Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living

Name

Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living

Legal name

Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living

Website

https://april-rural.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL) is a national, disability-led nonprofit membership organization serving over 260 centers for independent living, statewide independent living councils, and individuals advancing independent living for people with disabilities in rural America through advocacy, training, peer support, and convening.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Advocacy and Independent Living Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG), Minority, Indigenous & Disability Rights (BPADAGAH)

Keywords

• Disability advocacy services
• Independent living support
• Rural community services
• Peer support programs
• Disability training

Headquarters

HQ city

Little Rock

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: APRIL operates as a membership organization consisting of over 260 members from centers for independent living, their satellites and branch offices, statewide independent living councils, and other organizations. Revenue is generated through membership fees.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL) is a national, disability-led nonprofit membership organization that advances equity for people with disabilities in rural communities. It sells a portfolio of advocacy coordination, peer support, youth leadership development, training and education, and an annual conference, distributed through a membership network of over 260 centers for independent living (CILs), statewide independent living councils (SILCs), and other allied organizations.

Product overview

APRIL is a national nonprofit membership organization focused on advancing the rights and independence of people with disabilities in rural America. Rather than a technology product company, APRIL offers a portfolio of advocacy, peer support, youth empowerment, and training services delivered through its membership network of over 260 centers for independent living. The organization hosts an annual conference and provides various educational programs through its Rural Conversations training series, all designed to build inclusive communities where people with disabilities can thrive.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Peer Support Services
• Advocacy Programs
• Youth Programs
• Annual Conference
• Training and Education (Rural Conversations)
• Membership Portal

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RTC: Rural (University of Montana)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPRIL partners with the Research and Training Center on Rural Disability at the University of Montana, listed as a key partner on the Links & Partners page. This partnership supports research and training initiatives focused on disability in rural communities.
• CIL-NET / TIRR Memorial HermanncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIL-NET is operated by the Independent Living Research Utilization program at TIRR Memorial Hermann in partnership with APRIL and NCIL. Provides training and technical assistance to the independent living network.
• National Council on Independent Living (NCIL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPRIL collaborates with NCIL as part of the IL Conversations program, which provides IL practitioners with opportunities to discuss running centers for independent living and addressing broader state and national issues.
• ILRU (Independent Living Research Utilization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPRIL partners with ILRU through the CIL-NET initiative to provide training and technical assistance to independent living programs across rural America.
• Administration for Community Living (ACL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration provides support for APRIL's training presentations and IL Conversations through ACL-funded initiatives. APRIL receives federal support for its training and advocacy programs.
• LINC (Boise, ID)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAPRIL Executive Director Elissa Ellis appeared on a podcast with Jeremy Maxand, Executive Director of LINC in Boise, ID, discussing the Rural Disability Movement.
• Human Services Research Institute (HSRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPRIL partners with HSRI through the National Center on Advancing Person Centered Practices and Systems on HCBS Settings Rule implementation, funded by ACL and CMS.
• National Association of State Independent Living Councils (NASILC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPRIL collaborates with NASILC on HCBS Settings Rule partnership and advocacy initiatives for independent living services nationwide.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ILRU (Independent Living Research Utilization): ILRU, housed at TIRR Memorial Hermann, provides research, training, and technical assistance to the IL network alongside APRIL. The two organizations co-staff CIL-NET and serve overlapping CIL/SILC audiences, making ILRU a directly comparable peer.
• TIRR Memorial Hermann (CIL-NET program): TIRR operates the CIL-NET training and technical assistance program in partnership with APRIL and ILRU, serving the same CIL audience with overlapping curriculum—an institutional peer in the IL training ecosystem.
• National Council on Independent Living (NCIL): NCIL is the broadest U.S. membership organization for the independent living movement. APRIL and NCIL co-deliver the IL Conversations training series and overlap heavily in serving CILs, SILCs, and individual disability advocates—making NCIL the closest direct peer, though NCIL is national while APRIL is rural-focused.
• Living Independence Network Corporation (LINC): LINC is an Idaho-based CIL that operates as an APRIL peer organization and partner; APRIL's Executive Director appeared on a podcast with LINC's Executive Director to discuss the Rural Disability Movement, underscoring direct operational and mission alignment.
• National Association of State Independent Living Councils (NASILC): NASILC represents state-level SILCs, the same constituent segment APRIL serves. APRIL partners with NASILC on HCBS Settings Rule advocacy, making it a directly comparable peer operating one tier up in the same IL ecosystem.

Others

• Human Services Research Institute (HSRI): HSRI partners with APRIL on the National Center on Advancing Person Centered Practices and Systems for HCBS Settings Rule implementation. As a research and consulting organization rather than a membership body, HSRI functions as an enabling collaborator rather than direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF): DREDF is a national disability rights and policy organization pursuing civil rights, healthcare access, and disability-led advocacy—overlapping with APRIL's advocacy priorities but operating at national scale rather than rural-community focus.
• The Arc of the United States: The Arc is a large, established national disability advocacy organization serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. While not focused on independent living or rural America specifically, it competes for federal and philanthropic disability dollars and member mindshare.
• American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD): AAPD is a national cross-disability advocacy organization with broader scope than APRIL. It overlaps in disability rights and federal policy work but operates as a larger, more generalist incumbent rather than a rural or IL-specialist.

Emerging players

• Research and Training Center on Rural Disability (RTC: Rural), University of Montana: RTC:Rural is APRIL's listed core research partner focused on rural disability. While structured as a university research center rather than a membership association, its rural-disability focus and overlapping audience make it a meaningful peer and ecosystem collaborator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/april4ruralil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-association-of-programs-for-rural-independent-living-april-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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