When policy issues and access to services and support are grave concerns, advocacy, energy and attention are – rightly – usually pointed in that direction.
Therefore, it is all too easy to overlook initiatives that improve people’s lives and opportunities on a daily basis. Taking a step back and sharing this work is vital.
As I have reported here before, the US has endured a tsunami of regressive policy moves. So recognising grassroots organisations and networks and acknowledging their achievements are front of mind for many.
Work and history celebrated
In Southern California this year, for example, one of the state’s oldest organisations supporting and championing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the community, AbilityFirst, is marking its centenary.
Through fundraising events and other activities bringing people together, the non-profit is celebrating its history as well as showcasing its work.
As part of its mission to “foster joy and fulfilment”, AbilityFirst serves people of all ages and their families across the region – around 3,500 in 2026 alone.
Its remit spans education, employment support, children and youth initiatives, and Camp Paivika in the San Bernadino National Forest, which offers teenagers and adults a traditional yet fully accessible camp experience.
AbilityFirst’s provision includes adult day programmes with activities from dances and gardening to coaching and life skills.
For example, ExploreAbility, for those aged 18 and older, focuses on personal and social development. Skills development and pathways to work and education offer opportunities that might not otherwise be available, explains Jeremy Sidell, chief development and communications officer.
The organisation’s customised and person-centred approach, he says, places individuals at the core of the work, fostering genuine empowerment and autonomy.
Ivan Casas is typical of those who have been supported into work with local employers.
A participant in AbilityFirst programmes since 2014, Casas found work in a local supermarket. AbilityFirst’s job development scheme helped him acquire skills and, since 2019, he has been employed at Superior Grocers.
“I am very happy. I like working here,” he says.
Employment support, with training and placement in jobs, is intended to match local employers’ hiring needs with individuals’ strengths and capabilities, not just fill vacancies, Sidell points out.
The role of job developers, who work with potential candidates on everything from CVs to networking, is crucial. Connections with corporate partners ensure the variety of jobs and careers available goes beyond traditional areas such as retail and the service industry.
Learning for living
A community-based programme for young adults, College to Career, provides academic support and life skills training to succeed in a college environment and prepare for independent living.
For those aged 6-22 years, there are after-school schemes at three local centres to develop skills in independent living, communication and social interaction.
Employment support, with training and placement in jobs, is intended to match employers’ hiring needs with individuals’ strengths and capabilities
Loneliness and isolation are high among disabled people, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. One in three disabled people aged 18-64 have persistent feelings of loneliness, according to Brown University’s School of Public Health. Integration and addressing isolation – “which is extensive,” Sidell stresses – are central to AbilityFirst’s work.
As with many organisations, funding is difficult. AbilityFirst relies heavily on individual donations and support from patrons.
Marking the centenary in a way that celebrates all involved, including staff, donors, volunteers, participants and families, will put “a spotlight on what makes us unique and special”, Sidell hopes.
When times are tough, this is not just welcome but necessary.
