United Disability Services

What United Disability Services does

United Disability Services is a 501(c)-equivalent nonprofit organization headquartered at 701 South Main Street in Akron, Ohio, operating continuously since 1949 to deliver person-centered programs for children, adults, and seniors with disabilities across Summit County and Northeast Ohio. The organization runs eight core service lines: Adult Day Services (including BraVo!, Prevocational Services, SociAbilities, and the CHAMPS seniors program), the All-Star Training Inclusive Sports Program sanctioned by Special Olympics, CARF-accredited Community Employment Services, Judith A. Read Low Vision Services (with the Northern Ohio Bioptic Driving Program), Transportation Services (40+ accessible vehicles, 300+ daily passengers, 600,000+ annual miles), the Toy & Resource Center developmental-toy lending library, Youth Transition Services including Pre-ETS, and Community Living Services for shared and semi-independent living. Additional assets include the award-winning Kaleidoscope literary magazine (published 1979 until recent discontinuation after 92 issues), the Kaleidoscope Podcast supported by PNC, and the Aspire! quarterly newsletter.

Revenue is generated through a mix of government Medicaid waivers administered by the Ohio Department of DD, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD), and County Boards of Developmental Disabilities; contracts such as Non-Emergency Transportation funded by Summit County Job and Family Services; charitable donations including monthly giving, matching gifts, and planned giving; Toy & Resource Center membership fees; and special-event transportation contracts. Service delivery is channeled primarily through government-agency referrals and direct community access from a single Akron headquarters, supplemented by mobile transportation across the region. The customer base of 6,000+ individuals annually is funded almost entirely through public-payer and philanthropic channels rather than direct out-of-pocket payment.

UDS has no parent company, no institutional investors, and operates as an independent nonprofit governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Robert Chess, with Brian W. Thomas serving as President/CEO. The organization holds eleven consecutive Three-Year CARF Accreditations for Community Employment Services and runs a senior leadership team spanning Programs, Finance, HR, Communications, Development, Transportation, and Low Vision clinical care (led by Dr. Jocelyn Pettitt). Core technology is constrained to assistive devices (magnifiers, bioptic telescopes, CCTVs, specialty tinted lenses) and operational fleet telematics; no proprietary software, API, or AI capability is offered.

Name

United Disability Services

Legal name

United Disability Services

Website

https://udsakron.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

United Disability Services is a 1949-founded Akron, Ohio nonprofit delivering person-centered disability programs — employment, low-vision, transportation, day services, sports, and youth transition — for 6,000+ individuals annually across Summit County and Northeast Ohio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321)

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), Assistive Technology (AT) & AAC Services (EDAJAKAF)

Keywords

• Disability services
• Vocational rehabilitation
• Accessible transportation
• Community employment
• Low vision care

Headquarters

HQ city

Akron

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funded Services: Services funded through waiver funding from Ohio Department of DD, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD), and County Boards of Developmental Disabilities. Individuals referred by these agencies pay no fee to receive services.
2. Non-Emergency Transportation (NET): Transportation services funded by the Summit County Department of Job and Family Services for qualified individuals needing transportation to medical appointments.
3. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, monthly giving programs, matching gifts from employers, stock donations, planned giving, and in-kind gifts. The organization serves more than 6,000 individuals with disabilities.
4. Toy & Resource Center Membership: Annual membership fees based on type of membership needed for borrowing developmental toys and resources.
5. Special Event Transportation Contracts: Lift-equipped vans available to community organizations on a contract basis for special events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

United Disability Services (UDS) is a nonprofit organization operating since 1949 that delivers person-centered programs for individuals with disabilities in Summit County and Northeast Ohio. Its portfolio includes Adult Day Services, Community Employment Services (CARF-accredited), Judith A. Read Low Vision Services, Transportation Services (fleet of 40+ vehicles), the Toy & Resource Center, Youth Transition Services, Community Living Services, and the inclusive All-Star Training sports program, serving more than 6,000 individuals annually.

Product overview

United Disability Services is a nonprofit disability services organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs and services for individuals with disabilities in Summit County and surrounding areas. The organization operates multiple distinct programs: Adult Day Services (including BraVo!, Prevocational Services, SociAbilities, and CHAMPS sub-programs), the All-Star Training Inclusive Sports Program (a Special Olympics-sanctioned sports program), Community Employment Services (CARF-accredited employment support), Judith A. Read Low Vision Services (vision rehabilitation clinic), Transportation Services (accessible fleet and NET), Toy & Resource Center (developmental toy lending library), Youth Transition Services (pre-employment services), Community Living Services (residential options), Kaleidoscope Magazine (award-winning literary magazine), Kaleidoscope Podcast (audio presentation of magazine content), and Aspire! (quarterly newsletter). The organization serves over 6,000 individuals annually and has been operating since 1949.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Judith A. Read Low Vision Services: Low vision rehab services helping children and adults with visual impairments recognize and achieve their potential for independent living through education and specialized services. Renamed in May 2016 in memory of Judy Read.
• Kaleidoscope Magazine
• Toy & Resource Center

Products and services

• Adult Day Services Day programs for adults with disabilities offering community engagement, personal care, nursing services, prevocational training, and recreational activities; serves individuals referred by government agencies with no fee to the participant.
• Community Employment Services CARF-accredited employment services helping individuals with disabilities obtain and maintain meaningful employment through job coaching, training, and ongoing supports; also serves transitioning youth via Pre-ETS.
• Judith A. Read Low Vision Services Vision rehabilitation clinic for children and adults with visual impairments, offering low vision assessments, assistive technology, and specialized services including the Northern Ohio Bioptic Driving Program.
• Transportation Services Accessible transportation for Adult Day Services passengers and Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NET) to medical appointments throughout Summit County; lift-equipped vans also available for special events on contract.
• Toy & Resource Center Toy lending library loaning thousands of developmental toys and resource materials to preschools, therapists, parents, and caregivers of children from birth to age six; access via annual membership.
• Youth Transition Services Pre-Employment Transition Services for students with disabilities ages 14+ transitioning from high school to adulthood, including career exploration and summer work experience programs.
• Community Living Services Community living options including shared living arrangements with host families and semi-independent living support for individuals with disabilities.
• All-Star Training Inclusive Sports Program Special Olympics-sanctioned inclusive competitive sports program offering 11 sports (basketball, bowling, soccer, golf, volleyball, etc.) across all seasons for athletes of all ages and abilities.
• Kaleidoscope Magazine Literature and fine arts magazine featuring creative writing, essays, poetry, and visual art exploring the experience of disability; published since 1979 with global contributors.
• Kaleidoscope Podcast Podcast featuring readings and interviews with writers, artists, and individuals discussing disability, diversity, and inclusion, supported by PNC.

Named customers3 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Summit County Developmental Disabilities BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting the Toy & Resource Center, one of the largest developmental toy lending libraries in the state serving children from birth to six years.
• RePlay for KidsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting the Toy & Resource Center through donations and resources.
• R.C. Musson and Katherine M. Musson Charitable FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation supporting the Toy & Resource Center with charitable contributions.
• VANTAGE AgingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization that connected volunteer Carrie Roseberry to UDS, providing recognition and program support through Retired and Senior Volunteer Programs.
• Hearts For MusicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInclusive orchestra that performed at Carrie Roseberry Day celebration, providing musical entertainment for volunteer recognition events.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Goodwill Industries International: National nonprofit operating employment services, vocational rehabilitation, and community programs for people with disabilities and other barriers. Comparable in mission focus on employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities and reliance on referral-based funding.
• National Industries for the Blind (NIB): National nonprofit creating employment opportunities for people who are blind through AbilityOne program and associated agencies. Comparable in mission alignment with UDS's employment services for visually impaired individuals.
• ServiceSource: Nonprofit providing disability employment services, community living, and vocational rehabilitation with CARF accreditation. Comparable in employment-services focus, CARF-accredited model, and government-referral funding streams.
• Easterseals: National nonprofit providing disability services including employment, day services, transportation, and assistive technology across the lifespan. Most directly comparable peer — similar mission, program breadth, and CARF-accredited employment services model.
• The Arc of the United States: National disability advocacy and services organization providing community living, employment supports, day services, and family/caregiver support. Comparable program mix to UDS's Adult Day Services and Community Living Services lines.
• Bosma Enterprises: Indiana-based nonprofit providing employment, rehabilitation, and independent living services for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Closest direct competitor in the vision rehabilitation subsegment of UDS's portfolio.
• Melwood: Regional nonprofit providing disability employment, day services, recreational programs, and community living in the Mid-Atlantic. Comparable in operating recreational/sports programs (similar to All-Star Training), vocational services, and person-centered model.
• Lighthouse Guild: National nonprofit providing vision rehabilitation, low vision clinical services, and assistive technology for individuals with visual impairments. Comparable in operating a specialized low vision clinic and assistive technology dispensing practice like UDS's Judith A. Read Low Vision Services.
• United Cerebral Palsy (UCP): National disability services nonprofit providing residential, employment, day, and assistive technology services to individuals with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. Directly comparable in service breadth across the lifespan and government-referral business model.

Regional players

• VANTAGE Aging: Ohio-based nonprofit providing services for older adults including RSVP volunteer programs and aging-related services. Comparable in Ohio geographic footprint, volunteer-driven model, and overlapping aging/disability service populations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/udsakron
• Facebookfacebook.com/uniteddisabilityservices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/15093061

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 United Disability Services