Collaborative Funding

We believe that collaborating with and leveraging the expertise of other funders makes us stronger and increases our impact to accomplish our mission.

2020 Joint RFP with the WITH Foundation: Supported Decision Making (SDM) for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

In July of 2019, Ability Central and the WITH Foundation released a request for proposals to enhance resources, programmatic efforts, and/or advocacy regarding Supported Decision-Making (SDM) for adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Applicants were encouraged to develop new partnerships or significantly enhance existing partnerships between disability organizations, advocates, community organizations, and healthcare providers. SDM is the area of overlap of our foundations’ missions: access to health care (WITH) and access to communication & information (Ability Central).

In February 2020, the WITH Foundation and Ability Central announced five (5) awards in California (funded by Ability Central) and nationwide (funded by WITH), totaling $478,000 in award funds.

Arts and Communication Access Program through the National Arts and Disability Center (NADC)

With $50,000 funding from Ability Central, NADC provides project support in 2020 toward activities that promote communication access to individuals with disabilities in arts programming or audience accommodations. Up to $5,000 awards are made to California arts organizations, museums, theaters, festivals, and exhibits, among others.