Disability Action Center NW

What Disability Action Center NW does

Disability Action Center NW (DACNW), founded in 1990 and headquartered in Moscow, Idaho, is a non-profit Center for Independent Living (CIL) that promotes independence and self-determination for people with disabilities across Idaho and Washington. It operates from four physical offices (Moscow, Lewiston, and Post Falls in Idaho, plus Spokane in Washington, branded as DAC NEW) and delivers services through a peer-led model in which most staff, board members, and volunteers themselves have disabilities. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the operating model is funded by charitable donations and government grants associated with CIL designation, and core services are provided free of charge to consumers.

DAC NW's service portfolio spans individual advocacy, peer advocacy counseling, housing advocacy and assistance, transportation services, in-home support, independent living skills training, medical equipment exchange, information and referral, and a Ramp Up Project for accessibility modifications. A secondary consulting line serves businesses and government agencies on ADA compliance, accessibility assessments, and disability awareness training. Distribution is mixed: direct in-person service at offices and community settings, virtual programming (support groups, wellness classes, accessible D&D sessions), and partner-hosted events such as health fairs, the annual Mental Health Walk, and C.A.S.T. fishing events with C.A.S.T. for Kids. Marketing is community-led, leveraging organic social media, a monthly newsletter (Interstate Connections), a website blog, and the Better Together Podcast.

The organization is affiliated with the National Council on Independent Living, the Idaho and Washington State Independent Living Councils, and the Northwest ADA Center, embedding it in the federal CIL network and the broader disability-rights ecosystem. There is no proprietary technology platform; outreach channels (social, podcast, newsletter) are the primary digital assets. No parent company, subsidiaries, or external ownership structures are indicated; governance rests with a disability-majority board.

Name

Disability Action Center NW

Legal name

Disability Action Center NW, Inc.

Website

https://dacnw.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Disability Action Center NW is a non-profit Center for Independent Living serving people with disabilities across Idaho and Washington through peer-led advocacy, housing, transportation, and independent living services funded by donations and government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Services and Independent Living Support

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Individual and Family Services (6241), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Disability Rights & Accessibility Advocacy (BPAGAFAF), Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation (EDAKANAK), Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

Keywords

• Independent living services
• Disability advocacy
• Peer support counseling
• ADA compliance consulting
• Community disability programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Moscow , ID

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization accepts public donations through its website and community fundraising efforts to support services.
2. Government Grants and Contracts: As a Center for Independent Living (CIL), DAC NW likely receives federal and state funding through programs like the Rehabilitation Act and related disability services funding.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Disability Action Center NW provides free, peer-led independent living services to individuals with disabilities across Idaho and Washington, including housing advocacy, peer advocacy counseling, independent living skills training, in-home support, transportation assistance, information and referral, medical equipment exchange, and a Ramp Up accessibility project. It also offers ADA compliance consulting and disability awareness training to businesses and government agencies. Services are delivered through four offices (Moscow, Lewiston, Post Falls, Spokane), virtual programs, and community events, and are funded by government grants and charitable donations.

Product overview

Disability Action Center NW is a nonprofit organization that provides community services and support programs for people with disabilities, rather than a technology product company. Their offerings include advocacy services (individual and community advocacy, housing advocacy, peer advocacy counseling), practical support (in-home support services, independent living skills, medical equipment exchange, transportation services, information and referral), and community programs (Technology & Communication services, businesses and government consulting, community involvement initiatives). The organization operates multiple locations across Idaho (Moscow, Post Falls, Lewiston) and Spokane, WA, and hosts various community events and support groups.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Individual & Community Advocacy Advocacy services that help individuals with disabilities navigate systems and exercise their rights, available to people with disabilities and their families in Idaho and Washington.
• Housing Advocacy & Assistance Housing-focused advocacy and assistance for individuals with disabilities seeking accessible, independent housing options across Idaho and Washington.
• In-Home Support Services In-home support services that assist individuals with disabilities in performing daily living activities and maintaining independence at home.
• Independent Living Skills Training in independent living skills for individuals with disabilities, covering practical capabilities needed to live self-directed lives.
• Information and Referral Information and referral services connecting individuals with disabilities and their families to relevant community resources and supports.
• Medical Equipment Exchange Exchange program that provides medical equipment (such as wheelchairs and accessibility devices) to individuals with disabilities who need them.
• Peer Advocacy Counseling Peer-led counseling provided by staff and volunteers with lived disability experience to support individuals with disabilities in navigating challenges and goals.
• Ramp Up Project Accessibility construction project that builds ramps and accessibility modifications to remove physical barriers for individuals with disabilities in their homes and communities.
• Technology & Communication Assistive technology and communication support services that help individuals with disabilities access and use technology to communicate and live more independently.
• Transportation Services Transportation assistance services that help individuals with disabilities access community activities, appointments, and daily needs.
• Businesses & Government Consulting ADA compliance consulting, accessibility assessments, and disability awareness training delivered to employers, municipalities, and government agencies in Idaho and Washington.
• Community Involvement Community engagement programming including support groups, wellness classes, recreational activities, and events that foster inclusion and integration for individuals with disabilities.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Northwest ADA CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated with the Northwest ADA Center, providing expertise and resources on Americans with Disabilities Act compliance and accessibility standards
• National Council on Independent Living (NCIL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of NCIL, the national organization representing Centers for Independent Living and their consumers
• Idaho State Independent Living CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated with the Idaho SILC, which plans and coordinates independent living services across Idaho
• Washington State Independent Living CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated with the Washington SILC for coordination of independent living programs in Washington state
• INT FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a supporting organization/affiliate
• C.A.S.T. for KidscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to host C.A.S.T. (Chapters and Activities for Special Hearts) fishing events for children with disabilities and their families
• Kootenai Recovery Community CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Art Therapeutic Thursdays recovery-friendly events
• Idaho State Independent Living Council (SILC), Centers for Independent Living (CILs), Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ICBVI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership for Town Hall events and disability advocacy across Idaho
• Tri-State HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of community health fair events including Lewiston Back to School Fair
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) IdahominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to host NAMI Family Support Group for adults with mental health condition experiences
• LAMI (Lakeside Advocacy for Mental Illness)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for WRAP - Wellness Recover Action Planning peer support groups
• Center for Chronic IllnessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Living with Chronic Illness Support Group facilitated by Alicia Sloan
• Idaho Association of the Deaf (IAD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for WALK4ASL Idaho event supporting Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals
• Idaho Department of LaborminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost for Listening Session Town Hall events for Idahoans with disabilities
• North Idaho CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for North Idaho College Wellness Fair providing resources for students with disabilities

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Ability360: Arizona-based Center for Independent Living offering independent living skills, advocacy, and disability services; close functional parallel to DAC NW with a comparable service catalog and CIL designation.
• Center for Independent Living (Berkeley): Long-standing Center for Independent Living in the San Francisco Bay Area providing peer counseling, housing advocacy, and independent living services; a direct functional peer under the same federal CIL framework.
• Access Living: Chicago-based Center for Independent Living providing independent living services, advocacy, and disability rights programming; the most direct functional peer to DAC NW despite operating in a different metropolitan market.

Broad incumbents

• The Arc of the United States: National nonprofit serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through advocacy, family support, and community-based services; overlaps with DAC NW's disability advocacy and community integration mandate at much larger scale.
• Easterseals: Large national disability services nonprofit offering independent living, employment, and assistive services across a broad portfolio; competes for similar federal, state, and donor funding pools as DAC NW.

Others

• Northwest ADA Center: Regional ADA Center providing accessibility and ADA compliance training across the Pacific Northwest; a documented DAC NW partner that competes in adjacent territory for ADA consulting work.
• National Council on Independent Living (NCIL): National membership organization representing Centers for Independent Living; DAC NW is an NCIL member, and NCIL is the closest peer organization in shaping CIL policy, funding, and practice.
• Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU): National training and technical assistance center for the CIL network; an ecosystem peer that influences the operating standards, training, and best practices DAC NW follows.

Regional players

• Disability Rights Washington: Federally mandated protection and advocacy organization serving Washington State; directly comparable in mandate on legal advocacy and disability rights, and overlaps with DAC NW's service geography in Spokane.
• Idaho State Independent Living Council (SILC): State-level body that coordinates independent living services in Idaho; a key funder and governance counterpart whose policies and funding decisions directly shape DAC NW's Idaho operations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UChIIS9hTPzFy8tG9QaZETog?themeRefresh=1
• Facebookfacebook.com/dacnw
• Instagraminstagram.com/disabilityactioncenter
• Pinterestpinterest.com/dacnw
• TikToktiktok.com/@dacnewashington
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dac-nw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Action Center NW