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.

01/22/2026

*Posting on behalf of the Florida Atlantic Center for Autism and Related Disabilities*

🌟 Little Owls Early Intervention Webinar 🌟

Every child deserves a strong, supportive start—and every parent deserves the tools to feel confident and empowered. 💛
Little Owls Early Intervention is more than a webinar; it’s the foundation for a brighter future for your child.

🦉 What to Expect:
This 5-week autism training is designed to help you be the best parent you can be—by building understanding, confidence, and practical skills you can use every day.

📅 Dates: April 21 – May 22
⏰ Time: 10:30 – 11:30 AM ET
📆 Schedule: Tuesdays & Fridays (1-hour sessions)

✨ Early intervention matters. When parents are supported, children thrive—and hope grows stronger with every step forward.

📌 Register here: https://ow.ly/ykSp50XXvF6

📞 Questions or more information?
Contact Wanda Baldwin
📧 baldwinw@fau.edu

☎️ (561) 245-1792

💙 Join us and take this meaningful step toward a better tomorrow for your child.

🦉✨

01/21/2026

*Posting on behalf of the UCF CARD - Center for Autism and Related Disabilities*

Need help understanding your IEP? We can help! Join us on January 29th on Zoom at 6pm ET. To register, scan the QR code or go to iep26.eventbrite.com

01/21/2026

✨ Imagine Freedom 2026 is two weeks away✨

On Thursday, January 29, 2026, join Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center at the FSU College of Law Rotunda for an evening rooted in community, advocacy, and action. From 5:30–7:00 p.m., we’ll gather to recognize the collective work happening across the Big Bend to prevent human trafficking and support survivors.

This community has donated just over $50,000 toward STAC's $80,000 goal! Whether you attend, sponsor, or give, your involvement will fuel education, prevention, and direct services for survivors of s*x and labor trafficking in our community.

Ways to get involved:
🎟️ Attend and be part of the conversation
🤝 Sponsor and expand community impact
💗 Give in support of survivor safety and freedom

Learn more and join us on January 29:
https://surviveandthriveadvocacy.org/imagine-freedom-2026/

01/21/2026

Big Bend Continuum of Care is asking the community to come alongside them for their annual Point-in-Time Count to help understand the needs of our unhoused neighbors.

01/20/2026

Travel isn’t just about where you go. It’s also about who gets to go.

In our latest episode, we sit down with Cory Lee from Curb Free with Cory Lee to talk about accessible travel, representation, and what happens when the world finally plans with people with disabilities in mind.

Real talk. And a reminder that access changes everything.

🎧 Watch now: https://bit.ly/2ZRdCny

Ability1st will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 19, 2026. We are grateful for his lasti...
01/18/2026

Ability1st will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 19, 2026. We are grateful for his lasting legacy of courage, peace and truth.

One core service of a Center for Independent Living is making way for independence for persons with disabilities so they...
01/14/2026

One core service of a Center for Independent Living is making way for independence for persons with disabilities so they can engage fully in their communities—and at Ability1st, we’re proud to support that mission every day. We’re grateful to assist individuals who truly embody independence through their diligence and dependability. Our most recent ramp recipient is currently learning English as a second language, but they worked hard to communicate and cooperate with our team, making the entire experience smooth and fulfilling. They raise chickens and work hard to grow their own food, showing a strong commitment to self-sufficiency and independent living. We were happy to help with a new ramp, and they were deeply appreciative of the support. 💙

01/14/2026

Join us this Friday, January 16, from 1-4 p.m. at the Second Harvest of the Big Bend Neighborhood Empowerment Resource Fair at Griffin Heights Apartments! StarMetro will be there to share info about the STAR Program and other public transit resources. 😁

01/14/2026

Exciting News for Florida Health Care! We're preserving and enhancing our HIE services to ensure seamless, patient-centered care across Florida. With no increase in fees, we're expanding our platform with new tools and resources. Stay connected and watch out for updates at our new website, FLHIE.org.

01/14/2026

Brian and Kathryn Ballard's gift is the largest one-time donation ever to FSU Student Affairs. It will help expand the school's Food for Thought Pantry which serves students facing food insecurity.

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.