disABILITYsa

What disABILITYsa does

disABILITYsa is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in San Antonio, Texas that educates, advances, and engages individuals with disabilities and their families in the greater San Antonio and Bexar County area. Its service portfolio spans Navigation Services (connecting families to disability resources with an 89% reported success rate), signature community events (Fiesta Especial Celebration Day, AccessAbility fest, abilitySTRONG Parade, A Beautifully Different Derby, Purse-u-ability Auction), leadership and civic programs (Service & Leadership Program, Fiesta Especial Royal Court, EmpowerED/EmpowerAccess research training, Conversation 360, Partners in the Disability Vote), and physical accessibility assets including the first Mobile Changing Unit trailer manufactured in the United States, portable changing units, and Sensory Escape Room / Portable Sensory Room experiences deployed at events and cultural venues.

The underlying "platform" is a community engagement and nonprofit service delivery stack rather than a software product: a centralized website (disabilitysa.org) plus presence across nine social platforms, GivePulse for volunteer management, Mighty Community for an online supporter community, JotForm for newsletter signups, and Zeffy and PayPal Giving Fund for donation processing. Programmatic differentiation rests on a depth of community relationships and physical accessibility equipment rather than technology IP. The organization holds formal positions on City of San Antonio and Bexar County disability, housing, transportation, and digital-access committees, and operates Inclusion Programming partnerships with venues including the San Antonio Zoo, Botanical Gardens, McNay Art Museum, Tobin Center, and Hemisfair.

Revenue is generated through individual donations and annual giving campaigns, tiered annual memberships ranging from $60 (Individual Introductory) to $5,000 (Business Sustainer), program sponsorships and event proceeds (Purse-u-ability Auction raised approximately $40,000 in 2027 naming, Royal Court raised $41,503 in 2025), and grants from funders including San Antonio Area Foundation. All direct services are delivered free of charge to the disability community. The organization employed three staff at the conclusion of 2025 (down from six at year-start) and is led by Co-Founder & Executive Director Melanie Cawthon.

Name

disABILITYsa

Legal name

disABILITYsa

Website

https://disabilitysa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

disABILITYsa is a San Antonio-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that educates, advances, and engages people with disabilities and their families through navigation services, signature community events, leadership and civic programs, and accessibility equipment such as the first U.S.-manufactured Mobile Changing Unit trailer.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

San Antonio

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations & Giving Campaigns: Annual giving campaigns and individual donations fuel programs. Special charitable deduction available for donors (up to $1,000 above-the-line deduction for non-itemizers starting Jan 1, 2026). Donations processed via Zeffy platform and PayPal Giving Fund.
2. Membership Fees: Annual membership tiers ranging from $60 (Individual Introductory) to $1,000 (Individual Sustainer), with Nonprofit ($250-$500) and Business ($500-$5,000) tiers. Membership provides a partner relationship supporting the organization's mission.
3. Special Event Fundraising: Signature events including A Beautifully Different Derby (July 18, 2026), Purse-u-ability Auction (raised $40,000 in 2027), and annual giving campaigns generate donations and sponsorships.
4. Program Sponsorships: Corporate and organizational sponsors support specific programs such as Fiesta Especial, AccessAbility fest, and Inclusion Programming. Sponsorship opportunities are available for each event.
5. Grants & Foundation Funding: Funding received from San Antonio Area Foundation including a grant to launch a Disability Collective Impact Initiative in 2026. Also received support from San Antonio Area Foundation for VISTA AmeriCorps volunteers.
6. Fiesta Especial Royal Court Fundraising: Royal Court participants raise funds through campaigns. 2022 Royal Court raised $36,485.76; 2025 enrolled 18 participants raising $41,503.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

disABILITYsa educates, advances, engages, and creates opportunities for individuals with disabilities in the San Antonio area through a portfolio of community programs including Navigation Services connecting families to disability resources, signature events such as Fiesta Especial Celebration Day, AccessAbility fest, and the abilitySTRONG Parade, the Mobile Changing Unit and Portable Sensory Room equipment deployed at partner venues, leadership and research training programs (Service & Leadership Program, EmpowerED/EmpowerAccess), and civic engagement initiatives such as Partners in the Disability Vote and inclusion programming with cultural institutions. The organization also provides disability-friendly healthcare provider training and advocates for accessibility policy with City of San Antonio and Bexar County government.

Product overview

disABILITYsa operates as a nonprofit disability inclusion organization offering a portfolio of community programs rather than a unified technology product. The core programs include Navigation Services, which connects families to resources; AccessAbility fest and Fiesta Especial Celebration Day as major annual events; abilitySTRONG Parade; and Mobile & Portable Changing Units. Supporting programs include disabilitySTRONG (with healthcare workshops and provider training), disFORUM, Conversation 360 community dialogues, EmpowerED/EmpowerAccess research training, Service & Leadership Program, and the Disability Inclusion Resource Center. Additional offerings include the Mighty Community online platform, Partners in the Disability Vote initiative, Vax-abilitySTRONG health program, Changing SA changing station initiative, Learn-A-LOTeria digital skills workshops, and Inclusion Programming partnerships with local venues. The organization does not offer a technology product with modules or add-ons.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fiesta Especial: A community-based instruction program promoting the inclusion of all during Fiesta San Antonio, including the Royal Court leadership program and Celebration Day event for children, youth, and adults with disabilities.
• AccessAbility fest
• abilitySTRONG Parade
• disabilitySTRONG
• EmpowerED
• Conversation 360
• Mobile Changing Unit

Products and services

• Navigation Services Connects individuals and families to vital disability resources in the San Antonio community, providing guidance on navigating benefits, services, and support systems. Reached over 100 calls with an 89% success rate in 2024 and supported 96 families in 2025.
• AccessAbility fest Annual festival featuring over 100 exhibitors with resources, games, activities, and entertainment for individuals with disabilities and their families. 16th annual in 2022 served over 700 people; 18th annual in 2024 served thousands.
• Fiesta Especial Celebration Day Community-based instruction program promoting inclusion of people with disabilities during San Antonio's Fiesta celebration. 2022 engaged 49 schools and 1,946 people; 2024 welcomed 2,150 special education students; 2025 served 5,000 attendees.
• abilitySTRONG Parade Annual parade celebrating disability pride and inclusion, part of the disabilitySTRONG initiative to raise awareness and visibility of people with disabilities in San Antonio.
• Mobile & Portable Changing Units Portable accessible changing stations and manufactured Mobile Changing Unit trailer providing adult-sized changing facilities at community events, increasing accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Deployed 11 times in 2024 serving over 250 individuals.
• Sensory Escape Room Mobile sensory experience deployed at events to increase access to social experiences for individuals with disabilities, including a portable sensory room providing calming environments for individuals with sensory sensitivities.
• Conversation 360 Community dialogue program covering topics such as housing, transportation, healthcare, voting, and travel that affect people with disabilities, amplifying voices of people with disabilities in San Antonio.
• disabilitySTRONG Comprehensive program including healthcare workshops, disability-friendly provider training, and community empowerment initiatives; 6 disability-friendly healthcare provider trainings reached 150 healthcare workers across San Antonio in 2025.
• disFORUM Community forum program that brings together stakeholders to discuss disability issues and advance considerations in planning and policy in San Antonio.
• EmpowerED & EmpowerAccess Research training programs providing introduction to community-based participatory research and how to apply disability-lived experience in research planning and implementation. 16 EmpowerED graduates in 2025, with 12 matched with local research projects and 20 trained in 2024.
• Service & Leadership Program (SLP) Leadership development program helping individuals with disabilities identify opportunities for volunteerism, nonprofit board service, and community engagement in San Antonio.
• Disability Inclusion Resource Center (DIRC) Resource center providing information, resources, and support to help organizations make their environments more disability-friendly and inclusive.
• Mighty Community Online community platform providing exclusive content, updates, and engagement opportunities for donors and supporters of disABILITYsa.
• Partners in the Disability Vote Voter engagement initiative that convenes disability community stakeholders to increase accessibility of elections and get-out-the-vote efforts; contributed to Bexar County expanding ASL voting access from 2–5 to 300+ voting locations in 2025.
• Vax-abilitySTRONG Vaccination support program that provided education, referrals, and coordination for accessible vaccine sites for people with disabilities during the COVID-19 public health response.
• Changing SA Initiative advocating for and deploying adult changing stations across San Antonio to improve accessibility and inclusion, with an interactive Changing Table Locator map.
• Learn-A-LOTeria Digital navigation workshops using a Lotería-style game format to teach technology tips and build digital skills in an interactive environment for individuals with disabilities.
• Inclusion Programming Partnership program with local venues including San Antonio Zoo, Botanical Gardens, McNay Art Museum, Tobin Center, and Hemisfair to provide accessible experiences including changing stations, sensory rooms, ASL interpretation, and adaptive activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Navigation services achieve 89% success rate connecting families to disability resources
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers13 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• San Antonio Housing TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSan Antonio Housing Trust provided disABILITYsa with the opportunity to headquarter at the McIlvaine Farmhouse, offering a canvas for accessibility to be developed as a model. disABILITYsa also supports the Housing Trust's Sustainability and Universal Design Committee with lived experience insight.
• UTSA (University of Texas at San Antonio)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to host disability-lived experience panels for UTSA architectural studio projects and conduct community-based research to support improved access to healthcare facilities for people who are blind or low vision. Also serves on the College Advisory Council.
• San Antonio ZoomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInclusion Programming partner supporting Dream Night events with free access, food, activities, and accessibility resources (Mobile Changing Unit, Sensory Room) for children and adults with disabilities and their families.
• San Antonio Botanical GardensmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Inclusion Programming including Bootanica, Illuminate, Celebrate Community, and other accessible events. Nearly 150 families supported through this partnership in 2025.
• McNay Art MuseummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for disability-friendly docent training and family day events. Sensory Room and Mobile Changing Unit deployed for accessibility. Joint Family Day events hosted multiple times per year.
• Tobin Center for the Performing ArtsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInclusion Fest partnership hosting accessible events with Mobile Changing Unit, Adaptive Art Station, and other accessibility resources at the Tobin Center venue.
• HemisfairmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to bring accessible climbing wall, caricatures, and entertainment supports to AccessAbility fest. Supported Inclusion Programming at Hemisfair after two-year hiatus.
• Children's Ballet of San AntoniomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGenerously offered free Nutcracker performance tickets to disABILITYsa families; features young performers with disabilities in the production.
• Alamo City ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing free Symphony Viva concert tickets to the disABILITYsa community through Alamo City Arts' Homage concert.
• RevUp TexasminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered with RevUp Texas to support Get Out The Vote campaign for San Antonio.
• Disability Benefits AssistancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJulio Perez from Disability Benefits Assistance provides digital navigation workshops helping individuals navigate disability benefits applications and processes.
• Bexar CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfter years of advocacy by disABILITYsa, Bexar County purchased equipment in 2025 to make ASL available for voters in all 300+ voting locations. disABILITYsa also serves on the Technical Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities.
• The Arc of San AntoniominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Art for Autism event and other disability inclusion initiatives. Listed as partner in Partners in the Disability Vote coalition.
• San Antonio Lighthouse for the BlindminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as partner in Partners in the Disability Vote coalition.
• Southwind FieldsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as partner in Partners in the Disability Vote coalition.
• Brighton CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as partner in Partners in the Disability Vote coalition.
• Any Baby CanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as partner in Partners in the Disability Vote coalition.
• FACT InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as partner in Partners in the Disability Vote coalition.
• Texas Technology Access ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as partner in Partners in the Disability Vote coalition.
• Deaf Interpreter Services Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as partner in Partners in the Disability Vote coalition.
• Care WarriorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as partner in Partners in the Disability Vote coalition.
• La Fe ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as partner in Partners in the Disability Vote coalition.
• ABA Center for ExcellenceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as partner in Partners in the Disability Vote coalition.

Scale indicators22 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals: Large national nonprofit providing disability services, employment support, and community inclusion programming across the U.S. Operates as a broad incumbent with overlapping mission areas (employment, accessibility, inclusion) but at much greater scale and geographic breadth than disABILITYsa.
• National Disability Rights Network: National membership network of disability rights advocacy organizations providing legal protection and advocacy services. Represents the broader advocacy ecosystem in which disABILITYsa operates, particularly around voting access and disability rights policy.
• Disability Rights Texas: Texas-based federally funded protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities. Listed as a resource partner on disABILITYsa's voter information resources; provides legal advocacy that complements disABILITYsa's community-based advocacy work.
• United Cerebral Palsy: National nonprofit providing services, advocacy, and support for individuals with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. Comparable broad incumbent with overlapping mission around community inclusion, accessibility, and policy advocacy.
• The Arc of the United States: National advocacy and services organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Represents the broader network that includes disABILITYsa's direct peer (Arc of San Antonio); competes for similar philanthropic and government funding at the national level.

Direct peers

• Brighton Center: San Antonio-based disability services nonprofit listed as a disABILITYsa coalition partner in Partners in the Disability Vote. Provides early childhood intervention, case management, and family support services to children with disabilities and developmental delays, overlapping with disABILITYsa's navigation and inclusion programming.
• Any Baby Can: San Antonio nonprofit offering counseling, case management, and support services for children with disabilities and chronic illness, and their families. Listed as a disABILITYsa partner in the Partners in the Disability Vote coalition and serves an overlapping beneficiary population.
• The Arc of San Antonio: Direct local peer and active coalition partner with disABILITYsa on disability inclusion initiatives in San Antonio. Both organizations serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families through community-based programming, advocacy, and resource navigation in the same geography.
• San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind: San Antonio-based nonprofit providing rehabilitation, employment, and independence services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Coalition partner with disABILITYsa on voting access and disability rights; shares similar advocacy mission and beneficiary base.

Emerging players

• Special Olympics Texas: Texas affiliate of Special Olympics providing adaptive sports training and competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Overlaps with disABILITYsa's abilitySTRONG Parade and AccessAbility fest recreational/inclusion programming, though focused specifically on athletic competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/disabilitysa
• YouTubeyoutube.com/disabilitysa
• Facebookfacebook.com/disABILITYsa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/disabilitysa
• Instagraminstagram.com/disabilitysa
• TikToktiktok.com/@disabilitysa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 disABILITYsa