10/29/2025
ABLE's Fall Festival was a huge success. Families, volunteers, and clients filled the workshop with laughter, games, and fun!
Thank you to everyone who came out and made it unforgettable. 👻🎃
ABLE Community Based Services
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- United States
- Norman, OK
- ABLE Community Based Services
ABLE’s Mission is to Support and Care for Individuals with Developmental and Intelectual Disabilities
Address
300 N. Crawford Avenue
Norman, OK
73069
Opening Hours
| Monday | 8am - 4pm |
| Tuesday | 8am - 4pm |
| Wednesday | 8am - 4pm |
| Thursday | 8am - 4pm |
| Friday | 8am - 4pm |
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Our Story
In the early 1970’s, a group of approximately a dozen parents whose children were in the final year, or had recently been graduated from, high school met to discuss the collective future of their children. Their children had children had received “special education” classes due to significant developmental disabilities. The parents were determined to find a path that would provide appropriate care and purpose throughout the lives of their children.
After a number of meetings and extensive research into existing federal, state and private programs, the parents agreed to create a place for their children that would be meaningful and productive given their individual talents, capabilities and limitations. In the summer of 1973, the group opened a sheltered workshop in a vacant building at 300 N. Crawford in Norman to a group of seven individuals. The parents chose the name ABLE Community Based Services for the center, with ABLE translated to Able Bodies Learning to Excel.
By 1975, the number of clients quickly grew to two-dozen and approximately 30 in the early 1980’s. The rapid increase in clients came with a much wider range of individual client needs. The parents, who had formed a Parents Association to supervise original operation, began to avenues to satisfy the expanding needs which included specific individual services, and expanded and for more diverse client activities. These needs included off-site and individual employment outside activities and twenty-four hour per day professionally managed residential support for clients who could no longer live alone or with their families.
Today, ABLE operates four group homes and three Direct Living-Assistance Services homes. There is trained, around the clock staff both at both the houses and workshop to support residents to live as independently as possible. Our residential services give a home-like environment and teach daily living skills to a maximum of thirty-seven (37) residents. The residential program gives residents even greater autonomy, giving ready access to support for tasks like banking, shopping, and transportation. Vocational programs serve clients through two different services. Our two vocational services are the Sheltered Workshop (40 clients maximum), and Community Integrated Employment (16 clients). ABLE solicits contracts from Norman businesses to be completed by program participants at our community integrated employment office or job sites. This provides skills development and earned income for ABLE clients. ABLE accepts clients from all over Oklahoma, and provides vocational assistance across Cleveland and Oklahoma County, including Norman, Noble, the University of Oklahoma and private employers.
