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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

http://www.abilitynowbayarea.org/

Ability Now Bay Area, 4500 Lincoln Avenue, Oakland, CA (2025)

08/29/2025

We’re less than $3,000 away from our $20,000 goal—but time is almost out to help raise critical funds to support our programs this Summer!

Cuts from the new federal budget are already threatening essential supports for people with disabilities, and Ability Now Bay Area is doing our best to step up to fill the gap where state funds are being withdrawn. Programs like Ability Now, focused on providing total care to adults with developmental disabilities like cerebral palsy, are not sustainable without a community backing up these important and necessary efforts!

👉 Donate now and help us cross the finish line: www.abilitynowbayarea.org/pride and share the importance of our mission with your friends and family. Your gift today will ensure our participants will never lose the care, dignity, and opportunities to choose the future they deserve.

08/08/2025

Thanks to our incredible donor community, we’ve now raised more than $13,000 toward our $20,000 goal! In honor of Disability Pride Month and the anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act, we're celebrating the individuals in our programs in the face of unprecedented cuts to federal funding that Americans with disabilities—and programs like Ability Now—depend on! Not only will the money raised this summer help to ensure the future of our organization, but it will allow us to meet the special requests of our participants to further enrich each individual's experience at our center.

Your generosity is already fueling:
💻 Accessible tools and technology
🎨 Creative arts and crafts supplies
🏋️‍♀️ Adaptive equipment for our wellness program
🌟 Special events, outings, and guest speakers.. and much more!

But we’re not done yet! We still need your help to raise $7,000 to ensure our participants’ program requests are funded and our community of adults with disabilities can thrive!

Let’s finish strong and show the world that people with disabilities deserve more than basic care—they deserve opportunity, connection, joy, and the support they need to pursue a future they choose for themselves.

Donate today and help us cross the finish line at www.abilitynowbayarea.org/pride

07/22/2025

This July, as we celebrate Disability Pride Month and the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), we’re reminded that disability rights are not guaranteed—they must be protected and defended every day.

Recent federal budget cuts threaten essential programs that serve people with disabilities across the country. For organizations like Ability Now Bay Area, these cuts jeopardize the future of the programs and services we provide that empower adults with disabilities to pursue self-directed, independent, and fullfilling lives.

We’re raising $20,000 this summer to fund participant-led requests, including:

• Accessible tools and technology
• Community outings and special events
• Wellness program equipment
• Arts and crafts supplies for classes
• Support for individual accessibility needs
• Capital support for Entrepreneurs

Your gift this summer sends a clear message: people with disabilities deserve more than survival, they deserve opportunity, community, and joy.

Now more than ever, your support is critical—Donate Today at www.abilitynowbayarea.org/pride

[Alt text: Animated collage of photos reads "Support Ability Now's Unique & Empowering Programs. Celebrate Disability Pride Month by Contributing to the Future of Ability Now Bay Area. Now more than ever, your support is critical—Donate Today! abilitynowbayarea.org/pride"

07/03/2025

How better to head into this patriotic holiday weekend than with a brand new Access Pass guaranteeing lifetime access to one of the "best ideas" this country has ever come up with?

Yesterday, we were happy to welcome a representative of the National Park Service to Ability Now Bay Area. Community Engagement Specialist Lucien Sonder gave our participants an informative presentation on the history and purpose of the National Park Service, some of the local and regional highlights, and information on the "America the Beautiful" Access Pass. This free resource for Americans with permanent disabilities provides complementary access to National Parks and federal recreational land to the bearer and those sharing their vehicle.

Afterwards, many of our participants signed up to receive their Access Pass on the spot!

If you have a permanent disability, you can order one for yourself for just a $10 processing/shipping fee at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/accessibility/interagency-access-pass.htm or speak to a ranger at the entry gate of most National Parks to receive one for free. Be sure to bring your ID and documentation of your disability to ensure access!

Do you have an NPS Access Pass or Golden Pass? Where have you visited with it? We'd love to hear your stories about the most accessible destinations our participants can use their new passes for!

06/30/2025

Ability Now Bay Area seeks a compassionate and strategic Executive Director to lead the organization into its next phase of service, innovation, and growth. This individual will build on ANBA’s legacy while evolving programs, strengthening financial sustainability, and enhancing advocacy efforts for participants and their families.

The ideal candidate will possess significant experience in nonprofit management, operations, service delivery, and fundraising. They will be an effective advocate and collaborator, able to engage local and state agencies, navigate complex funding structures, and motivate a diverse and dedicated staff. For more information, please visit https://abilitynowbayarea.org/get-involved/job-opportunities/executive-director/

LOCATION:

· Oakland, California

YOU ARE:

· A mission-driven leader with deep expertise in disability rights, person-centered care, and independent living, bringing authenticity and steadiness during times of change.

· An experienced executive with a track record of operational excellence, sustainable program growth, and transparent, approachable leadership.

· A relationship builder and strategic advocate who expands funding, raises organizational visibility, and builds consensus with clarity and compassion.

· Someone who leads with innovation, joy, and inspiration—fostering a fun, inclusive culture where people feel seen, heard, and motivated to contribute their best.

SALARY/BENEFITS:

Salary: $175,000 – $195,000 annually
Benefits: Competitive package including health, retirement, and paid leave
Remote Work: Primarily onsite; flexibility for some remote work may be considered

EQUITY STATEMENT:

Ability Now Bay Area is committed to building an inclusive and equitable organization. We value diverse perspectives and backgrounds and encourage individuals from underrepresented communities to apply. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

TO APPLY:

For more information or to apply for the Executive Director position, please upload your resume and cover letter to https://jobs.crelate.com/portal/cooksilverman/job/oe4h1ub9k1z1ja3r8beiqgwcdo

All applications will be kept confidential, and every applicant will receive a response.

06/09/2025

It's been a whirlwind in our Performing Arts class this Spring! Our talented participants are hard at work rehearsing for an upcoming play—bringing their courage, brains, and heart to every scene of this classic adventure story.

For many adults with disabilities, chances to shine in the spotlight are far too rare. That’s why programs like Ability Now Bay Area are so important. Our center is a safe and welcoming space for expression, connection, and the joy of creativity.

Keep your oil can handy and watch out for the flying monkeys—we'll be back with more on this and other unique classes at Ability Now Bay Area soon!

04/25/2025

Hear them! Medicare and Medicaid aren’t just programs — they are essential supports that make it possible for millions of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live with dignity, access healthcare, and participate in their communities.

We're seeing signs that our voices are making a difference. Thirteen Republican members of the House just sent a letter to leadership, saying loud and clear: “We will not support a final reconciliation bill that includes any reduction in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations.”

This growing bipartisan support is hopeful—but we can't stop now! Some in Congress are still pushing legislation that could slash Medicaid funding, threatening services that people with disabilities rely on every day.

These cuts would devastate families, dismantle community-based care, and leave some of our most vulnerable neighbors without the support they need.

Now is the time to act. Now is the time to stand with the disability community, share their message, and call your members of Congress and demand they protect Medicaid funding for people with I/DD.

02/14/2025

Love is in the air, and we're here for it at Ability Now Bay Area. We celebrated earlier this week with love songs, romantic movies, some passionate snacking, a dance party, and we even had a festive photo booth set up to capture the many forms of love among our staff and participants—from friendship to family.

We wish you all an incredible day of agape, eros, philia, storge, philautia, xenia, and whatever else fills your heart with love! We'll be back in the center Tuesday after the long weekend!

[Alt text: 1. A diverse group of Ability Now Bay Area staff and participants dressed in white, red and pink, gather in front of a Valentine's day banner. 2. Jane (a White woman with wavy light brown hair wearing a red, white, and pink cartigan, seated in a power chair with a tracheostomy tube attached to her neck) & Jamie, a White woman with dark brown hair wearing a grey jacket. Jane's PCA Jasmine stands beside her. 3. Nicole, a Black woman wearing a black beanie and a red sweater, smiles beside Laura, a White disabled & half-blind woman with long dark blonde hair wearing a burgundy top. 4. Andre, a Black man with thick-rimmed glasses wearing a dark red beret and darker red sport coat, stands next to Monique, a Black woman with platinum-blond hair wearing a black jacket over a blue hoodie. 5. Oscar, a Latino man with glasses and dark hair wearing a Kermit-the-Frog shirt sits next to Sarah, a White woman with brown hair and wire-framed glasses wearing a red sweater and a blue beanie. 6. Juanita, a Latina woman with long dark hair, wearing a pink faux-fur jacket over a festive pink outfit. With her are Marlene, a Latina woman with long graying hair and a heavy earthtones jacket, and Erin, a White woman with shoulder-length brown hair wearing a coral pink jacket.]

02/12/2025

A special thanks again to Peter DeHaas, Director of San Francisco Disability Business Alliance for his visit last week and for the inspiring and informative talk he gave our participants about the entrepreneural resources available to them. Come back any time Peter!

Ability Now Bay Area is always happy to host our partners and fellow organizations serving people with disabilities in our community. If you know someone who has something to share with our participants, we invite them reach out to us and arrange a visit!

[Alt text: Peter DeHaas, a White man in a dark blue suit with short brown hair, greying temples, and a "soul patch" below his smile. He holds a microphone as he answers questions from diverse seated participants in the Ability Now Bay Area dining room.]

East Bay Innovations Center for Independent Living - Berkeley Regional Center of the East Bay Las Trampas School, Inc.

02/06/2025

Do you have a disability? Are you interested in starting your own business, or developing skills for entrepreneurship?

Join Ability Business Now on TODAY at 11 AM for an informative talk by Peter DeHass, Founder & Executive Director of the San Francisco Disability Business Alliance.

Learn from an expert in entrepreneurship and find out how Ability Now’s Small Business Development Program can help you to set and achieve your own goals as a business-owner!

You can join us in person at the Ability Now Bay Area Center at 4500 Lincoln Ave in Oakland, CA or remotely via Zoom at zoom.us/j/83172396551.

We hope to see you there! If you have any questions, please reach out to Andre Wilson at: andre@abilitynowba.org or call 510.531.3323 ext. 143 during program hours.

[Alt text: Image features the Ability Now Bay Area logo above graphic text: "Special Guest Speaker. February 6th. 11:00AM. Peter DeHass, Founder & Executive Director of SFBDA" surrounding a circular framed image of Mr. DeHass, a smiling and clean-shaven White man with short graying brown hair wearing a suit and tie. Below reads "Attend in Person: 4500 Lincoln Ave, Oakland" and "Join us on Zoom! zoom.us/j/83172396551"]

East Bay Innovations Center for Independent Living - Berkeley Regional Center of the East Bay Las Trampas School, Inc.

02/06/2025

Do you have a disability? Are you interested in starting your own business, or developing skills for entrepreneurship?

Join Ability Business Now on Thursday, February 6th at 11 AM for an informative talk by Peter DeHass, Founder & Executive Director of the San Francisco Disability Business Alliance.

Learn from an expert in entrepreneurship and find out how Ability Now’s Small Business Development Program can help you to set and achieve your own goals as a business-owner!

You can join us in person at the Ability Now Bay Area Center at 4500 Lincoln Ave in Oakland, CA or remotely via Zoom at zoom.us/j/83172396551.

We hope to see you there! If you have any questions, please reach out to Andre Wilson at: andre@abilitynowba.org or call 510.531.3323 ext. 143 during program hours.

[Alt text: Image features the Ability Now Bay Area logo above graphic text: "Special Guest Speaker. February 6th. 11:00AM. Peter DeHass, Founder & Executive Director of SFBDA" surrounding a circular framed image of Mr. DeHass, a smiling and clean-shaven White man with short graying brown hair wearing a suit and tie. Below reads "Attend in Person: 4500 Lincoln Ave, Oakland" and "Join us on Zoom! zoom.us/j/83172396551"]

East Bay Innovations Center for Independent Living - Berkeley Regional Center of the East Bay Las Trampas School, Inc.

01/17/2025

Art and self-expression are vital for fostering growth and empowerment in adults with disabilities. At Ability Now Bay Area, creative outlets like our arts & crafts classes inspire confidence, build skills, and provide a meaningful way for our participants to share their unique perspectives with the world. Every stroke of paint or piece of poetry and prose celebrates their individuality and demonstrates the limitless possibilities of human expression.

A special thanks to Lawrence (seen here assisting Juanita) & Maker's Paradise for their contributions to our ADC programming with special classes in art and music! We're so thankful to have your expertise to draw upon and your enthusiasm inspiring our participants to expand their creative horizons!

[Alt text: (From left to right) Lawrence, a White man with short dark hair wearing a black sweatshirt and blue gloves, helps steady the paintbrush of Juanita, a Latina woman with long dark hair seated in a power chair and wearing glasses and a colorful smock, as she adds to a large painted canvas. Mara, a Latina woman dressed in a dayglo green Seattle Seahawks jersey and blue hoodie, looks on as Marlene, a Latina woman with graying hair wearing a plum sweater, mixes paint nearby.]

Ability Now Bay Area

08/29/2025

08/08/2025

07/22/2025

07/03/2025

06/30/2025

06/09/2025

04/25/2025

02/14/2025

02/12/2025

02/06/2025

02/06/2025

01/17/2025

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Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm