The Center for Disability Empowerment

What The Center for Disability Empowerment does

The Center for Disability Empowerment (CdE) is a 100% disability-led nonprofit Center for Independent Living (CIL) serving Franklin, Delaware, Union, and Licking Counties in Central Ohio. The organization delivers five core Independent Living services — Information & Referral, IL Skills Training, Peer Support, Advocacy, and Transition Services — all provided at no cost to consumers with no waitlist. CdE recently expanded its programming with structured Youth Peer Mentoring (ages 14-24) and Adult Peer Mentoring programs, along with weekly virtual peer support groups via Zoom and monthly EmpowerYOUth meetups. The organization operates under the Rehabilitation Act's CIL framework with consumer-majority governance, ensuring that 51%+ of staff share lived disability experience.

CdE's technology footprint is intentionally minimal: a standard accessible website with downloadable intake forms (Ignite Intake Form, Navigator Roadmap, Peer Support Guide Toolkit in PDF/DOCX formats) and Zoom for virtual programming. There is no proprietary technology platform, no AI capabilities, and no API or developer-facing products. The service delivery model is fundamentally human-driven, relying on peer specialists with shared lived experience rather than digital automation.

The business model is government grant-funded: CdE receives federal and state CIL grants under the Rehabilitation Act to provide free services. There is no consumer revenue, no pricing tiers, and no commercial channels. The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven — peer networks, town halls, advocacy labs, partner referrals from crisis services (988, 211), disability rights organizations, and co-presented events with the Ohio Olmstead Task Force drive consumer acquisition. Strategic leadership is provided by Executive Director Kristina "KK" Kapp, with policy influence channeled through the OOTF partnership.

Name

The Center for Disability Empowerment

Legal name

The Center for Disability Empowerment

Website

https://disabilityempowerment.net

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Center for Disability Empowerment is a 100% disability-led nonprofit Center for Independent Living in Central Ohio delivering five free Independent Living services — Information & Referral, Skills Training, Peer Support, Advocacy, and Transition Services — to people of all ages with any disability type across four counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Living Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Child and Youth Services (624110), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ), Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH)

Keywords

• Independent living services
• Disability support services
• Peer mentorship programs
• Community-based advocacy
• Disability transition support

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (Federal/State CIL Grants): As a Center for Independent Living (CIL), the organization operates under the Rehabilitation Act framework and receives federal and state funding to provide free services to people with disabilities. All services are provided at no cost to consumers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Center for Disability Empowerment is a nonprofit Center for Independent Living that provides five core consumer-directed independent living services free of charge: Information & Referral, IL Skills Training, Peer Support, Advocacy, and Transition Services. Services are delivered in-person across Franklin, Delaware, Union, and Licking Counties in Central Ohio and virtually via Zoom, with additional structured programs such as Youth Peer Mentoring, Adult Peer Mentoring, EmpowerYOUth Group, and Youth Advocacy Lab. All services are 100% free with no waitlist and are run by a 100% disability-led staff team.

Product overview

The Center for Disability Empowerment (CdE) provides consumer-directed Independent Living services as a 100% disability-led organization serving Central Ohio. The organization offers five core services at no cost: Information & Referral, IL Skills Training, Peer Support, Advocacy, and Transition Services. These services are delivered through a combination of in-person support and digital tools including downloadable intake forms (Ignite Intake Form, Navigator Roadmap, Peer Support Guide Toolkit), weekly virtual peer support via Zoom, and structured mentoring programs (Youth Peer Mentoring for ages 14-24 and Adult Peer Mentoring). Youth-specific programming includes the EmpowerYOUth Group and Youth Advocacy Lab. All services are free of charge with no waitlist, serving Franklin, Delaware, Union, and Licking counties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• All services free with no waitlist
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ohio Olmstead Task Force (OOTF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCdE works closely with OOTF on disability policy advocacy and systems change. Jennifer Kucera serves as OOTF Chair. CdE and OOTF co-present the Ohio Disability Policy Candidates Forum 2026, bringing candidates for statewide office to answer disability policy questions. The partnership involves legislative testimony, policy work on MyCare Ohio and Ohio Home Care Waiver, and collaborative advocacy efforts.
• 988 Crisis LifelineminorOthersCrisis support referral resource listed on CdE website for consumers in crisis. 24/7 phone and text crisis support service.
• 211 HandsOn Central OhiominorOthersCommunity resources and referrals resource listed on CdE website for consumer referrals.
• Disability Rights OhiominorOthersLegal rights and protection resource for consumers, listed on CdE community resources page.
• COTA (Central Ohio Transit Authority)minorOthersAccessible transportation resource, listed on CdE community resources page to help consumers access transit services.
• Opportunities for Ohioans With Disabilities (OOD)minorOthersVocational and employment assistance resource for consumers, listed on CdE community resources page.
• Ohio 811 Rental Assistance ProgramminorOthersRental assistance program for low-income disabled adults (18-61) on Medicaid. Subsidized, accessible units with voluntary supportive services. Listed as housing resource for consumers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals: National nonprofit providing disability services including independent living, employment, and accessibility programs across many affiliates. Comparable as a broad disability-services incumbent with overlapping consumer base, though operating at significantly larger scale and scope.
• National Council on Independent Living (NCIL): National membership and advocacy organization representing Centers for Independent Living across the U.S. CdE operates within the CIL framework NCIL represents, making it a comparable — though not directly competing — peer in the same organizational category.
• United Cerebral Palsy: National disability services organization serving people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities through advocacy, housing, employment, and direct services. Comparable in mission and broad service portfolio, though UCP operates as a larger multi-state incumbent rather than a single-region CIL.

Direct peers

• Independent Living Resource Center (San Francisco): California-based Center for Independent Living providing peer support, advocacy, transition services, and independent living skills training. Directly comparable as a CIL offering the same five core service categories under the same federal framework.
• Access Center for Independent Living (Dayton, OH): Ohio-based Center for Independent Living serving the Dayton region with the standard five core CIL services including peer support, advocacy, and transition support. Directly comparable as another in-state Ohio CIL operating under the same federal framework with overlapping consumer base.
• Ability Center of Greater Toledo: Ohio-based Center for Independent Living serving northwest Ohio with independent living, advocacy, and transition services. Directly comparable as another CIL operating under the same federal Rehabilitation Act framework in the same state, with overlapping service mix and target population.

Others

• Disability Rights Ohio: Ohio's federally designated Protection & Advocacy organization providing legal services for people with disabilities. Related in mission and geography but operates via legal advocacy rather than direct service delivery, making it a referral partner and ecosystem peer rather than a direct competitor.
• National Disability Rights Network (NDRN): National membership network for the federally funded Protection & Advocacy (P&A) and Client Assistance Program (CAP) agencies serving people with disabilities. Related as part of the broader disability-rights ecosystem but operating via legal advocacy rather than direct service delivery.
• Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU) at TIRR Memorial Hermann: National research, training, and technical assistance center for the independent living movement, housed at TIRR Memorial Hermann. Comparable as a sector infrastructure peer supporting CILs nationally, but operates as a research/training entity rather than a direct service provider.

Regional players

• The Arc of Ohio: Ohio chapter of the national Arc network serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through advocacy, family support, and community programming. Comparable as a regional Ohio disability organization serving an overlapping population, though focused primarily on IDD.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-center-for-disability-empowerment

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Center for Disability Empowerment