Ability Connection, a nonprofit dedicated to enriching the lives of children and adults with intellectual and physical disabilities, is celebrating 66 years in the community. Originally started as United Cerebral Palsy in 1954, Ability Connection currently provides comprehensive life-changing care, training and support services to 700 individuals within Texas. Headquartered in Dallas, the nonprofit also has offices in Austin, Fort Worth, Waco and Wichita Falls, as well as a new training facility in Southlake and group homes in Dallas, Garland, Richardson and throughout the rest of the state.
During the upcoming months, Ability Connection will celebrate its anniversary with the Black & White Ball on August 23 at the Frontiers of Flight Museum. It’s a magical evening where the nonprofit’s members enjoy a prom-style celebration. On November 14, co-chairs Maggie Kipp and Melinda Knowles will be hosting Ability Connection’s 12th annual Vine & Dine fundraiser at Brook Hollow Golf Club. This can’t-miss-event will be an inspired dinner and auction honoring DeeDee and Jim Lee whose longstanding years of service is unmatched.
“Celebrating 66 years is a remarkable milestone as we continue to bring life-changing benefits and support to Texans with disabilities.” states Jim Hanophy, Ability Connection’s newly appointed President and CEO. “Each day, we seek consistently to provide ‘world class services’ by focusing on compassion, respect and results to our members.”
Ability Connection believes that disability is a naturally occurring part of life and not a problem or a characteristic a person “has.” Disability exists when there is a gap between a person’s capacity and the demands of a particular situation - be it living, working or enjoying the community. Ability Connection’s job is to bridge that gap through individual supports, adaptations to the environment or demands and training so that people may enjoy the same quality of life as their non-disabled peers.
The nonprofit offers a variety of services, designed to address the individual choices and priorities. These include residential services, community supports through Medicaid waiver programs, on-site training centers with tiered levels of support to address the needs of our clientele and employment support services. For each person served, Ability Connection learns what the individual’s goals and choices are, facilitate the supports and services needed and then measure their success and satisfaction.
To learn more about Ability Connection, donate or become an ambassador, visit AbilityConnection.org or call 214-351-2500.
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