Ability Works

What Ability Works does

Ability Works Inc. is a 501(c)-style nonprofit social services organization, headquartered in Sandusky, Ohio, that delivers a coordinated portfolio of disability supports to adults and transition-age youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Founded in 1974 as Double S Industries of Erie Co., Inc. and rebranded in 2013, the organization operates from a primary site at 3920 Columbus Ave. (Sandusky) and a secondary site in Sheffield Lake (Lorain County), and serves over 300 individuals annually across day programs, supported employment, transportation, and sensory regulation services.

Its core service offering is a bundled suite that includes Adult Day Support & Homemaker Personal Care (HPC), Career Planning and Employment (job development, coaching, retention, community-based assessments), the STEPs community-outing program, a 5-week Summer Youth Work Experience for students aged 14+, PUCO/ODOT-certified wheelchair-accessible Transportation, and the Clark Family Sensory Space for sensory regulation. The organization also rents its sensory space for sensory-friendly events and operates a "Hire Our Clients" program that supplies supervised work crews and direct-hire candidates to local businesses. There is no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is in-person at facility and community locations.

Revenue is generated primarily through Medicaid waiver reimbursement and contracts with the Erie County and Lorain County Boards of Developmental Disabilities and Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD), with a private-pay option billed at Medicaid rates for non-funded individuals, and ancillary income from donations, fundraising events, event space rentals, and on-demand transportation fares. The organization holds CARF accreditation and DODD/OOD licensure, and maintains partnerships with the Erie County and Lorain County Chambers of Commerce, APSE, ANCOR, OPRA, ODOT, PUCO, and Northcoast Rotary to support referrals, advocacy, and local employment placements.

Name

Ability Works

Legal name

Ability Works Inc.

Website

https://ability-works.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ability Works is a Sandusky, Ohio-based nonprofit that provides adult day programs, supported employment, transportation, youth transition, and sensory space services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Erie and Lorain Counties, funded primarily through Medicaid waivers and county Boards of DD.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Support Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation (EDAKANAK), Specialized Assisted Living for Developmental/Intellectual Disabilities (Adult) (HLADABAJ)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• Adult day programs
• Supported employment
• Vocational rehabilitation
• Community inclusion

Headquarters

HQ city

Sandusky

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, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Medicaid Waiver Funding: Primary funding source from Medicaid waiver rate transportation and services for eligible individuals with developmental disabilities.
2. County Board of Developmental Disabilities Funding: Services funded through Erie County and Lorain County Boards of DD for eligible individuals at no cost.
3. Private Pay: Private pay option available for individuals not covered under County Board of DD or OOD funding, reviewed on a case-by-case basis. All services charged at established Medicaid rate.
4. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, event fundraisers (Golf Tournament, Talent Show), Kroger Rewards program, and in-kind donations to support program extras and sensory space development.
5. Event Space Rentals: Sensory-friendly party and event rentals for the general public, generating rental revenue for the organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ability Works is a nonprofit provider of disability support services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Ohio. Its core offerings include adult day support with homemaker personal care, supported employment and career planning, youth transition work experience, the STEPs community-outings program, a sensory space, and wheelchair-accessible transportation, all delivered through state-licensed, CARF-accredited programs.

Product overview

Ability Works is a disability services organization providing a coordinated portfolio of adult day services, employment support, and community-based programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The core service offerings include Adult Day Support & Homemaker Personal Care (HPC), Career Planning & Employment services, Summer Youth Work Experience, the STEPs Program (community outings), Clark Family Sensory Space, and Transportation Services. These services are complemented by event space rentals and a Hire Our Clients employment placement program. The organization operates from locations in Sandusky and Sheffield Lake, Ohio, and partners with local businesses, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD), and the Department of Ohioans with Developmental Disabilities (DODD) to deliver community-based employment and support services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adult Day Support & Homemaker Personal Care (HPC) Day program services helping individuals with developmental disabilities build community connections, learn life skills, improve social interaction, and achieve independence; includes personal care assistance with meals, medication, dressing, and household tasks.
• Career Planning & Employment Supported employment services including job development, coaching, retention, career exploration, community-based assessments, and career discovery for individuals with developmental disabilities preparing for and finding employment.
• Summer Youth Work Experience A 5-week paid program assessing and building workplace readiness skills for youth with disabilities through hands-on work experience at employers in the community.
• STEPs Program Group outing program (groups of 4 or fewer) providing opportunities for individuals to achieve personal goals through community events, volunteering, cooking classes, and exercise programs.
• Clark Family Sensory Space State-of-the-art sensory space with lights, sounds, textures, touchpads, swings, and interactive elements designed to promote relaxation, stimulation, focus, and cognitive and motor development for individuals with disabilities.
• Transportation Services PUCO/ODOT certified, wheelchair accessible transportation services for individuals with disabilities, including transit to employment sites, adult day programs, and on-demand rides within Erie County ($10 cash or $12 card per ride).
• Event Space Rentals Sensory-friendly party and event space rentals featuring LED light strands, interactive wall panels, games projected onto the floor, bubble tubes, and engaging tactile items, available to the general public by reservation.
• Hire Our Clients Support Employment services connecting local businesses with individuals with developmental disabilities for direct hire or supervised work crew contract labor including assembling, packing, and cleaning services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 200+ individuals find employment support annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

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

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities International (CARF)coreOthersAccreditation body ensuring quality rehabilitation services. CARF certification indicates Ability Works meets international standards for person-centered services.
• Ohio Provider Resource Association (OPRA)coreOthersState association representing Ohio disability service providers. Membership provides advocacy and professional development resources.
• American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR)coreOthersNational association advancing services for people with disabilities. Membership supports advocacy at federal level.
• APSE Employment First Employment for AllcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization promoting employment first philosophy for people with disabilities. Aligns with Ability Works' mission of community employment.
• Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD)coreOthersState regulatory agency overseeing developmental disability services. Provides funding authorization and compliance oversight for services.
• Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD)coreOthersState agency helping Ohioans with disabilities find and keep employment. Funding source and referral partner for employment services.
• Erie County Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal business membership organization supporting community employment partnerships and local business connections.
• Lorain County Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal business membership organization supporting community employment partnerships in Lorain County service area.
• Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT)minorOthersState agency providing transportation certifications. Vehicles are PUCO/ODOT certified for disability transportation services.
• Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO)minorOthersRegulatory agency certifying transportation providers. Vehicles are PUCO certified for transportation services.
• Northcoast RotaryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Rotary Club providing community support and fundraising partnerships for disability services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• The Arc of the United States: National advocacy and service organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; state and local Arc chapters deliver day programs, employment support and case management parallel to Ability Works' offerings.
• Easterseals: National nonprofit providing disability services including employment support, day programs, and community-based services — a direct peer in mission and service mix, operating across many states versus Ability Works' two-county Ohio footprint.
• Goodwill Industries International: National nonprofit network operating employment programs, day services and community inclusion for people with disabilities and other barriers — directly comparable mission and employment-first model, but at vastly greater scale and geographic reach.
• UCP (United Cerebral Palsy): National disability services network providing vocational, day, residential and community programs for people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities — directly comparable service portfolio with broader geographic coverage.

Direct peers

• BrightSpring Health Services: Diversified home and community-based provider serving I/DD populations with day services, employment supports and pharmacy services — a relevant scale competitor in the same Medicaid-funded service categories.
• Merakey: Large multi-state provider of intellectual and developmental disability services including vocational programs, day services, and behavioral health — a direct competitor in community-based I/DD services with Medicaid waiver funding.
• Sevita Health: National operator of home and community-based services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including day programs and supported employment — directly competes for Medicaid waiver-funded I/DD participants.

Emerging players

• SourceAmerica: National nonprofit that connects people with disabilities to employment through federal AbilityOne contracts and a national employer network — a peer in the disability-employment niche with a different funding mechanism (federal contracts).

Others

• ANRC (Association of People Supporting Employment First): Professional association advancing employment-first philosophy for people with disabilities — a peer/mission ally of Ability Works (which is an APSE member) shaping the policy environment and best practices for supported employment.

Regional players

• ViaQuest: Ohio-based provider of home health, hospice, and disability services including day programs and vocational support — a regional peer operating in overlapping Ohio counties and competing for similar County Board and Medicaid waiver referrals.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/abilityworksinc
• Xx.com/AbilityWorksInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ability-works-com

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Ability Works