Ability1st

Ability1st Ability1st provides direct human services with an emphasis on empowering independent living

Ability1st is a United Way Agency that provides the following Core Services:

Independent Living Skills Training
Instruction and skill building for living independently with a disability. Topics can include cooking, budgeting, transportation, and social skills training. Information and Referral
Information and Referral services educate consumers, family, and community members about what community

resources are available, as well as coordination of referrals from and to other community agencies or services. Having adequate information and knowing where to go for specific services promotes empowerment. Peer Support
Peer support provides the opportunity for one person with a disability to discuss life experiences with another person with a disability. Ability1st is currently working toward developing a Peer Mentoring Program, which will be made up of volunteers with disabilities. Advocacy
Advocacy is one of Ability1st’s core services and an important part of the Independent Living Philosophy. According to Webster’s definition, being an Advocate means one that pleads the cause of another or one that defends or maintains a cause or proposal. Not only does the agency strive to fulfill this role, but we also educate and train consumers to be their own advocate.

07/31/2025

Looking for a space to unwind on campus? 🧘‍♀️✨ The UF Education Library offers a Relaxation Room designed with your well-being in mind. Enjoy calming tools like fidgets, a weighted lap blanket, and cozy seating. Stop by and take a moment for yourself—you deserve it!

07/31/2025

Do you have a passion for community outreach and a desire to help people? Then Bond Community Health Center, Inc. needs you! Bond Community Health Center is seeking dedicated volunteers to support patient engagement through exciting roles such as:

✔️ Event planning
✔️ Coordinating projects
✔️ Marketing
✔️ Mobile health services

Sign up today to make a meaningful impact in the community by visiting https://bit.ly/4kmtUdP.

07/31/2025
07/31/2025

☀️💧 Stay safe this summer by drinking plenty of water, dressing in light clothing, and keeping cool indoors. Try to avoid going out during the hottest part of the day (10 AM–4 PM) and always store medications properly, as heat can affect their effectiveness. A few small steps can make a big difference in staying healthy all season long! 💙

07/31/2025

🌀 Hurricane season is on the horizon —are you ready?
Now’s the time to check your emergency kit, update your family plan, and make sure you know where to turn for help.

✅ Evacuation routes
✅ Emergency phone numbers
✅ Supply checklists

Need support or local info? Simply call 211 to connect with resources in the Big Bend area.

07/29/2025

❤️When survivors of human trafficking are arrested, the consequences can last a lifetime—trauma, stigma, and a criminal record that blocks opportunities for healing and success. But Florida law offers a powerful tool for justice: expungement.

📝Join us on August 15, 2025, from 1:00-2:30 pm EST as we break down Florida’s expungement law for trafficking survivors, led by two experts in the field: Brent Woody, Executive Director of the Justice Restoration Center, and Danielle Lennox, Head of the Human Trafficking Division at the Broward State Attorney’s Office. Learn how expungement can change a survivor’s life—and why you need to understand it if you work with vulnerable individuals.

🗓️August 15, 2025 - 1:00-2:30pm EST
👏CLE approved by The Florida Bar for 2 credit hours.
🔗 https://surviveandthriveadvocacy.org/events/stac-third-friday-human-trafficking-training-webinar-series-aug-2025/

07/29/2025

Fewer states are meeting their obligations under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, federal officials say, with most deficient multiple years in a row.

07/28/2025

Check out the newest issue of our Empower newsletter to read about the impact of on Broward County High School High Tech student Axel Garcia, meet recent donors to The Able Trust, learn about some of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation's activities to support students with disabilities, and see how Tampa Bay-area High School High Tech students have made the most of this summer through internships. Read it today at https://ow.ly/Zeqp50Wvv1p.

If you haven't gotten a chance to subscribe yet, check out the link 🔗 in the comments so you don't miss our next issue!

Capital City Bank Florida Department of Education Pepin Academies Tarpon Springs Aquarium University of South Florida Arts4All Florida Ginger Beard Coffee James P. Gills YMCA

07/24/2025

After graduating from Tallahassee's Lincoln High School, Leon County alum Zachary Staubitz continued to serve as a leader with the program, volunteering his time to help coordinate transportation and communications for current students. The highly motivated Class of 2020 grad is working toward his degree from the Florida State University College of Communication and Information. We're excited to see what's next for Zach!

Click the link in the comments to learn more about the High School High Tech program.

07/24/2025

More than three decades after passage of the landmark ADA, advocates worry progress is slipping amid attacks on disability rights and uncertainty over the future of services and supports.

employU's mission is to create inclusive workforces for people with disabilities and other underserved populations throu...
07/21/2025

employU's mission is to create inclusive workforces for people with disabilities and other underserved populations through education, empowerment, and advocacy. It’s more than a job search, it’s a support system that is committed to delivering tailored experiences and assisting clients in navigating a complex process. We are a one stop shop for career development and employment solutions that is dedicated to providing the tools and resources necessary to cultivate an inclusive workforce.

Address

1823 Buford Court
Tallahassee, FL
32308

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 3pm

Telephone

+18505759621

Website

https://www.walmart.com/registry/RR/7c16f2ef-c753-476c-a59c-a82190b019de, https://www.amazo

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Our Story

Welcome to Ability1st! We are a community-based organization offering support services, advocacy, and information to empower people with disabilities to live independently. Our programs are designed to target the most vulnerable people living with disabilities in our community, and to provide ways to improve their quality of life. This may include access to affordable housing, mental health and crisis counseling, career development, assistance applying for Social Security benefits, and durable medical equipment loans.

We are a United Way agency celebrating 40 years of service in the Big Bend community.