What Exceptional Persons does

Exceptional Persons is a non-profit organization that helps parents who want a better future for their children with disabilities. The organizations provide an array of services aimed at promoting active community participation among people with disabilities, including residential and transportation services, day activity centers, community living, employment services, and more.

Name

Exceptional Persons

Legal name

Exceptional Persons Incorporated

Website

https://www.episervice.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Exceptional Persons supports individuals with disabilities and families with child care needs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Support Services

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Residential Care Facilities (6239)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialized Assisted Living for Developmental/Intellectual Disabilities (Adult) (HLADABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Down Syndrome & Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Childcare (HSAAAIAC), Independent Living with Supportive Services (Light ADL/IADL Support) (HLADAAAE)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• Residential support services
• Supported employment services
• Child care resource referral
• Community living services

Headquarters

HQ city

Waterloo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Medicaid-Funded Services: EPI receives reimbursement through various Medicaid waiver programs including Intellectual Disability Waiver, Brain Injury Waiver, Health & Disability Waiver, and Habilitation services. These are managed through managed care organizations.
2. Managed Care Organizations: Services are billed through Iowa Total Care, Molina, and Wellpoint managed care organizations as part of Iowa's IA Health Link program.
3. Fee for Service & Regional Funding: Some services are funded through regional funding sources, fee-for-service arrangements, and private pay options.
4. Donations and Charitable Contributions: EPI accepts charitable donations to support programs and services, including the Giving Tree holiday program and More Than You See benefit events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Exceptional Persons, Inc. (EPI) is a private non-profit organization that delivers community-based disability and human services in Northeast Iowa. Its core offerings include residential and supported community living, supported employment (job development, coaching, and customized employment), child care through Hawkeye Child Development Center and Child Care Resource & Referral, transportation, payee/financial management services, day habilitation, respite, and host home services. EPI serves over 5,500 children, adults, and families annually with more than 400 staff across multiple Waterloo-area facilities.

Product overview

Exceptional Persons, Inc. (EPI) is a private, non-profit disability services organization founded in 1957, offering a comprehensive portfolio of community-based services for individuals with disabilities in Northeast Iowa. The organization operates multiple service lines including residential support (Supported Community Living, Host Home Services), employment services (Job Development, Job Coaching), child care services (Hawkeye Child Development Center, Child Care Resource & Referral), transportation, payee services, and day habilitation programs. EPI serves over 5,500 children, adults, and families annually and employs more than 400 staff members across Waterloo, Iowa. The services are funded through Medicaid waivers (Intellectual Disability Waiver, Brain Injury Waiver), managed care organizations, and various regional and private pay sources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Supported Community Living (SCL)

Quantifiable outcome

• EPI serves over 5,500 children, adults, and families annually in Northeast Iowa
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Hawkeye Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 November 2018EPI partnered with Hawkeye Community College to create an innovative child care solution at the Van G. Miller Adult Learning Center in downtown Waterloo. The center provides 56 child care spots for children infant through preschool age, with priority given to EPI staff and Hawkeye students/staff. This partnership addresses the critical child care shortage in Black Hawk County, where child care programs declined 41% over five years.
• Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral (ICCRR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPI operates the Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral program serving 19 counties in Northeast Iowa. CCR&R helps families find quality child care, supports providers with technical assistance, and advocates for child care policies. Contact: (877) 216-8481.
• The Arc of Cedar ValleysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Arc of Cedar Valley, located at 760 Ansborough Avenue, Waterloo, IA 50704, is a local chapter of The Arc serving persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Contact: (319) 232-0437.
• Permanent Planning, Inc.secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated at 4901 University Avenue, Suite D, Cedar Falls, IA 50613. Contact: (319) 277-1410. EPI collaborated with Permanent Planning on community initiatives including the 2009 Evansdale house fire response.
• American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR)coreOthersNational trade association representing private providers of community living and employment supports. EPI's Executive Director Chris Sparks served as ANCOR Board Vice President. ANCOR advocates for DSP workforce issues and Medicaid policy affecting persons with disabilities.
• The Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL)secondaryOthersEPI maintains CQL accreditation demonstrating commitment to quality standards and person-centered services for persons with disabilities.
• Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)secondaryOthersEPI participates in CACFP, a USDA program providing nutritious meals and snacks to children and adults in care settings.
• Managed Care OrganizationscoreOthersEPI works with Iowa Total Care, Molina, and Wellpoint as managed care organizations providing Medicaid-funded services through Iowa's IA Health Link program.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• One Vision: Iowa-based non-profit providing residential, employment, and community services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. EPI explored a developing partnership with One Vision in 2018, signaling overlap in service model and Iowa geography.
• Penn-Mar Human Services: Non-profit provider of residential, vocational, and community-based supports for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health needs. Operates a similar person-centered, community-inclusion model with comparable funding structures.
• RHA Health Services: Non-profit provider of residential, supported living, and employment services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and behavioral health needs. Closely aligned mission and service mix to EPI.

Broad incumbents

• Sevita Health (formerly The MENTOR Network): Large national for-profit provider of home and community-based services, including IDD residential, day programs, and supported employment. Overlaps with EPI's full service portfolio at greater scale and with broader geographic reach.
• BrightSpring Health Services: Diversified home and community-based services provider with IDD, behavioral health, and pharmacy offerings. Comparable Medicaid-funded HCBS service lines and managed care contracting model, but publicly traded and multi-state.
• Easterseals: National non-profit network providing disability and community-based services, including employment support, residential services, and child development programs. Overlaps with EPI on employment, child care, and disability service lines.
• Volunteers of America: National non-profit providing housing, behavioral health, and disability services including supported living and community programs. Comparable non-profit structure and multi-service HCBS delivery model.
• UCP (United Cerebral Palsy): National non-profit network serving individuals with cerebral palsy and other disabilities through residential, employment, and community-based programs. Comparable mission, advocacy, and direct-service model.

Regional players

• REM Iowa: Iowa-based provider of community living, host home, and supported employment services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Direct regional competitor in Iowa with overlapping HCBS service portfolio.

Others

• The Arc of the United States: National advocacy and service organization for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. EPI co-locates with The Arc of Cedar Valley and shares advocacy and referral missions, though The Arc is primarily an advocacy body rather than direct service provider.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/experienceEPI
• YouTubevimeo.com/user28147294/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/ExperienceEPI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/exceptional-persons-inc-epi-
• Instagraminstagram.com/experience_epi

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Exceptional Persons