RespectAbility
Disability Belongs™ (formerly RespectAbility) is a disability-led nonprofit that drives policy and cultural change for people with disabilities through advocacy, training, consulting, fellowships, and partnerships with employers, media, government, and funders.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersRockville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What RespectAbility does
RespectAbility, now operating under the trademarked name Disability Belongs™, is a disability-led nonprofit founded in 2013 and headquartered in Rockville, Maryland. Its mission is to drive cultural and policy change that advances representation, independence, and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities across the United States. The organization serves a horizontal set of stakeholders including people with disabilities, employers and corporations, policymakers and government entities, entertainment and media organizations, faith communities, and philanthropy/funders. Core programmatic work spans policy advocacy, cultural change initiatives, and leadership development, structured around a stated Theory of Change that connects narrative reframing, leader development, and opportunity creation.
The organization's product surface is service- and program-based rather than technology-based. Service offerings include Training, Access Reviews, and Consultancy delivered directly to employers, nonprofits, and government entities. Two fellowship programs (Leadership Program and Entertainment Labs) develop a pipeline of disabled leaders and storytellers. The annual Disability Impact Awards in Washington, D.C. function as a flagship recognition event now in its fifth year. An Advocacy/Action Center provides digital tools for grassroots engagement, and a merchandise e-commerce store supports brand and fundraising activity. No proprietary technology platform, API, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed.
The business model is nonprofit: revenue is derived from grants, donations, and emerging earned income from paid advisory services, training, and merchandise. The only quantified inflow in the source set is a $1 million grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation awarded in December 2021 to expand representation, leadership, public policy, and inclusion initiatives. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on direct advocacy, storytelling, partnerships, and coalition-building across state, national, and international levels. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and Advisory Council and was co-founded by Shelley Richman Cohen.
RespectAbility firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- RespectAbility
- Legal name
- Disability Belongs™
- Website
- https://respectability.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Disability Belongs™ (formerly RespectAbility) is a disability-led nonprofit that drives policy and cultural change for people with disabilities through advocacy, training, consulting, fellowships, and partnerships with employers, media, government, and funders.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
RespectAbility industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disability Advocacy and Inclusion Services
- NAICS
- Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)
Keywords
Where RespectAbility is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rockville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
RespectAbility business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Grants and Donations: RespectAbility operates as a nonprofit organization funded primarily through grants and charitable donations. The organization received a $1 million grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation to support strategic goals including representation, leadership, public policy, and inclusion efforts for people with disabilities.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
RespectAbility product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Disability Belongs™ (formerly RespectAbility) is a disability-led nonprofit that delivers disability inclusion training, accessibility access reviews, and strategic consultancy to employers, nonprofits, policymakers, entertainment/media companies, and funders. It also runs the Leadership Program and Entertainment Labs fellowship pipelines, the annual Disability Impact Awards, and an Action Center advocacy platform supporting policy and cultural change for people with disabilities.
Product overview
RespectAbility (now operating as Disability Belongs™) is a disability-led nonprofit organization that functions as a service provider and advocacy organization rather than a technology product company. The organization offers a portfolio of services including Training, Access Reviews, and Consultancy for organizations seeking disability inclusion expertise. Its Fellowships division encompasses the Leadership Program and Entertainment Labs, which develop disabled talent through structured mentorship. The organization also operates an annual Disability Impact Awards ceremony and maintains an Advocacy/Action Center platform. Core programs focus on Policy Change and Cultural Change initiatives. The various programs interconnect through a Theory of Change that bridges advocacy, training, and partnership to advance inclusion in policy, education, employment, and media.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Training Services Professional training programs that equip organizations with the skills and knowledge to implement disability inclusion best practices across their operations and workforce. Targeted at employers, nonprofits, cultural change leaders, and policymakers.
- Access Reviews Consulting service that evaluates organizational accessibility and provides recommendations for improving inclusion in physical and digital environments. Delivered to employers, nonprofits, and cultural change leaders.
- Consultancy Strategic consulting services that help nonprofits, employers, and cultural change leaders promote best practices in disability inclusion through collaborative partnerships.
- Leadership Program (Fellowship) Fellowship program that equips disabled and disability-inclusive leaders with the tools, training, and mentorship needed to lead in their communities, industries, and government, building a diverse pipeline of change-makers.
- Entertainment Labs (Fellowship) Fellowship program focused on the entertainment and media industry, promoting authentic disability representation in film, television, and media by developing disabled talent and storytellers.
- Action Center (Advocacy Platform) Digital platform enabling individuals to participate in advocacy efforts for equity and inclusion, providing resources and tools to raise voices for policy change at state, national, and international levels.
- Disability Impact Awards Annual awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., celebrating advocates who have made a difference in the lives of people with disabilities; fifth annual edition scheduled for July 16, 2026.
Companies that use RespectAbility
Customer profileSegments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
RespectAbility technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
RespectAbility partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
RespectAbility competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Disability:IN: National nonprofit driving disability inclusion in business through corporate training, benchmarking, and policy advocacy. Highly comparable to RespectAbility's employer-focused training, consultancy, and policy work, and competes for similar corporate and foundation funding.
- American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD): Disability-led national cross-disability rights organization focused on policy advocacy, leadership development, and economic empowerment. Directly comparable to RespectAbility's policy change and Leadership Program work, serving overlapping funder and partner ecosystems.
- Autistic Self Advocacy Network: Disability-led nonprofit run by and for autistic people, focused on policy advocacy, leadership development, and cultural change. Comparable to RespectAbility as a disability-led advocacy organization with strong policy and leadership pipeline programs.
- National Disability Institute: Nonprofit dedicated to economic empowerment and financial inclusion for people with disabilities. Comparable to RespectAbility's workforce development and policy work, particularly on employment and economic self-sufficiency outcomes.
- SourceAmerica: Nonprofit that creates employment opportunities for people with disabilities through federal contracting and AbilityOne program. Comparable to RespectAbility's workforce development and policy advocacy work, particularly on disability employment.
- Disability Rights Fund: Disability-led grantmaking organization supporting disability rights advocacy globally. Comparable to RespectAbility as a disability-led advocacy and policy organization, with similar funder base and donor community.
Broad incumbents
- The Arc of the United States: Large established national organization advocating for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through policy, services, and community programs. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the disability advocacy and services space, though narrower in disability scope than RespectAbility.
- Easterseals: Large established national nonprofit providing disability services, advocacy, and employment support. Comparable as a broad incumbent across multiple disability verticals including training and advocacy, though with a primarily direct-service model.
Emerging players
- Understood.org: Digital-first resource and advocacy platform serving the learning and disability community with technology-enabled content and tools. Comparable to RespectAbility's focus on cultural change and education, but with a more productized digital model.
Regional players
- Inclusion International: Global federation advocating for the human rights of people with intellectual disabilities. Comparable to RespectAbility's international advocacy footprint and disability-led mission, though focused on a narrower disability subset.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
RespectAbility social profiles
Digital presenceRespectAbility financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
RespectAbility leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
RespectAbility funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
RespectAbility M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about RespectAbility
What does RespectAbility do?
Disability Belongs™ (formerly RespectAbility) is a disability-led nonprofit that delivers disability inclusion training, accessibility access reviews, and strategic consultancy to employers, nonprofits, policymakers, entertainment/media companies, and funders. It also runs the Leadership Program and Entertainment Labs fellowship pipelines, the annual Disability Impact Awards, and an Action Center advocacy platform supporting policy and cultural change for people with disabilities.
Is RespectAbility a public or private company?
RespectAbility is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was RespectAbility founded?
RespectAbility was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is RespectAbility based?
RespectAbility is headquartered in Rockville, United States, in the North America region.
How does RespectAbility make money?
One revenue line is on record: grants and Donations.
Who are RespectAbility's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Disability:IN, American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), Autistic Self Advocacy Network, National Disability Institute, SourceAmerica and Disability Rights Fund. Broad incumbents are The Arc of the United States and Easterseals. Understood.org is listed as an emerging player. Inclusion International is listed as a regional player.
Does RespectAbility have an API?
No public API is recorded for RespectAbility.
What industry is RespectAbility in?
RespectAbility's product category is Disability Advocacy and Inclusion Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAM, Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech), with a secondary code of BPAGACAG, Disability Services & Independent Living Support. Its NAICS code is 62412 and its SIC code is 8300.