Able South Carolina

What Able South Carolina does

Able South Carolina (Able SC) is a federally funded, disability-led Center for Independent Living (CIL) headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina, with a second office in Greenville. Authorized under Title VII, Chapter 1, Part C of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and funded primarily through the Administration for Community Living (ACL) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the organization delivers advocacy, independent living services, peer support and mentoring, youth transition services, information and referrals, and accessibility consulting to people with disabilities across South Carolina. Its service portfolio spans roughly 20 distinct programs including mobility/transportation (V-TRIP, PUP), employment programs, the Community Leadership Academy, Equip, Supported Decision Making, WIPA benefits counseling, emergency preparedness, digital and architectural accessibility assessments, and ADA policy consultation.

The organization operates a community-led go-to-market model: services are delivered at no direct cost to individuals, with demand generated through peer-support networks, community education, advocacy events, and partnerships with healthcare providers, transit authorities (notably The COMET and rideshare partners Uber/Lyft), schools, employers (via Hire Me SC), state agencies (SC DHEC, SC DD Council), and federal partners (Southeast ADA Center, SSA Ticket to Work). Revenue is structurally diversified across federal ACL grants, state and local contracts, FTA-funded transit partnerships, and private grants (e.g., SC Humanities), though the federal CIL designation remains the core funding anchor.

Founded approximately 1992 and led by President and CEO Kimberly Tissot, Able SC maintains 101-250 employees and a multi-decade institutional presence in the South Carolina disability community. Its competitive position is anchored in federal CIL authorization, a disability-led talent pool, and a dense network of regional partnerships; commercial technology is limited, with no proprietary platform, app, or API surface area, and no disclosed AI/ML capabilities. Recent strategic activity has focused on mobility-program expansion, partnerships with the University of South Carolina (NursAbility), and cultural-preservation work (the "People, Not Patients" project with Historic Columbia).

Name

Able South Carolina

Legal name

Able South Carolina

Website

https://able-sc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Able South Carolina is a federally funded, disability-led Center for Independent Living serving people with disabilities across South Carolina through advocacy, independent living support, peer mentoring, accessibility consulting, and mobility/employment programs from offices in Columbia and Greenville.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Services and Independent Living

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG), Benefits Counseling & Financial Literacy for Transition-Age Youth (EDAKANAJ), Accessible Transportation & Paratransit Services (EDALAKAH)

Keywords

• Disability services
• Independent living
• Disability advocacy
• Accessibility consulting
• Peer support

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Federal Government Grants: Primary funding through Administration for Community Living (ACL) grants under Title VII, Chapter 1, Part C of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Services are provided at no direct cost to individuals served.
2. State and Local Contracts: Partnerships with state agencies including SC DHEC for programs like the SC Disability Vaccine Access Network, and transit authorities for mobility programs.
3. Private Donations and Grants: Funding from organizations such as SC Humanities for specific projects like the People, Not Patients historical documentation project.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Able South Carolina operates as a federally funded, disability-led Center for Independent Living (CIL) that delivers advocacy, independent living support, peer mentoring, youth transition services, assistive technology, accessibility consulting, and mobility/transportation programs to people with disabilities across South Carolina. Services are offered at no direct cost to individuals, funded primarily through Administration for Community Living grants under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Product overview

Able South Carolina is a federally funded, disability-led Center for Independent Living (CIL) that provides a comprehensive suite of services and programs to support people with disabilities in South Carolina. Rather than a single unified product, the organization offers multiple interconnected programs including advocacy services, independent living support, peer mentoring, youth transition services, assistive technology, employment programs, mobility/transportation programs (V-TRIP and PUP), and accessibility consultations. These programs work together to address the various needs of people with disabilities, from daily living support to systemic advocacy, all delivered through a disability-led philosophy emphasizing self-determination and community integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Advocacy Services Advocacy services to promote disability rights, access, and policy change at local, state, and federal levels for people with disabilities.
• Independent Living Services Services supporting individuals with disabilities to live independently in their communities.
• Information and Referrals Resource information and referrals connecting people with disabilities to relevant services and support.
• Peer Support & Mentoring Peer-based support and mentoring programs connecting individuals with disabilities for mutual empowerment.
• Transition to the Community Programs helping individuals transition from institutional settings to community-based living.
• Youth Transition Services Services supporting young people with disabilities in transitioning to adulthood and independence.
• Digital Accessibility Consultations Consultations helping organizations make their digital products and websites accessible to people with disabilities.
• Architectural Accessibility Assessments Assessments evaluating physical spaces for accessibility and recommending modifications.
• Professional Training & Speaking Training programs and speaking engagements on disability rights, accessibility, and inclusion.
• ADA Policy and Procedure Consultation Consultation services helping organizations develop ADA-compliant policies and procedures.
• Assistive Technology Program Programs providing access to assistive technology devices and services for people with disabilities.
• Capable & Ready Program A program preparing individuals with disabilities for employment and independent living.
• Community Leadership Academy Leadership development program for people with disabilities to become advocates and community leaders.
• Employment Programs

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• The COMET (Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 January 2021Collaboration on V-TRIP (Volunteer Transportation Reimbursement) and PUP (Taxi Voucher Pick Up) mobility programs serving people with disabilities and seniors in the Columbia Urbanized Area. Funded by FTA grant.
• UberminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 January 2021Rideshare partner integrated into The COMET's PUP (Pick Up Program) offering 24/7 transportation options with 50% discount up to $50/month for eligible participants.
• Hire Me SCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate program connecting employers with qualified job candidates with disabilities in South Carolina. Part of Able SC's employment programs ecosystem.
• Ticket to Work (SSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial Security Administration program helping people with disabilities transition to work without losing benefits. Able SC serves as a WIPA (Work Incentives Planning and Assistance) provider.
• United Way (Multiple Chapters)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliation with United Way organizations including United Way of South Carolina, United Way Piedmont, and United Way Greenville for community support and funding.
• Southeast ADA CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner providing information, materials, and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act to individuals and organizations.
• South Carolina DD CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState council working to promote policies and practices that support individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
• Historic ColumbiamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on 'People, Not Patients' project documenting the history of the South Carolina State Hospital (Bull Street). Funded by SC Humanities. Reframes institutional history through disability justice lens.
• University of South CarolinamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership hosting NursAbility - an accessible, inclusive summer camp empowering future healthcare providers with disability awareness and inclusion training.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SourceAmerica: National AbilityOne-designated nonprofit creating employment opportunities for people with disabilities through federal contracts. Comparable employment-program focus; operates at much larger scale and through a different statutory mechanism.
• National Disability Rights Network (NDRN): Umbrella network for the federally funded Protection & Advocacy (P&A) system and Client Assistance Programs. Adjacent rather than directly competitive; comparable advocacy and policy function at the federal coordination layer.
• Easterseals: National nonprofit providing disability services including employment, accessibility, and assistive technology across many states. Broader portfolio and national reach; overlaps with Able SC on employment programs and accessibility but is a multi-service incumbent rather than a CIL.
• Goodwill Industries International: National nonprofit operating employment, training, and disability-services programs through a large affiliate network. Overlaps with Able SC on employment and training services; operates at vastly larger scale and a more diversified earned-revenue model.
• The Arc of the United States: National disability advocacy and services organization with state/local chapters serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Comparable advocacy and transition-services scope; operates at significantly larger national scale.

Direct peers

• Access Living: Chicago-based Center for Independent Living providing advocacy, independent living services, peer support, and youth transition programming. Directly comparable as a disability-led CIL with similar service mix; differs geographically (Illinois vs. South Carolina).
• Southeast ADA Center: Regional ADA Center providing information, training, and technical assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act across the Southeast. Direct functional overlap with Able SC's ADA consultation, training, and accessibility assessment services.
• Center for Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania: Federally funded CIL delivering independent living, advocacy, peer mentoring, and transition services to people with disabilities. Closely comparable operating model, funding structure (Title VII), and service portfolio.

Regional players

• Disability Rights South Carolina: State Protection & Advocacy (P&A) organization for South Carolinians with disabilities. Operates in the same state and population but focuses on legal protection and abuse investigation rather than direct independent-living service delivery.
• Palmetto Community Action Partnership: South Carolina-based Community Action Agency providing supportive services to low-income residents including those with disabilities. Overlaps on transition, housing navigation, and community-based supports within the same geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AbleSC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/able-south-carolina
• Xx.com/Able_SC

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Able South Carolina