Didlake’s history is deeply rooted in Manassas and unfolds in three phases: education, employment and enrichment. Founded in 1965 as the Didlake School, the nonprofit shifted focus to employment when Congress opened free public education to students with disabilities in 1975. What started as a mailing business soon expanded to many types of job and community engagement opportunities.
Today, Didlake employs more than 1,000 people with disabilities and delivers quality service solutions for federal and state government customers throughout Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. Additionally, our Rehabilitation Services connect people with community employers and community engagement opportunities.
We believe in empowering individuals to realize their full potential so they may lead more satisfying and meaningful lives. Our mission opens the door to innovative thinking and creative approaches to challenges. Opportunity creates choice and choice empowers people. At Didlake, we create opportunities to empower people every day.
Our Mission
Creating and promoting opportunities that enrich the lives of people with disabilities. We are committed to eliminating barriers, so everyone can fully participate in all aspects of their community.
Our Vision
Inclusive communities in which people with disabilities are valued and respected, where everyone has the opportunity to make choices and participate in all aspects of society.
Our Values
Accountability: We take responsibility for both our individual performance and business outcomes.
Diversity: Diversity brings in new ideas and perspectives. Different ideas and perspectives lead to better problem-solving. Working in diverse teams opens dialogue and promotes creativity.
Integrity: Integrity is reflected in our values, in our principles, in our actions, in our expectations, and in our outcomes. Our values and principles drive our words; our words support our actions; our expectations and outcomes are driven by our words and actions.
Quality: We earn our reputation by delivering quality every day. We believe quality is derived from empowering all individuals to learn, work, be independent, and have dignity. We are passionate about embracing the challenges of being a leader in the myriad of services we provide.
Safety: Safety is always a priority. We believe in providing a safe environment, safe work practices, safe chemicals, proper personal protective equipment, safety training, and preparedness.
Teamwork: Collaborative problem-solving for better outcomes. By working as a team, we increase our impact.
