Diverse Ability Incorporated

What Diverse Ability Incorporated does

Diverse Ability Incorporated (DAI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, that delivers peer-led programs for youth and young adults ages 14-29 with disabilities. Founded in 2014 around the Arizona Youth Leadership Forum (AZYLF) and incorporated in 2017, DAI operates a portfolio of roughly 10 programs including the flagship AZYLF annual conference, the Arizona Youth Engagement Academy (AZYEA), Skills to Pay the Bills workforce training, Peer Navigation Services, Person-Centered Planning, the Youth Advisory Community (YAC) alumni network, Family Transition Navigation, the Transition Institute, and the Engaging Families & Young Adults Program (EFYAP). Programs are delivered in person at schools, universities, and community centers across Arizona (Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, and tribal communities) with virtual options via Zoom; all programs are provided free to eligible participants.

DAI's operating model is built on lived-experience practitioners: 100% of staff have disabilities and approximately 95% are AZYLF alumni who progress through a deliberate pipeline from participant to peer leader to staff. There is no proprietary technology platform; operations rely on commodity tools (WordPress, JotForm, MailChimp, Stripe, Zoom). Revenue is generated through tax-deductible donations (Tax ID 82-0853601) and government grants and contracts, principally from the Arizona Rehabilitation Services Administration and the Arizona Statewide Independent Living Council for Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) delivery. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors comprising Youth and Elders with disabilities, with a current staff of approximately 10 employees.

Name

Diverse Ability Incorporated

Legal name

Diverse Ability Incorporated

Website

https://diverseabilityincorporated.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Diverse Ability Incorporated is a Phoenix-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers peer-led leadership, self-advocacy, transition, and workforce-readiness programs for Arizona youth and young adults ages 14-29 with disabilities, funded through government grants and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Disability Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Educational Support Services (611710), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Education Vocational & Transition Programs (18–22) (EDAKAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)

Keywords

• Youth disability services
• Peer-led leadership programs
• Transition support services
• Disability self-advocacy training
• Workforce readiness programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that receives tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Tax ID: 82-0853601.
2. Government Grants and Contracts: Funded in part by Arizona Rehabilitation Services Administration and Arizona Statewide Independent Living Council for program delivery including Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Diverse Ability Incorporated (DAI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free, peer-led programs and services to Arizona youth and young adults (ages 14-29) with disabilities. Core offerings include the Arizona Youth Leadership Forum (AZYLF) flagship conference, the Arizona Youth Engagement Academy (AZYEA) peer-leader training, Skills to Pay the Bills workforce readiness training, Peer Navigation Services, Person-Centered Planning, school-based peer programs, and family transition navigation.

Product overview

Diverse Ability Incorporated is a nonprofit organization that offers a portfolio of peer-based programs and services for Arizona youth and young adults with disabilities. The core program is the Arizona Youth Leadership Forum (AZYLF), an annual multi-day leadership conference where youth create personal plans and develop self-advocacy skills. Supporting this flagship program are the Arizona Youth Engagement Academy (AZYEA), which trains graduates as peer leaders; Peer Navigation Services for resource connections; Skills to Pay the Bills for workplace skills training; and the Youth Advisory Community (YAC) for ongoing alumni engagement. Additional offerings include Person-Centered Planning Services, School-Based Peer Programs, Family Transition Navigation, and the Engaging Families & Young Adults Program (EFYAP). The organization uses a peer-led, peer-driven model where young adults with disabilities lead and mentor others in their communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Arizona Youth Leadership Forum (AZYLF) Flagship peer-led annual conference for Arizona youth and young adults ages 14-22 with disabilities, focused on self-discovery, leadership development, career exploration, effective advocacy, disability history and culture, and person-centered planning. Delegates create a Personal Leadership Plan with goals for their future.
• Arizona Youth Engagement Academy (AZYEA) A two-day in-person training program that prepares AZYLF graduates (ages 14-29) to become confident peer leaders in their communities, teaching public speaking, facilitating discussions and group activities, creating fun learning experiences, giving feedback, and facilitating Person-Centered Planning sessions.
• Skills to Pay the Bills A virtual workplace skills training program delivered over six Zoom sessions that teaches young people essential professional skills including communication, enthusiasm and attitude, teamwork, networking, problem-solving and critical thinking, and professionalism.
• Peer Navigation Services Resource navigation services provided by trained Peer Navigators who connect youth with disabilities to local programs, support services, and opportunities for self-advocacy, employment, education, and independent living.
• Peer-Based, Person-Centered Planning Services Person-centered planning services that help youth identify their strengths, preferences, and goals to create actionable personal plans for their future.
• Peer-Based Programs for Schools Peer-led programming delivered in school settings across Arizona that brings together youth with and without disabilities to foster inclusion, leadership, and self-advocacy skills.
• Engaging Families & Young Adults Program (EFYAP) A program managed jointly with Encircle Families that trains Young Adult and Family Advisors with diverse lived experience and places them within Placement Agencies in their communities to provide guidance and support.
• Youth Advisory Community (YAC) A dynamic network for AZYLF alumni ages 14-29 that fosters connections and empowers graduates through workshops, social activities, and personal and professional growth opportunities.
• Transition Institute A day-long event for youth and parents with separate tracks focused on planning for life after high school, including employment, independent living, self-advocacy, and transition resources.
• Family Transition Navigation Transition navigation support services that help families and young adults with disabilities plan for and navigate the transition to adulthood, including employment, independent living, and post-secondary education.

Quantifiable outcome

• Youth develop Personal Leadership Plans and Person-Centered Plans with goals for their future
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Encircle FamiliescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Joint partner with DAI for the Engaging Families and Young Adults Program (EFYAP). Encircle Families manages placement agencies while DAI provides program management. Also partner for Transition Institute events.
• Workability/UCPSAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership with University of Arizona-affiliated Workability program for AZYEA training delivery in Tucson. Collaborates on Charting My Course Summer Lab. Provides venue and support for in-person programming.
• BLOOM365coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Diverse Ability Incorporated is proud to collaborate with BLOOM365 for their mission to prevent and respond to interpersonal violence. DAI is supporting the 2026 Summer Summit at Great Wolf Lodge in Scottsdale, AZ, recruiting youth participants and providing peer leaders for leadership and support roles.
• Raising Special KidsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partner for Engaging Families and Young Adults Program (EFYAP) information sessions. Raising Special Kids manages the program alongside DAI and Encircle Families for family advisor training.
• Ability360minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaboration for Summer Pre-ETS Classes at Ability360 facility in Phoenix. DAI supports promotion and program coordination for transition-aged youth programs at Ability360's location.
• Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024State council that supports DAI's mission. DAI Young Adult Leaders represent the council at events including national ADA celebrations.
• AZYLI Alumni AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Alumni association that partners with DAI to facilitate AZYLF regional conferences. Provides ongoing connection and alumni programming through the Youth Advisory Community (YAC). Represents the graduated participant network.
• Arizona Department of EducationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2017Referral source and partner for connecting students with disabilities to DAI programs. Listed as how participants hear about DAI services.
• Arizona Vocational Rehabilitation ProgramminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2017Referral source for connecting youth with disabilities to DAI programs. Listed as how participants hear about services. RSA/VR funding flows through this program for Pre-ETS services.
• Centers for Independent Living (Arizona)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2017Referral resource for youth with disabilities. DAI peer navigators refer clients to CILs for additional independent living support services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Best Buddies International: Large national nonprofit running peer buddy, leadership, and employment programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; broader scale and reach than DAI but overlapping mission on peer-led inclusion and employment.
• Easterseals: National federation providing disability services including transition and employment programs; relevant broad incumbent with overlapping vocational and youth services offered at much greater scale.
• National Federation of the Blind (NFB) / NFB of Arizona: National disability-membership organization with youth leadership, mentoring, and transition programming that parallels DAI's mission; comparable at the broader movement level though far larger in scale.

Direct peers

• Encircle Families: Co-manages the Engaging Families and Young Adults Program (EFYAP) with DAI and Family Transition Navigation; directly comparable peer for transition/family support services for Arizona youth with disabilities.
• Partners for Youth with Disabilities: Massachusetts-based nonprofit offering mentorship, leadership, and transition programs for youth with disabilities; one-to-one match model overlaps directly with DAI's peer navigation and AZYEA peer leader model.
• Ability360: Arizona-based Center for Independent Living that delivers Pre-ETS classes and transition programming in partnership with DAI; serves the same youth with disabilities population in the same geography with overlapping services.
• National Youth Leadership Council / Youth Leadership Forum Network: The YLF Network operates state-based Youth Leadership Forums for high school students with disabilities across the U.S. — DAI's AZYLF is Arizona's forum in this network, making it a directly comparable state-anchor peer.

Regional players

• Special Olympics Arizona: Arizona state affiliate providing youth programming for people with intellectual disabilities; comparable as a peer-driven nonprofit serving Arizona youth with disabilities though focused on sports rather than transition/leadership.
• Raising Special Kids: Arizona family-support nonprofit for parents of children with disabilities; co-delivers EFYAP with DAI and shares the same target families and referrals, making it a closely adjacent regional peer.

Emerging players

• INCLUDEnyc: New York City-based youth and family disability advocacy organization providing transition, leadership, and peer programming; comparable peer-led model serving a different metro market — useful strategic analogue for scaling DAI beyond Arizona.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/diverseabilityincorporated

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Diverse Ability Incorporated