disABILITY LINK

What disABILITY LINK does

disABILITY LINK is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Center for Independent Living (CIL) headquartered at 1901 Montreal Road, Suite 102, Decatur, GA (mailing address Tucker, GA 30084), serving people with disabilities and their families across 12 metro-Atlanta counties — Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, and Rockdale — with limited services in six additional counties (Butts, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Upson). Founded around 2004 and operating with approximately 25 staff, the organization delivers the four federally mandated core CIL services (Advocacy, Independent Living Skills Training, Information & Referral, and Peer Support / Peer Counseling) plus Transition, Employment, Ticket to Work, LEAPS (Locating Employment Avenues through Peer Support), Empowering Our Youth, Veterans (Right Flank March), Deaf/Blind, Housing & Home Modification, Transportation (VTAP), Travel Training, SNAP application assistance, ICWP Service Coordination, Healthcare Marketplace Navigation, Loan Closet, Health & Wellness, COVID-19 outreach, and Legislative Advocacy.

Technology infrastructure is intentionally lightweight and mission-aligned rather than proprietary. The consumer-facing site runs on WordPress with the WP Accessibility Helper plugin, intake is handled via phone (including 711 TTY), email, postal mail, and downloadable PDF packets, and virtual programming (Coping with Coronavirus Class, COVID Team Talk) is delivered through Zoom. The structural differentiator is the federally mandated consumer-control model, in which a majority of staff and board are people with disabilities — a regulatory requirement that functions as a barrier to non-disability-led competitors. Distribution is community-led: direct in-office case management, weekly neighborhood canvassing across the service area, peer-led support groups, and referral partnerships with sister CILs, SILC of Georgia, AAPD, ADAPT, People First, Not Dead Yet, and the National Federation of the Blind.

Revenue is generated through a mix of restricted and unrestricted foundation grants (Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Direct Effect Quality of Life Grant up to $25,000 in 2019; Coca-Cola Foundation grant 2018), government and public-sector contracts for ICWP Service Coordination, Ticket to Work, Vocational Rehabilitation, SNAP application site, and Administration for Community Living cooperative agreements, individual and corporate donations (BetterWorld.org, Amazon Smile charity ID 58-2400240, Kroger Community Rewards NPO 48113, PayPal, and check), and an annual Gala with $75 individual tickets and Champion/Leader/Advocate/Pioneer sponsorship tiers. No revenue figure is publicly disclosed; FY2018 programmatic outputs were 3,874 individuals served via information and referral, 10,852 individual services delivered, 1,068 individuals receiving vocational and employment services, and 14 individuals relocated from institutions to community-based living.

Name

disABILITY LINK

Legal name

disABILITY LINK

Website

https://disabilitylink.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

disABILITY LINK is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Center for Independent Living in metro Atlanta, Georgia, delivering federally mandated independent living, advocacy, peer support, employment, and transition services to people with disabilities across 12 counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Services / Independent Living Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), Accessibility, Accommodations & Assistive Services (EDALAFAN), Benefits Counseling & Financial Literacy for Transition-Age Youth (EDAKANAJ)

Keywords

• Independent living services
• Disability advocacy support
• Peer support services
• Disability employment services
• Assistive technology support

Headquarters

HQ city

Tucker

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, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate & Foundation Grants: Restricted and unrestricted grant funding from foundations such as the Coca-Cola Foundation and the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Direct Effect Quality of Life Grants (up to $25,000).
2. Individual & Corporate Donations: Tax-exempt donations accepted online via BetterWorld.org, Amazon Smile (charity ID 58-2400240), Kroger Community Rewards (NPO number 48113), PayPal, and check. Funds support general operations and programs.
3. Fundraising Events (Annual Gala): Annual Gala generating ticket revenue (individual tickets $75), sponsor packages at Champion/Leader/Advocate/Pioneer tiers, silent auction proceeds, and cash bar to fund mission expansion across the 12-county service area.
4. Government & Public-Sector Contracts: Government contract funding for IL services, including the ICWP (Independent Care Waiver Program) Service Coordination, Ticket to Work, Vocational Rehabilitation, SNAP application site, and other state/federal programs (e.g., Administration for Community Living cooperative agreements).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

disABILITY LINK is a 501(c)(3) Center for Independent Living that delivers federally mandated core CIL services — Advocacy, Independent Living Skills Training, Information & Referral, Peer Support, and Transition Services — directly to people with disabilities across 12 metro-Atlanta counties. Beyond the five core services, the organization operates specialized programs covering employment (Ticket to Work, LEAPS), assistive technology, deaf-blind services, housing and home modification, transportation (VTAP), SNAP application assistance, ICWP service coordination, youth transition (Empowering Our Youth, AAPD Summer Internship), veterans programming, health and wellness, and legislative advocacy. Services are delivered free of charge to consumers primarily through direct office visits, phone/TTY intake, Zoom-based classes, peer-led support groups, and weekly neighborhood outreach.

Product overview

disABILITY LINK is a 501(c)3 Center for Independent Living (CIL) located in Tucker, Georgia, serving a 12-county metro-Atlanta service area. Rather than offering a single software product, the organization operates as a service platform built around five federally mandated core services — Advocacy, Independent Living Skills Training, Information & Referral, Peer Support / Peer Counseling, and Transition Services — extended through a portfolio of named programs and modules including Employment Services, the Ticket to Work Program, LEAPS (Locating Employment Avenues through Peer Support), Empowering Our Youth, the disABILITY LINK/AAPD Summer Internship Program, Assistive Technology, Deaf/Blind Services, Housing & Home Modification, Transportation (VTAP), Travel Training, Veterans Program, ICWP Service Coordination, Loan Closet, Healthcare Marketplace navigation, SNAP/Food Stamps application site, Health & Wellness, COVID-19 outreach and Coping with Coronavirus Class, Legislative Advocacy, Not Dead Yet of GA, and the GARRS Broadcast and ABILITY LINK Newsletter publications. These programs are delivered by a coordinated staff of Independent Living Specialists, case managers, employment/career specialists, peer support trainers, and youth coordinators, and are supported by an online Resource Database and an upcoming online Shop.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Advocacy (Individual and Systems Advocacy)
• Independent Living Skills Training
• Information and Referral
• Peer Support / Peer Counseling
• Transition Services (including Nursing Facility Transition)
• Ticket to Work Program
• LEAPS (Locating Employment Avenues through Peer Support)
• Assistive Technology
• Deaf/Blind Services
• Housing & Home Modification
• Transportation Services (VTAP)
• Travel Training (Mobility Management)
• SNAP / Food Stamps Application Site
• Healthcare Marketplace Navigation
• Veterans Program
• ICWP Service Coordination
• Loan Closet
• Empowering Our Youth
• disABILITY LINK/AAPD Summer Internship Program
• Legislative Advocacy
• Coping with Coronavirus Class
• COVID-19 Neighborhood Outreach
• COVID and Health Disparities Conversations
• Not Dead Yet of GA
• Emergency Preparedness Resources
• Consultations / Training
• Employment Services
• Health & Wellness Program

Quantifiable outcome

• FY2018: 3,874 individuals received informational and referral services
• +6 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners to host the AAPD Summer Internship Program in Atlanta (4th year of partnership). Hosts college/graduate/law students and recent graduates with disabilities, pairing them with mentors; internal disABILITY LINK mentors for 2021 cohort include Felix Eziakor, Shikha Desai, Angela Williams, and Latoya Lawrence.
• Georgia Radio Reading Service (GARRS)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration to record four monthly disability-focused PSAs covering disability rights, transportation, youth transition, and assistive technology, aired the 1st–4th Saturdays of each month. The partnership includes a feature interview ("At Your Service" with Ken and Linda).
• Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia (SILC of GA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a Champion sponsor of disABILITY LINK's fundraising gala. SILC of Georgia is one of 56 Statewide Independent Living Councils in the U.S.; disABILITY LINK Executive Director Kim Gibson has served on the SILC of GA board. SILC also serves as a host site for AAPD interns.
• Senator Nan OrrockminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGeorgia State Senator recognized as a Leader-tier sponsor of disABILITY LINK's fundraising gala, supporting the organization's legislative advocacy efforts in Georgia.
• Faith Medical Services Inc. (Faith Agency Inc.)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeader-tier sponsor of disABILITY LINK's fundraising gala supporting people with disabilities in the metro-Atlanta area.
• Comfort Keepers (Johns Creek, GA office)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdvocate-tier sponsor of disABILITY LINK's fundraising gala. Comfort Keepers is a national in-home care provider serving seniors and individuals with disabilities.
• Arden's GardenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdvocate-tier sponsor of disABILITY LINK's fundraising gala. Arden's Garden is an Atlanta-based juice and wellness brand.
• SHOWAbility (Myrna Clayton)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdvocate-tier sponsor of disABILITY LINK's fundraising gala. SHOWAbility is a nonprofit showcasing the abilities of people with disabilities through entertainment.
• Let's RoamminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOther Sponsor of disABILITY LINK's fundraising gala. Let's Roam is a scavenger hunt and team-building activity platform.
• Amazon Smile (charity ID 58-2400240)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPassive donation channel — Amazon donates 0.5% of eligible purchases to disABILITY LINK when customers shop via smile.amazon.com and select disABILITY LINK as their charity.
• Kroger Community Rewards (NPO 48113)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPassive donation channel — Kroger shoppers can register their rewards card and a portion of purchases is donated to disABILITY LINK.
• Not Dead Yet of GAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAllied advocacy organization hosted as a community resource on the disABILITY LINK website. Focuses on protecting disabled and older people from assisted suicide and lethal medical neglect.
• Furniture Bank of Metro AtlantaminorOthersCross-referral partner listed in disABILITY LINK's Community Resources directory. Provides furniture for people with disabilities, those moving out of homelessness, fleeing domestic violence, or living with HIV/AIDS.
• Georgia Council for the Hearing Impaired (GACHI)minorOthersCross-referral partner for deaf, hard of hearing, late deafened, and deaf-blind services.
• Georgia Free Clinic NetworkminorOthersCross-referral partner for free and sliding fee scale clinics in Georgia, searchable by ZIP code.
• Metro Fair HousingminorOthersCross-referral partner — non-profit civil rights organization providing fair housing services to the Atlanta Metropolitan area.
• Partnership Against Domestic Violence (PADV)minorOthersCross-referral partner providing support for women and children dealing with domestic violence and abuse in Georgia.
• United Way 2-1-1minorOthersCross-referral partner — comprehensive resource directory for the Atlanta region.
• Georgia Housing SearchminorOthersCross-referral partner — statewide affordable housing directory referenced for housing-related referrals.
• Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC)minorOthersCross-referral partner for in-home care services for individuals over 60 or receiving Medicaid.
• Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for the AAPD Summer Internship Program (Dr. Kate Brady). DisABILITY LINK's Executive Director Kim Gibson served as a peer mentor through APRIL's mentorship program for other CILs, and the GCDD has provided external mentorship to disABILITY LINK interns.
• Side-by-Side Brain Injury CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for the AAPD Summer Internship Program (Cindi Johnson); mission to advance the long-term well-being of people with brain injury-related disabilities and their families.
• Cobb CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for the AAPD Summer Internship Program (Irene Barton); supports disABILITY LINK's legislative research on bills affecting the disabled community in Georgia.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: Operates the largest U.S. employment-services network for people with disabilities and barriers to employment. Directly comparable to disABILITY LINK's Ticket to Work and LEAPS employment programs but at significantly larger scale and multi-state footprint.
• Easterseals: National disability services nonprofit operating across employment, housing, and independent living. Overlaps with disABILITY LINK's employment and transition services but as a much larger, multi-state organization with broader program portfolio.
• The Arc: National organization serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through advocacy, employment, and family support. Comparable on advocacy and employment dimensions but operates at far larger scale across all 50 states.
• SourceAmerica: National AbilityOne-designated nonprofit providing employment and contracting services to people with disabilities. Comparable on the employment-services dimension and federally mandated mission but operates at a national scale disABILITY LINK does not.

Regional players

• Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia (SILC of GA): Georgia's federally required SILC that plans and advocates for independent living services statewide. DisABILITY LINK's ED serves on its board and SILC serves as an AAPD host site, making it both a peer and a partner operating in the same geography and federal CIL/SILC ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Access Living: Chicago-based Center for Independent Living serving people with disabilities across a major metro area. Operates the same federal CIL mandate (I&R, Advocacy, Peer Support, IL Skills Training, Transition) with consumer-controlled governance, making it the closest structural and operational analog to disABILITY LINK.
• Boston Center for Independent Living (BCIL): Federally recognized CIL serving the Greater Boston area with the same four core services plus transition, youth, and employment programming. Comparable in mission, federal designations, and cross-disability consumer-controlled model.
• Independence, Inc. (Center for Independent Living): Mid-sized CIL operating under the same federal mandate with peer support, independent living skills training, advocacy, and information & referral. Comparable in scale and program breadth to disABILITY LINK.
• Center for Independent Living Options (CILO): CIL delivering the federally mandated core services plus transition, employment, and benefits navigation in another metro region. Closely comparable to disABILITY LINK in program mix, federal funding reliance, and direct-to-consumer service delivery.

Others

• National Council on Independent Living (NCIL): National membership organization that advances the Independent Living Movement and represents the 403 CILs nationwide. Not a direct competitor but the federal-policy and advocacy umbrella under which disABILITY LINK operates and whose board/recognition structures materially shape CIL funding and visibility.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/disabilitylink

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 disABILITY LINK