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.

04/02/2026

Telehealth can be a great option, but access supports are not automatic. If a virtual visit is hard to join, hard to hear, or hard to understand, you deserve a better process.

We wrote a step-by-step guide with scripts and a simple visit log. Read our blog Accessible Telehealth: A Step-by-Step Guide for Virtual Visits. https://bit.ly/488mUOx

04/02/2026

Today is World Autism Day. April is Autism Acceptance Month. For all of us at FSU Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, every day and every month is about autism acceptance. Join us this month and the months that follow to learn more about autism and how you can make a difference to promote autism acceptance in your community.

04/02/2026

Join ACTS2 Caregiver Project for a Facebook Live workshop on Thursday, April 23, 7–8:30 PM ET: “Maximizing Health and Well-Being for Loved Ones with Dementia: Special Focus on Palliative Care.”

Learn about palliative care, caregiver support, and resources.

🔗 Register here: https://fsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aWySWzlMcMd5Jhs

04/01/2026

⚾️ Join us TOMORROW EVENING for the Seminole Showdown - the grand finale of our Miracle Sports Baseball season! 🎉

Celebrate an incredible season with us at Miracle Field at Messer Park from 6–8 PM. Enjoy great music, delicious food and a special appearance by Miracle Moose 🫎

This event is open to everyone, so bring your friends, family and spirit! We can’t wait to see you there!

04/01/2026
04/01/2026

💙🌟 April is National Autism Acceptance Month! Celebrate with us all month long at Leon County Public Library with programs, events, and activities for all ages. Explore Artists and Autism: Infinite Expressions, enjoy curated book displays, storytimes, crafts, and more — both in person and online. Check out everything happening this April and join us in promoting understanding, acceptance, and inclusion!

Learn more: LeonCountyFL.gov/Celebration

03/31/2026

Grab your Mahjong crew and join us for a night that supports something bigger.
Mahjong for a Cause helps support 211 Big Bend, connecting thousands of neighbors each year to food, housing assistance, mental health services, and other critical resources.

🀄 Mahjong for a Cause
📅 April 21 | 6:30–8:30 PM
📍 Hawthorn Bistro | 1307 N Monroe St
💛 Suggested donation: $100 per table of four

Get your table of four together and email carriepeterson09@gmail.com by April 17 to reserve your spot.
Can’t attend but want to support the mission? Donations are always appreciated! See the link below.

Tag your Mahjong group and start planning your table!

03/31/2026

🏠 FREE legal help is available right here in Tallahassee! Our partners at North Florida Legal Aid are hosting a FREE consultation clinic for Leon County Promise Zone residents on April 1st, 11 AM–2 PM at the Jake McLean Community Center (700 Paul Russell Rd.). No appointment needed — just sign in by 1:30 PM. Services include family law, expungement, foreclosure, landlord/tenant issues, small claims, wills, and more. If you or someone you know needs legal guidance, please share this post!

03/31/2026

Please click the link to complete this form.

We are so thrilled that our Executive Director was nominated in the Community category of the Domi Awards Five Pillars o...
03/24/2026

We are so thrilled that our Executive Director was nominated in the Community category of the Domi Awards Five Pillars of Excellence. The Community Pillar celebrates leaders who strengthen and uplift our local ecosystem. Congratulations, Mandy!

03/22/2026

*Posting on behalf of the LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library System*

Celebrate the opening of the sixth annual Autism Acceptance Month art exhibition featuring artwork by local artists of all ages and abilities. Meet the artists, explore a wide range of creative expressions, and enjoy light refreshments.

Presented in partnership with the Florida State University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (FSU CARD) and Arts4All Florida, the exhibition will be on view throughout the month of April, both in person and through a virtual gallery.

Learn more at LeonCountyFL.gov/Celebration

03/22/2026

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.