What WID does

World Institute on Disability (WID) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Oakland, California, and founded in 1983 in Berkeley by disability rights activists Judy Heumann, Ed Roberts, and Joan Leon. The organization operates as a disability-led consulting, training, and technical assistance provider, advancing the rights and opportunities of people with disabilities on a global scale. Its service portfolio is organized around three core lines: Accessibility and Universal Design Services, Emergency/Disaster/Climate Resilience Services, and Community Inclusion Services. WID supplements these consulting offerings with a suite of public-facing digital resources (Disability Benefits 101, Housing Benefits 101, Financial Llama Tips, ABLE 101), content programs (What's Up WID podcast, The Adjustable Table video series, a Training Hub), and convening platforms (the Global Alliance for Disaster Resource Acceleration, or GADRA, and the Disability 20 / D20 initiative).

WID is structured as a public charity with no parent company, governed by a Board of Directors and led by Executive Director and CEO Marcie Roth. Revenue is generated primarily through grants from foundations, corporate sponsorships (most prominently Wells Fargo, which served as presenting sponsor for WID's 40th anniversary), government program funding, and individual donations processed via PayPal. The customer base spans federal, state, and local government agencies (e.g., Department of Health engagements on vaccine equity and inclusive disaster response), enterprises pursuing diversity and inclusion outcomes (e.g., Wells Fargo, AT&T), and disability-led nonprofit organizations served globally through GADRA, which connects 633 disability leaders across 29 countries.

Operationally, WID combines direct consulting engagement with thought-leadership content distribution (podcast, blog, social, YouTube, webinars, conference presence at CES and the M-Enabling Summit). The organization co-leads the GADRA coalition and coordinates disaster-response activations in Ukraine, Türkiye, and Syria, with downstream humanitarian outcomes including emergency aid to over 10,600 Ukrainians with disabilities through partner organization Fight for Right. WID holds no patents and operates no software products or APIs; its technology stack is limited to web publishing and digital resource distribution rather than proprietary platforms.

Name

WID

Legal name

World Institute on Disability

Website

https://wid.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

World Institute on Disability (WID) is a disability-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1983 that provides consulting, training, and technical assistance on accessibility, disaster and climate resilience, and community inclusion to government agencies, corporations, and disability-led organizations across 29 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Inclusion Consulting

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

Keywords

• Disability inclusion consulting
• Accessibility services
• Disaster preparedness services
• Community inclusion services
• Disability rights advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grants and Foundation Funding: WID operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization primarily funded through grants from foundations, corporations, and government agencies. The organization receives support for specific programs and initiatives.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners such as Wells Fargo provide sponsorship funding for events and programs, including the 40th anniversary celebration.
3. Donations: Individual donations are accepted through PayPal and other channels to support WID's mission and programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

WID is a disability-led nonprofit that delivers world-class consulting, training, and technical assistance services across three core service lines: Accessibility and Universal Design Services, Emergency/Disaster/Climate Resilience Services, and Community Inclusion Services. It complements these services with free online resources (Disability Benefits 101, Housing Benefits 101, Financial Llama Tips, ABLE 101) and coordinates the Global Alliance for Disaster Resource Acceleration (GADRA) to deliver rapid disability-inclusive emergency response globally.

Product overview

The World Institute on Disability (WID) operates as a non-profit organization offering a suite of consulting, training, and technical assistance services rather than a unified software product. The core service offerings include Accessibility and Universal Design Services, Community Inclusion Services, and Emergency, Disaster, and Climate Resilience Services. These services are complemented by a portfolio of digital resources and programs including Disability Benefits 101 (DB101), Housing Benefits 101, Financial Llama Tips, and ABLE 101 online resources. WID also administers the Global Alliance for Disaster Resource Acceleration (GADRA) for disaster response and the Global Heumann Fellowship for activist development. Educational content is delivered through the What’s Up WID Podcast and The Adjustable Table video series, with all offerings accessible through a Training Hub platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Accessibility and Universal Design Services Consulting services that help organizations ensure their products, services, and environments are accessible to people with disabilities through universal design principles. Designed for government agencies, corporations, and organizations seeking to embed accessibility across their operations.
• Community Inclusion Services Services focused on improving the terms on which individuals with disabilities participate in society, including employment support and benefits counseling. Designed for government agencies, employers, and disability-led organizations seeking to advance community participation.
• Emergency, Disaster, and Climate Resilience Services Disaster preparedness, response, and recovery services that ensure accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities during emergencies and climate-related events. Designed for government agencies, humanitarian organizations, and disability-led organizations worldwide.
• Global Alliance for Disaster Resource Acceleration (GADRA) A global coalition program providing rapid response resources and emergency support during disasters through coordination with disability-led organizations across 29 countries and six continents.
• Global Heumann Fellowship A fellowship program honoring Judy Heumann's legacy by developing exemplary global disability activists to lead equitable and inclusive societies.
• Disability Benefits 101 (DB101) Online resource helping people with disabilities understand how working will affect their benefits, including state-specific versions such as California DB101. Available as a free public tool through the WID website.
• Housing Benefits 101 Online resource helping individuals understand housing benefits and how they interact with other supports for people with disabilities.
• Financial Llama Tips Financial literacy resources and tips designed for people with disabilities.
• ABLE 101 Resources explaining ABLE accounts and how they can help people with disabilities save money without losing benefits.
• Training Hub Centralized training platform offering training programs and educational resources for disability inclusion and accessibility, with courses on accessibility, healthcare, and disability inclusion topics.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10,600 Ukrainians with disabilities received emergency aid through WID-supported initiatives
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Consumer Technology Association (CTA) FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024WID participates in the CTA Foundation's Accessibility Leaders cohort, attending CES and other industry events to promote disability inclusion in technology.
• Fight for Right (Ukraine)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022WID supports Fight for Right, a Ukrainian disability rights organization, through GADRA. Fight for Right has fielded over 200,000 requests for assistance and provided emergency aid to over 10,600 people with disabilities in Ukraine.
• Global Alliance for Disaster Resource Acceleration (GADRA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 July 2020WID co-founded and leads GADRA, a coalition of disability-led organizations, corporations, and foundations working to accelerate disaster resources directly to local disability-led organizations. Launched July 9, 2020 with 633 disability leaders from 29 countries.
• The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster StrategiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 July 2020WID co-founded and partners with The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies as part of GADRA, providing inclusive disaster strategies and emergency response support.
• ONG InclusivacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 July 2020WID partners with ONG Inclusiva as part of the GADRA coalition launch, working to provide disaster resources to disability-led organizations globally.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Disability:IN: U.S. nonprofit that runs the Disability Equality Index and consults Fortune 500 companies on disability inclusion; closest direct peer to WID's corporate accessibility and inclusion consulting practice.
• JAN (Job Accommodation Network): Free consulting service that provides individualized accommodation guidance to employers and employees; operates as a similar expert-advisory resource model to WID's DB101 and training hub.
• Easterseals: Large national disability services nonprofit offering employment, accessibility, and community-living programs; overlaps with WID's Community Inclusion Services and benefits counseling.
• National Disability Rights Network (NDRN): Federation of Protection & Advocacy systems providing legal advocacy for people with disabilities; comparable advocacy-driven nonprofit model serving disability populations nationwide.
• SourceAmerica: Nonprofit that connects people with disabilities to employment through federal contracting (AbilityOne) and corporate partnerships; closely aligns with WID's employment-focused Community Inclusion Services.
• Humanity & Inclusion (Handicap International): Global disability and inclusion NGO operating in conflict and disaster zones worldwide; the most direct international parallel to WID's GADRA-style disaster response and global disability coalition work.
• Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF): National disability rights legal and policy organization co-petitioning with WID on COVID-19 nursing home discrimination; closely aligned policy advocacy, special education, and disability rights mission.
• Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies: Disability-led disaster response coalition co-founded with WID as part of GADRA; shares WID's specific intersection of disability rights and emergency preparedness advocacy.
• The Arc of the United States: Long-standing national disability advocacy and services nonprofit operating chapters across the U.S.; comparable to WID's community inclusion, benefits counseling, and policy advocacy work.
• American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD): National cross-disability rights organization focused on policy advocacy, leadership development, and coalition building; comparable advocacy posture to WID's policy and inclusion mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wid_org
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/WidOrg/playlists
• Facebookfacebook.com/worldinstituteondisability
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/world-institute-on-disability
• Instagraminstagram.com/worldinstituteondisability

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 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 WID