The Ability Central is seeking applications for its innovative projects that expand communication, accessibility, and inclusion for people who are Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent throughout California.
Donor Name: Ability Central
State: California
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 08/31/2026
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
The mission is to serve as a resource, convener, and educator working collaboratively to ensure that people who are Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent can communicate and access information.
Focus Areas
Projects must align with one of the following four focus areas for this cycle.
- Accessible Educational Materials & Environments
- This initiative funds programs based on ensuring students can fully access curriculum and classroom experiences. This program includes things such as accessible textbooks and digital content (braille, audio, captioning), classroom modifications and sensory-friendly spaces, and communication supports such as AAC tools.
- Assistive & Digital Accessibility
- This initiative funds programs expanding access to tools to enable individuals with disabilities to engage independently and effectively across workplace, community, education, and public settings. This funding program could include the purchase of screen readers, AAC devices, assistive technology and adaptive software. This funding program could also cover things such as accessible learning platforms, content remediation, and training for educators and support staff.
- Communication Access in Public Services
- This initiative funds programs related to improving communication accessibility in essential systems and services. This program funds and supports initiatives such as accessible communication in healthcare, education, and government services; staff training in communication accessibility and disability etiquette, and tools for accessible customer service and public engagement.
- Community Inclusion & Social Participation
- This initiative funds programs expanding opportunities for individuals with disabilities to actively engage in community life. This includes programs that support inclusive community events and programs, peer networks, and social groups, and volunteer and civic engagement opportunities.
Priorities
When reviewing proposals, we prioritize projects that align with the mission and meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Bold new venture, building new solutions
- Addresses an urgent or critical community need
- Offers new approaches to long-standing problems.
Funding information
Organizations may request $10,000–$200,000 for a single project.
Grant Period
January 1, 2027, and December 31, 2028.
Eligibility Criteria
- Only nonprofits and research institutions are eligible.
- Projects must serve California residents.
- Geographic eligibility is based on where the program serves participants, not the organization’s headquarters.
- Organizational Requirements:
- Management of the organization and project is overseen by reliable, ethical and experienced personnel.
- Appropriate governance practices.
- Independent board and document retention policies are preferred.
For more information, visit Ability Central.
