Center for Accessible Living

What Center for Accessible Living does

The Center for Accessible Living (CAL), founded in January 1981, is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization designated as Kentucky's first Independent Living Center. It provides disability rights, resources, and direct services to people with all types of disabilities across the Commonwealth of Kentucky through four regional offices in Louisville (headquarters), Lexington, Murray, and Bowling Green. Service delivery is governed by a consumer-controlled model in which a majority of board members and management staff are individuals with disabilities.

The service portfolio is anchored in the five federally-mandated core independent living services — information and referral, independent living skills training, peer support, advocacy, and transition assistance — and extends into specialized programs: WIPA benefits counseling for SSI/SSDI beneficiaries across 37 western Kentucky counties; Individual Placement and Support (IPS) employment services for individuals with mental health conditions; CALtech assistive technology demonstrations, loans, and reutilization through the KATS Network; Rampbuilders, Project Going Home, and Ramp Up Kentucky home-accessibility ramp construction and loans; Kentucky Early Intervention System (First Steps) services for birth-to-three children; Home and Community Based Medicaid waiver case management; housing assistance; accessibility surveys ($300 nonprofit / $500 for-profit); disability awareness training ($300–$600); accessible office space rentals ($25/hour); the no-interest Appalachian Assistive Technology Loan Fund; and the housed Coalition for the Rights of Parents with Disabilities (CRPD) advocacy coalition. CAL also operates Independence University, a Pre-Employment Training Services (Pre-ETS) youth transition program in partnership with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation in Shelby County and Hart County.

Revenue is generated through a mix of federal, state, and local government grants (RSA, Title VII, SSA WIPA, WIOA/Pre-ETS, Kentucky Medicaid HCB waiver), corporate and foundation grants (Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation), individual donations and corporate matching gifts via PayPal/Venmo, fee-for-service accessibility audits and disability awareness training, and accessible office rentals. Core IL services are delivered free to consumers with disabilities. The organization is not a technology platform; all services are human-delivered, the underlying "technology" comprises assistive devices, ramp construction equipment, and case management information systems, and the customer-facing surface is a Wix-hosted website.

Name

Center for Accessible Living

Legal name

Center for Accessible Living, Inc.

Website

https://calky.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Center for Accessible Living is a Kentucky-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the state's first Independent Living Center, providing disability rights, independent living, assistive technology, employment, advocacy, and housing services to people with all types of disabilities through four regional offices spanning the Commonwealth.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and Independent Living Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Independent Living with Supportive Services (Light ADL/IADL Support) (HLADAAAE), Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Affordable / Low-Income Assisted Living (Medicaid Waiver Focused) (HLADABAE), Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation (EDAKANAK)

Keywords

• Independent living services
• Disability rights advocacy
• Assistive technology access
• Disability resource center
• Community-based services

Headquarters

HQ city

Louisville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Contracts: CAL receives federal, state, and local government funding as a Center for Independent Living. Initial funding included a $48,600 grant from the City of Louisville's Community Development Cabinet and a $200,000 RSA grant from the US Department of Education. Operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Private donations from individuals, corporate matching gifts, and memorial gifts. CAL accepts donations via PayPal, Venmo, and mail. Special fundraising events include Louisville Bats baseball games where portion of ticket sales benefit CAL.
3. Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Funding: Funding through Office of Vocational Rehabilitation for Pre-Employment Training Services (Pre-ETS) provided to students with disabilities.
4. Medicaid Home and Community Based (HCB) Waiver Services: Case management waiver services for individuals eligible for Medicaid, providing long-term supports to remain in homes and communities rather than nursing facilities.
5. Fee-for-Service Training: Accessibility surveys and inspections for businesses and organizations ($300 for nonprofits, $500 for for-profit). Disability awareness training sessions ranging from $300 to $600 depending on company size and format.
6. Office Space Rentals: Rental of accessible office spaces including Computer Lab, Community Room, Board Room, and 2 Office Rooms at $25 per hour with 2-hour minimum.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Center for Accessible Living is a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) disability rights and resource center providing independent living services to people with all types of disabilities across Kentucky. Core offerings include the five federally-mandated Independent Living services (information and referral, independent living skills training, peer support, individual and systems advocacy, and transition services), supplemented by assistive technology access, employment programs, ramp construction, housing assistance, early intervention, and Medicaid waiver case management.

Product overview

Center for Accessible Living is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of independent living services for people with disabilities in Kentucky. The organization operates as a unified service delivery model rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture, providing Core Independent Living Services as the foundational offering that includes information and referral, independent living skills training, peer support, advocacy, and transition assistance. Supplementary programs include WIPA (Work Incentives Planning and Assistance) for benefits counseling, the IPS (Individual Placement and Support) Program for employment services, CALtech for assistive technology, ramp programs for home accessibility, First Steps for early intervention, HCB Waiver case management, housing assistance, accessibility checks, disability training, and Consumer Spaces. Additional services include the Advocado Press repository of disability rights publications and the Coalition for the Rights of Parents with Disabilities (CRPD) advocacy coalition.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Independence University: Youth transition program helping students with disabilities prepare for transitioning to adulthood through self-advocacy, career exploration, career readiness, workplace etiquette, money skills, self-determination, and community and social skills. Currently operating in Shelby County and Hart County.
• WIPA (Work Incentives Planning and Assistance)
• IPS (Individual Placement and Support) Program
• CALtech
• Project Going Home
• Rampbuilders Program
• Coalition for the Rights of Parents with Disabilities (CRPD)

Products and services

• Core Independent Living (IL) Services Provides the five federally-mandated core independent living services: information and referral, independent living skills training, peer support, advocacy, and transition assistance for individuals with disabilities.
• Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Benefits counseling program helping SSI and SSDI disability beneficiaries ages 14 through retirement understand work options, work incentive programs, and the effect of employment on their benefits, delivered across 37 western Kentucky counties.
• Advocacy Services Individual and systems advocacy helping consumers resolve discrimination, learn self-advocacy skills, and work toward systems changes at federal, state, and local levels.
• Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Program Evidence-based employment program helping individuals with mental health conditions and substance use disorders find and maintain competitive, integrated employment.
• Ramp Programs Home access ramp construction and loan programs including the Rampbuilders Program (free custom ramps for Louisville Metro area since 1981), Project Going Home (free ramps for individuals with recent spinal cord injuries), and Ramp Up Kentucky portable ramp loans.
• CALtech Assistive Technology Regional assistive technology center providing demonstrations, short-term equipment loans, and reutilization of assistive technology devices for people with disabilities, operating as a member of the KATS Network.
• First Steps (Kentucky Early Intervention System) Early intervention services for infants and toddlers from birth to age three with developmental delays or disabilities, provided as an official Kentucky Early Intervention System provider.
• HCB Case Management Waiver Services Home and Community Based waiver case management helping individuals who are age 65 or older or have physical disabilities access supports and services to live independently and remain connected to their communities rather than entering nursing facilities.
• Accessibility Checks Accessibility surveys and on-site inspections for businesses and organizations, helping them understand space accessibility through ADA guidelines and real-world usability considerations. $300 for nonprofits and $500 for for-profit businesses, with additional $50/hour beyond 4 hours.
• Disability Training Disability awareness and sensitivity training equipping organizations with practical knowledge on respectful and effective interaction with individuals with disabilities. Training fees range from $300 to $600 depending on company size, number of participants, and training format.
• Consumer Spaces Free computer lab and community room access for CAL consumers to complete job applications, access online services, build digital skills, and participate in meetings and workshops.
• Office Rentals Accessible office space rentals including computer lab, community room, board room, and office rooms available for community partners in Louisville at $25 per hour with 2-hour minimum.
• Appalachian Assistive Technology Loan Fund (AATLF) No-interest, no-fee loan program helping people with disabilities finance assistive technology devices, with loans ranging from $100 to $7,000 for Kentuckians with disabilities.
• Housing Assistance Housing coordination services providing lists of accessible and affordable rentals, housing rights information, Section 8 and subsidized housing application assistance, and Olmstead voucher support.
• Coalition for the Rights of Parents with Disabilities (CRPD) Advocacy coalition housed at CAL that works to remove discrimination and barriers faced by individuals with disabilities exercising their rights to be parents, through legislation and state services advocacy.
• Independence University Youth Transition Program Pre-Employment Training Services (Pre-ETS) for students with disabilities, providing transition support including self-advocacy, career exploration, career readiness, workplace etiquette, money skills, and community and social skills, delivered through school partnerships in Shelby County and Hart County.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80,000 people identified with disabilities in Jefferson County alone in 1980 study that led to CAL's founding
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KATS Network (Kentucky Assistive Technology)coreTechnology or IntegrationCALtech is a participating member of the KATS Network, a statewide assistive technology network. CAL participates in the Lan Directory for locating available AT equipment and coordinates with KATS for the Ramp Up Kentucky portable ramp loan program.
• Calloway County Salvation ArmycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for ramp construction in Calloway County. The Calloway County Salvation Army provides funds through their annual kettle drive, with volunteers including VBS Post 6291 building ramps according to ADA requirements.
• Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for quarterly Emergency Preparedness Workshops providing education, tools, and resources designed to support youth, families, and people with accessible and functional needs.
• Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and WellnessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in quarterly Emergency Preparedness Workshops.
• Project WarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in quarterly Emergency Preparedness Workshops.
• Norton Children'sminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in quarterly Emergency Preparedness Workshops.
• Pediatric Pandemic Network (PPN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in quarterly Emergency Preparedness Workshops.
• Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAATLF is a subsidiary of PATF. PATF provides the umbrella structure for the Appalachian Assistive Technology Loan Fund, which offers no-interest, no-fee loans ranging from $100 to $7,000 for assistive technology to Kentuckians with disabilities.
• Office of Vocational RehabilitationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Independence University as a provider of Pre-Employment Training Services (Pre-ETS) and broader employment services for individuals with disabilities.
• Shelby County SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependence University school program partner in Shelby County providing transition services to students with disabilities.
• Hart County SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependence University school program partner in Hart County providing transition services to students with disabilities.
• Kentucky Early Intervention System (First Steps/KEIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAL is an official Kentucky Early Intervention System provider serving infants and toddlers from birth to age three with developmental delays or disabilities.
• Social Security AdministrationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWIPA program works with SSI and SSDI beneficiaries as a Community Work Incentive Coordinator under SSA guidance.
• Brain Injury Association of Kentucky (BIAK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember organization of the Coalition for the Rights of Parents with Disabilities (CRPD) housed at CAL.
• Human Development Institute at University of Kentucky (HDI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember organization of the Coalition for the Rights of Parents with Disabilities (CRPD) housed at CAL.
• Independence Place of Kentucky (IPKY)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember organization of the Coalition for the Rights of Parents with Disabilities (CRPD) housed at CAL.
• Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities (CCDD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember organization of the Coalition for the Rights of Parents with Disabilities (CRPD) housed at CAL.
• Kentucky Special Parent Involvement Network (KY-SPIN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember organization of the Coalition for the Rights of Parents with Disabilities (CRPD) housed at CAL.
• Epilepsy Foundation of Kentuckiana (EFKY)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember organization of the Coalition for the Rights of Parents with Disabilities (CRPD) housed at CAL.
• Mental Health America of KentuckyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember organization of the Coalition for the Rights of Parents with Disabilities (CRPD) housed at CAL.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• The Arc of the United States: National disability advocacy and services organization focused on intellectual and developmental disabilities. Comparable advocacy and systems-change work, though broader and more IDD-specific.
• Easterseals: National nonprofit providing disability and community-based services (employment, AT, housing support). Broader in scope than CAL and serves a wider population, but overlapping in disability services.

Direct peers

• Center for Independence of the Disabled, NY (CIDNY): NYC-based CIL providing independent living services, benefits counseling, and advocacy for New Yorkers with disabilities. Direct peer in CIL service model and federal designation.
• Access Living: Chicago-based Center for Independent Living providing the same five core IL services (information & referral, peer support, advocacy, independent living skills, transition) to people with disabilities. Operates as a comparable 501(c)(3) CIL with consumer-controlled governance.
• Topeka Independent Living Resource Center: Topeka, Kansas-based CIL providing the five core independent living services and advocacy for Kansans with disabilities. Operates with the same consumer-controlled governance model and federal CIL designation as CAL.
• Starkloff Disability Institute: St. Louis-based CIL offering independent living services, advocacy, and disability employment programs. Highly comparable service portfolio including community-based peer support and disability awareness training.

Others

• National Council on Independent Living (NCIL): National umbrella organization for the CIL movement. Not a direct service provider but sets standards, advocates federally, and channels training/funding to CILs including CAL.

Emerging players

• Disability Rights Advocates: National nonprofit disability rights legal center. Comparable in systems advocacy and ADA enforcement mission, though primarily legal rather than direct-service focused.

Regional players

• Independence Place of Kentucky (IPKY): Kentucky-based CIL that is both a CAL partner (housed at CAL's Lexington office) and an overlapping service provider. Comparable CIL model operating in central Kentucky.
• Disability Rights Kentucky (DRKY): Kentucky's federally-funded Protection and Advocacy (P&A) system. Operates in the same Kentucky geography and population as CAL with overlapping advocacy mission; complementary rather than duplicative role.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CALKYCIL
• Facebookfacebook.com/centerforaccessibleliving
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/center-for-accessible-living
• Instagraminstagram.com/CALKentucky
• TikToktiktok.com/@center4accessibleliving

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 Center for Accessible Living