DUET, an Omaha area disability services organization formerly known as ENCOR, celebrated its name change last Thursday with a ribbon-cutting.

The organization has been assisting people with intellectual disabilities since 1971 through community-based programming.

DUET provides a myriad of programs for disabled people of all ages, including vocational training, residential and home-based services, education, medical care and community service.

At the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting, the organization honored one of its clients, Doug, who began receiving services at the organization’s inception at age 8.

“I like it here,” he said. “And cutting the ribbon is the best job.”

The new name stands for Develop, Unite, Empower, Together. The organization’s old name, ENCOR, was an acronym, too, but the expansion included a term no longer used to describe people with intellectual disabilities.

Director Debbie Herbel said that it was time to change the name to fit the times and better signify their mission.

“As times changed, so did the language that is appropriate to describe the agency’s mission,” Herbel said. “Through feedback from the people we support, guardians and many employees, we thought that it was a good time to honor our trailblazing legacy and the people who made it possible while embracing our bright future.”

Chris LaCroix, vice president of marketing for local accounting firm Verdant, was tasked with coming up with a new name and logo design.

LaCroix originally thought of DUET because what they do at the organization is a collaborative effort, similar to a musical duet.

“What happens here on a daily, monthly, yearly basis is a beautiful thing – it’s a partnership,” LaCroix said. “I thought about a duet, like a beautiful performance between two people.”

LaCroix added that nonprofits love acronyms, and the words he chose signified what DUET stands for: an organization that develops skills, unites families, empowers participants and emphasizes togetherness.

DUET serves more than 600 people in the metro area. It is part of the Eastern Nebraska Human Services Agency, a collaboration of Cass, Sarpy, Douglas, Dodge and Washington counties.

The regional agency is made up of DUET, the Eastern Nebraska Office of Aging and Alpha School, a K-12 school for children with behavioral or social issues.