. The following fall, a board of directors composed of mothers and special education teachers was established. In February 2004, the IRS granted the Center tax-exempt status as a 501(c)3 charitable organization.
Since 2003, the SEC has provided athletic opportunities and social events for over fifty adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families living in southern Dallas and northern Ellis counties. The Soaring Eagle adults participate in Special Olympics and formal and informal social events.
In the fall of 2005, SEC leaders also began a day habilitation program. The program has grown from three to thirty adults. The day hab program had two on-site businesses, a thrift store, and custom-made candles. Associates with intellectual disabilities worked at both businesses.
The SEC streamlined operations in 2020 to academic and life skills classes, field trips, and lots of fun together. There is a fee for the day hab program. We meet five days a week from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm at the Soaring Eagle Center, 107 Executive Way, Suite 101 in DeSoto. The Soaring Eagle Center is not just a program but is a community of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Our desire is for our adults to become friends during and outside of the program. We also foster a support system for parents and caregivers of our adults.