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The members of Ability Connection, a nonprofit that serves people with all types of cognitive, physical and developmental disabilities, like to give back. “We are always looking for opportunities to volunteer in the community, and our members love doing that,” says president and CEO Jim Hanophy.
Community projects are one of the activities that will be easier to manage following the organization’s May move into a bigger new facility in Irving. Before, it was situated on Harry Hines Boulevard near Royal Lane.
“It gives us a lot more room and the opportunity to serve more people,” Hanophy says. “We’ll have much more flexility, and we are in a prime location for more people to reach us from Dallas and Farmers Branch, Coppell, South Lake, Grapevine — all that area. Since we moved we’ve had lots of inquiries.”
Founded 70 years ago as United Cerebral Palsy of Dallas, the organization changed its name in 2011 to reflect the broader population it serves. Ability Connection works primarily with adults who have a range of needs, from those who are intellectually disabled but can live fairly independently to people who get nutrition through feeding tubes and require complete care.
Two years ago, the nonprofit introduced a summer program for school-age children that teaches life skills and offers recreation while giving parents a respite, a program funded by the Crystal Charity Ball. It also offers one-day life-skills classes for kids. “We will serve anybody, regardless of the level of disability,” Hanophy says.
At 30,000 square feet, the new building is 36% larger and was laid out specifically for Ability Connection, enabling dedicated spaces for community projects, youth programs, a combination room for sensory stimulation and quieting, and several classrooms. The sensory room is still being fine tuned, and the facility will include an outdoor space for fitness and gardening, Hanophy notes.
Ability Connection serves 900 people throughout Dallas County with a variety of programs, from vocational training to academics, recreation and leisure activities. It offers opportunities for caregiver relief and after-school programming at Coppell High School and three middle schools in the Dallas Independent School District.
In addition, the group operates eight residential homes that house a total of 38 clients, most of whom have significant disabilities. Many of them spend time at headquarters during the day, Hanophy explains. “We’re really proud of our ability to serve people with more significant disabilities and really help them have a great quality of life,” Hanophy says. “It costs a lot of money to do that, so we rely on the community to support us.”
Many members receive state funding through Medicaid waivers for Ability Connection’s health care services, but those rates have not increased at the same pace as costs, he says. There are thousands of Texans on a waiting list for Medicaid waivers, so outside funding is critical.
About 30 volunteers support the mission by helping in classes, celebrating birthdays and holidays, visiting group homes and assisting with summer camp and other initiatives. Ability Connection also will match a volunteer with a member to nurture a friendship based on common interests.
The organization plans to celebrate its anniversary and its new digs with a ribbon cutting in August or September. Meanwhile, members continue giving back in a variety of ways, such as bagging dog food for Dallas Animal Services, filling “blessing” bags with necessities for homeless people, assembling kits for new mothers at Parkland Hospital, and spending time with dogs and cats at Richland Hills Animal Shelter, where Hanophy himself volunteers.
“I wanted to change the narrative so that our people were not only perceived as getting services but as giving back,” Panophy says. “Our guys take great pride in that.”