Walton Options For Independent Living

What Walton Options For Independent Living does

Walton Options for Independent Living is a private, 501(c)(3) non-profit Center for Independent Living (CIL) incorporated in Georgia in September 1994, delivering federally mandated disability services across 16 Georgia counties and 10 South Carolina counties from offices in Augusta (GA), North Augusta (SC), and a Low Country Service Center in Walterboro (SC). Its service portfolio comprises five core CIL services — Information & Referral, Advocacy, Independent Living Skills Training, Peer Support, and Transitions (including nursing home diversion) — supplemented by specialized programs such as Employment Services (Hire Me GA, Ticket to Work), Work Incentives Planning & Assistance (WIPA), the STAR durable medical equipment redistribution hub, the Boldly Be wellness curriculum, the OH YEA! youth transition program, and adaptive sports/recreation delivered through the wholly operated Walton Foundation for Independence subsidiary (absorbed in 2019), which runs Camp TBI and Walton Family Weekend at Camp Twin Lakes. The organization is consumer-controlled: over 51% of staff and board are persons with significant disabilities, satisfying the federal CIL governance requirement and providing the lived-experience basis for its peer support model.

The revenue model is grant-dependent and free-to-consumer: primary funding flows from federal grants administered by the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL/HHS), supplemented by state vocational rehabilitation contracts, private donations (online, check/cash, Amazon Wish Lists), durable medical equipment donations for the STAR program, and event sponsorships for the MVP Community Awards, Love Shouldn't Hurt, TEK Quest, and ADA celebrations. There is no fee-for-service billing; services are delivered at no cost to consumers regardless of ability to pay. Go-to-market is community-led and referral-driven, combining in-person office visits, home and institutional visits, virtual/online classes, peer support groups (Be You!, Dreamcatchers, I'm Sweet, KeyNotes, Looking Forward), an active YouTube channel ('Tea With Lisa'), and a social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. The self-referral form system commits to consumer follow-up within three business days.

Operationally, the technology layer is conventional — a website, online intake forms, virtual meeting tools, and a YouTube content channel — with no disclosed AI, proprietary software platform, or public API. The organization has accumulated intangible assets including a Charity Navigator 4-star rating, Candid 2026 transparency designation, and GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency. The headcount of 11-50 employees supports a three-office footprint and a broad service menu, but the absence of disclosed revenue, equity-style funding, or scaled earned-income streams means growth is constrained to the cadence of ACL appropriations and the organization's fundraising capacity.

Name

Walton Options For Independent Living

Legal name

Walton Options for Independent Living

Website

https://waltonoptions.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Walton Options for Independent Living is a 501(c)(3) Center for Independent Living, founded in 1994, that delivers federally mandated disability services — including peer support, advocacy, independent living skills training, transitions, and assistive technology — to people with disabilities across 26 counties in Georgia and South Carolina, funded primarily through ACL/HHS grants and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and Independent Living Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

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

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAEAG

Disability Services & Independent Living Support

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYBPAGACAG

Disability Services & Independent Living Support

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Health & Medical Nonprofits

SECONDARYEDAKANAK

Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation

Education/Special Education & Learning Support Services/Transition Services (Post-Secondary, Employment & Independent Living)

SECONDARYEDAKANAJ

Benefits Counseling & Financial Literacy for Transition-Age Youth

Education/Special Education & Learning Support Services/Transition Services (Post-Secondary, Employment & Independent Living)

Keywords

• Disability services
• Independent living
• Peer support programs
• Community advocacy
• Assistive technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Augusta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Federal and State Grants: Walton Options is primarily funded through grants from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services. The organization operates as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) receiving government grants to support Center for Independent Living operations.
2. Donations and Contributions: The organization accepts monetary donations online, via check/cash, and through Amazon Wish Lists. Donations are tax-deductible as a 501(c)(3) organization. The organization also receives durable medical equipment donations for the STAR Program.
3. Sponsorships and Event Revenue: Sponsorship opportunities are available for community events including MVP Community Awards, Love Shouldn't Hurt, TEK Quest, and ADA Celebrations. Some events are ticketed to cover outreach costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Walton Options for Independent Living is a private, non-profit Center for Independent Living that delivers five federally required core services — Information & Referral, Advocacy, Independent Living Skills Training, Peer Support, and Transitions — to people with all types of disabilities across 16 Georgia counties and 10 South Carolina counties. The organization supplements these core services with specialized programs including Employment Services, Work Incentives Planning & Assistance (WIPA), the STAR durable medical equipment redistribution program, the Boldly Be wellness initiative, the OH YEA! youth transition program, GA Vision Program for older adults, and adaptive sports, camps, and gaming. Services are provided free of charge or with minimal co-pay to individual consumers living in or seeking to transition into community-based independent living.

Product overview

Walton Options For Independent Living operates as a Center for Independent Living (CIL) providing a comprehensive suite of disability services across Georgia and South Carolina. The organization offers five federally-required core services: Information & Referral, Advocacy, Independent Living Skills Training, Peer Support, and Transitions. These core services are supported by specialized programs including Employment Services with the Hire Me GA portal, Work Incentives Planning & Assistance (WIPA), assistive technology resources through the STAR Program Hub, and youth transition programming through the OH YEA! program. The Boldly Be program provides wellness and empowerment resources. The Walton Foundation for Independence subsidiary operates adaptive sports, recreation, and camp programs including Camp TBI for traumatic brain injury survivors and Walton Family Weekend. Services are delivered through three regional offices in Augusta, GA, North Augusta, SC, and Low Country, SC, covering 16 Georgia counties and 10 South Carolina counties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Information & Referral Provides resources and community connections for persons with disabilities to help them live independently, including assistance with nursing home transitions, support groups, assistive technology guidance, employment resources, housing, transportation, and financial assistance.
• Advocacy Services Teaches persons with disabilities about their rights under the ADA and how to effectively advocate for themselves; provides assistance with both individual and systems advocacy to remove barriers in housing, employment, transportation, and community access.
• Independent Living Skills Training Offers Life Skills Training in group and individual settings covering personal growth, health and wellness, organizational skills, money management, emergency preparedness, self-advocacy, transportation, and community resources to help consumers gain independence.
• Peer Support Programs Connects people with disabilities with peer mentors who have lived experience, providing support, knowledge sharing, and encouragement through various support groups including Be You!, Dreamcatchers, I'm Sweet, KeyNotes, and Looking Forward.
• Transitions Services Assists persons with disabilities transitioning from nursing homes and institutional facilities into community housing; includes options counseling, Money Follows the Person program, and nursing home transition coordination.
• Boldly Be Program A comprehensive wellness and empowerment initiative providing information and resources for the health, safety, empowerment, and well-being of people with disabilities through workshops on health, emergency preparedness, abuse prevention, self-advocacy, and voter registration.
• Employment Services Comprehensive employment support including Hire Me GA job placement, Gaining Preparedness Skills training, Ticket to Work program, Youth Pre-employment Services, and employer sensitivity training to promote competitive integrated employment for individuals with disabilities.
• Work Incentives Planning & Assistance (WIPA) Provides work incentives counseling to help individuals with disabilities understand how income affects their Social Security benefits and learn about opportunities for asset accumulation while maintaining benefits.
• STAR Program Hub A durable medical equipment redistribution hub that sanitizes, refurbishes, and redistributes wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs, and other equipment to people with disabilities in the community.
• GA Vision Program for Adults 55+ Vision services program specifically designed for adults aged 55 and older to support independent living for seniors with disabilities.
• Youth & Young Adult Programs (OH YEA!) Occupational Horizons Youth Empowering Activities program offering transition resources for youth ages 14-24 including entrepreneurial skills, financial planning, pre-employment skills, self-determination training, and work experience opportunities.
• Adaptive Sports & Recreation Adaptive sports programs including wheelchair tennis, adaptive cycling, mountain biking, kayaking, and accessible leisure activities offered in partnership with Catalyst Sports and the Georgia Rehabilitation Institute.
• Adaptive Gaming Accessible gaming programs and events designed to provide recreational opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
• Camp TBI (To Be Independent)

Quantifiable outcome

• No cost to become a consumer - services are free or minimal co-pay
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

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

• Catalyst SportscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Walton Options partnered with Catalyst Sports and Georgia Rehabilitation Institute to bring adaptive cycling, mountain biking, and paddling to the Augusta community. Catalyst Sports is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities through outdoor adventures.
• Walton Foundation for IndependencecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019In 2019, Walton Options assumed operations of Walton Foundation for Independence, allowing more individuals with disabilities to partake in sports, health, and leisure activities. The foundation supports Camp TBI, Walton Family Weekend, and adaptive sports programs.
• Georgia Rehabilitation InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Georgia Rehabilitation Institute collaborated with Walton Rehabilitation Hospital and Area Agency on Aging to establish Walton Options in 1994, and continues as a partner in adaptive sports programming.
• Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia (SILCGA)coreOthersWalton Options is actively involved with SILCGA which develops the State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL) for Georgia. Together they advocate for persons with disabilities at state and national levels.
• South Carolina Statewide Independent Living Council (SC SILC)coreOthersDue to service areas covering two states, Walton Options is actively involved in both SC SILC which develops the State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL) for South Carolina.
• Administration on Community Living (ACL)coreOthersPrimary federal funder of Centers for Independent Living. CILs are funded through ACL which administers the CIL program nationally.
• Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation AgencymajorOthersState vocational rehabilitation agency providing employment services and youth transition support. Walton Options is a proud partner of the GVRA Pathways to Partnership Grant Project.
• South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation (SCVR)majorOthersPartnership with SCVR and SC Commission of the Blind via CareerBOOST program providing Pre-Employment Transition Services to transition-aged youth in South Carolina.
• Social Security AdministrationmajorOthersPartner providing information about Social Security benefits including SSI and SSDI. WIPA program helps consumers understand benefits and work incentives.
• National Council on Independent Living (NCIL)majorOthersNCIL is the longest-running national cross-disability, grassroots organization run by and for people with disabilities. Walton Options is actively involved in advocacy efforts.
• Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL)minorOthersNational grassroots nonprofit for rural independent living issues. Walton Options works with APRIL due to rural population in many of their counties.
• Camp Twin LakesmajorOthersFully accessible camp facility in Rutledge, Georgia where Camp TBI and Walton Family Weekend are held annually.
• Area Agency on AgingmajorOthersOne of the original founding partners of Walton Options along with Georgia Rehabilitation Institute and Walton Rehabilitation Hospital.
• Meals on Wheels AmericaminorOthersWalton Options is a 2024 member of Meals on Wheels America. Collaboration assists seniors with disabilities and those transitioning from nursing homes to acquire nutrition assistance and home modifications.
• Girl Scouts of Historic GeorgiaminorOthersPartnership focused on creating inclusive opportunities for girls with disabilities in Girl Scouts programming. Featured in Walton Options YouTube content.
• Willison Family YMCAminorOthersCommunity partner through Silver Sneakers program and adaptive sports initiatives. Featured in Walton Options YouTube content on inclusive fitness.
• Richmond County Board of ElectionsminorOthersPartner for accessible voting education and voter registration outreach. Featured in Walton Options YouTube content on accessible voting.
• Serenity Behavioral Health SystemsminorOthersMental health resource provider featured in Walton Options YouTube content on mental health services for adults and youth in the CSRA.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Disability Rights South Carolina: South Carolina's federally-funded Protection and Advocacy system, sharing geography with Walton Options' South Carolina service area. Comparable as a disability services nonprofit funded by federal grants but with a legal-advocacy focus rather than direct service delivery.
• Shepherd Center: A Georgia-based catastrophic care and rehabilitation hospital serving people with spinal cord injury, brain injury, and other disabilities. Geographic overlap with Walton Options and comparable in serving TBI populations (Walton Options' Camp TBI).

Direct peers

• Atlanta Independent Living: Another federally-designated CIL operating in Georgia, delivering the same five core services (Information & Referral, Advocacy, IL Skills, Peer Support, Transitions) to people with disabilities. Most directly comparable to Walton Options given shared state, federal funding stream, and service model.
• Access Living: A Chicago-based CIL providing the five core independent living services alongside youth transition, employment, and advocacy programming to people with disabilities — a strong peer for benchmarking peer-support, advocacy, and IL skills delivery.
• Independence First: A Wisconsin-based CIL offering the five core services plus youth transition, benefits planning, and adaptive recreation programs. Operates with similar consumer-driven governance and is directly comparable in service breadth and federal funding model.
• Ability360: A well-established Center for Independent Living in Arizona that delivers the same five federal core services plus employment, independent living skills, and youth transition programs — directly comparable service mix and CIL operating model.
• Disability Advocates of Kent County: A Michigan-based CIL providing the five core independent living services plus benefits planning, youth transition, and community advocacy — closely aligned in scope, federal funding source, and consumer-driven model.

Broad incumbents

• The Arc: The largest national disability advocacy and services organization, with state and local chapters providing advocacy, employment, and family support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Broader scope than a CIL but overlapping in advocacy and transition services.
• Easterseals: National nonprofit providing disability and community-based services including employment, IL support, and recreation. Comparable in mission and adaptive recreation programs but operates a much broader national footprint and service portfolio.

Others

• National Council on Independent Living (NCIL): National grassroots advocacy organization that Walton Options is actively involved with. While not a direct service peer, NCIL sets policy direction and standards affecting all CILs including Walton Options.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/WaltonOptions
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCQs-CTK6a1fRf-lsJJIHW7Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/Walton-Options-173000306104830
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/walton-options-for-independent-living
• Instagraminstagram.com/waltonoptions

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Walton Options For Independent Living