Special Abilities of North Texas

What Special Abilities of North Texas does

Special Abilities of North Texas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1993 and headquartered in Lewisville, Texas, that delivers daytime and vocational services to adults aged 18 and older with developmental disabilities, including Down syndrome, autism, and cerebral palsy. The organization runs an enrollment program branded "ACEs — Adults Creating Excellence" that serves 100+ adults across two physical locations in North Texas, organized around five programmatic pillars: Community Inclusion, Independent Living Skills, Vocational Training, Creative Arts, and Health & Fitness.

The operating model combines direct human service delivery with specialized program infrastructure. Staff support participants in building daily-living competencies, vocational readiness, and community engagement; the curriculum is informed by an academic partnership with Texas Woman's University in place since 2014, which provides a pipeline for training, research collaboration, and student placements. The organization employs between 11 and 50 staff and operates with a multi-decade operating history, including a 2016 "Nonprofit of the Year" recognition from Unity in Communities that formalized its standing in the regional disability-services ecosystem.

Revenue is assembled from a mix of Texas government Medicaid home- and community-based waiver programs — specifically HCS (Home and Community-based Services), CLASS (Community Living and Support Services), and TXHML (Texas Home Living) — supplemented by private-pay participants, charitable donations, grants, and United Way funding. In 2025 the organization paid off its primary facility, removing a material fixed-cost obligation from the operating budget. The organization's leadership transitioned to JaChel Redmond as CEO in 2017.

Name

Special Abilities of North Texas

Legal name

Special Abilities of North Texas

Website

https://specialabilities.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Special Abilities of North Texas is a Lewisville, Texas-based nonprofit founded in 1993 that delivers day, vocational, and life-skills programs to 100+ adults with developmental disabilities through its ACEs program across two North Texas locations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult Day Services for Developmental Disabilities

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Educational Services (611), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Needs Adult Day Programs (Developmental/Physical Disabilities, Seniors) (HLADAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Schools & Life Skills Programs (EDAKAAAD), Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)

Keywords

• Adult day services
• Developmental disability care
• Vocational training programs
• Community inclusion services
• Independent living skills

Headquarters

HQ city

Lewisville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government-Funded Programs: Services are funded through state and federal programs including Home & Community Based Services (HCS), CLASS funds, and Texas Home Living (TXHML). These programs cover daytime care and support for adults with developmental disabilities.
2. Individual Donations: Registered charitable non-profit organization that accepts individual donations. Donations can be made as one-time contributions or set to recur weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly.
3. Corporate and Foundation Grants: Funding received from local businesses, municipalities, foundations, and United Way to support programs and organizational growth.
4. Private Pay: Families and individuals can pay privately for services not covered by government programs.
5. Store Sales: The organization operates a store that sells goods, likely including items created by program clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Special Abilities of North Texas provides weekday daytime care, individualized skills training, and support services to adults aged 18 and up with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Its offering is structured around five program pillars: Community Inclusion and Social Development, Home and Independent Living Skills, Pre-vocational and Vocational Training, Creative Arts, and Health and Fitness. Services are delivered in person at two Lewisville, TX campuses and through community-based inclusion activities, with funding sourced from Texas HCS, CLASS, and TXHML programs as well as private pay.

Product overview

Special Abilities of North Texas is a non-profit organization providing daytime care and support services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The organization operates as a single unified service model with five core program pillars: Community Inclusion and Social Development, Home and Independent Living Skills, Pre-vocational and Vocational Training, Creative Arts, and Health and Fitness. Services are funded through Home & Community Based Services (HCS), CLASS funds, Texas Home Living (TXHML), and private pay. The organization does not offer a technology product; rather, it provides direct care, training, and support services to adults aged 18 and up with diagnoses including Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, and other developmental disabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Inclusion and Social Development Program that supports adults with developmental disabilities in becoming accepted and productive community members through attendance at local events and volunteer work with public organizations including museums, zoos, festivals, libraries, and sporting events.
• Home and Independent Living Skills Training program focused on helping adults with developmental disabilities achieve independence through education in home living, money management, communication, public transportation, shopping, and personal care.
• Pre-vocational and Vocational Training Program that creates opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities to develop and improve vocational abilities including customer service, clerical work, filing, computer skills, custodial maintenance, and inventory control.
• Creative Arts Creative program where adults with developmental disabilities learn through artistic activities, developing motor skills and discovering hidden talents while creating artwork.
• Health and Fitness Program dedicated to educating adults with developmental disabilities about maintaining and improving overall health through physical training exercises matched to abilities and healthy nutrition education through engaging activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served over 100 adults with developmental disabilities at two sites
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Texas Woman's University (MOT Program)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Since summer 2014, faculty and students from Texas Woman's University Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) program have been assigned to Special Abilities as part of service learning. Students developed and implemented health and wellness programs including hand washing, oral hygiene, leisure activities, and social inclusion activities. The partnership expanded to include dental hygiene students and developed comprehensive programming for independent living skills, social inclusion, and vocational training.
• Texas Woman's University (Dental Hygiene Program)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014TWU Dental Hygiene faculty and students collaborated with occupational therapy students to deliver oral hygiene screenings and education at both Special Abilities locations. Clients and families were offered dental hygiene and occupational therapy screenings at the TWU on-campus dental clinic at no charge.
• Mixed Media CreationsminorOthersMixed Media Creations created a spotlight video for Special Abilities that tells the story of the organization, its ACEs (Adults Creating Excellence), and the impact of its work on clients, families, and the community.
• Whole Foods Market (Highland Village)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerWhole Foods Market hosted a Community Giving Day on June 22, 2017, donating 5% of total store sales to Special Abilities of North Texas.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• The Arc of Texas: Statewide advocacy and service organization operating day programs, supported employment, and case management for Texans with IDD, overlapping directly with Special Abilities' adult day habilitation and life-skills offerings.
• ServiceSource: National non-profit operating day programs, employment services, and community inclusion supports for people with IDD, mirroring Special Abilities' five-pillar day habilitation model.
• United Cerebral Palsy of Texas: Non-profit providing residential, day, and vocational programs for individuals with cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities in Texas, mirroring Special Abilities' day program and vocational training pillars.

Regional players

• Easterseals North Texas: Regional Easterseals affiliate providing adult day services, vocational programs, and case management for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, directly competing for HCS/CLASS-funded clients with Special Abilities.
• LifePath Systems: North Texas-based IDD and behavioral health provider delivering HCS/TxHmL waiver services, day habilitation, and supported employment in the Collin/Denton County region served by Special Abilities.
• ACH Child and Family Services: North Texas-based non-profit serving children and adults with developmental and behavioral health needs through day programs, supported employment, and case management, competing in the same Denton/Dallas catchment.

Broad incumbents

• BrightSpring Health Services: Large publicly-traded provider of home- and community-based services, including IDD waiver services and day programs across Texas, representing a scaled incumbent competing for the same waiver-funded adult population.
• MHMR of Tarrant County: Local authority providing IDD day habilitation, supported employment, and HCS/TxHmL services across the greater DFW region, representing a large public-sector peer with overlapping adult day and vocational programming.
• BCFS Health and Human Services: Texas-based multi-service non-profit delivering residential, day habilitation, and community-based services to individuals with IDD, providing a comparable service mix to Special Abilities across a broader geography.

Emerging players

• Raising Hope Foundation: Texas-focused non-profit providing vocational training, life-skills education, and community programs for adults with special needs, closely aligned with Special Abilities' pre-vocational and independent living pillars.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/specabilities
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/specialabilities

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Special Abilities of North Texas