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Ability Central Announces 2024 Funding Cycle

$1M+ in funding available to nonprofits serving people with disabilities in California

Oakland, California – May 25, 2023 – Ability Central, now in its 12th year of grantmaking, announced their 2024 funding year, focused on empowering California nonprofits to implement programs that expand access to communication and information for people who are Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent.

Ability Central revealed three funding priorities for its 2024 annual grants: digital innovation and accessibility projects, disability access training for healthcare professionals, and leadership development programs for people with disabilities. Grant awards range from $10,000 to $100,000 and grant inquiries are accepted until July 12, 2023.  

The digital innovation and accessibility focus includes funding for projects that make it easier for people with communication disabilities to access information, communicate effectively, and participate fully in the digital world. Options for projects include creating accessible digital interfaces, developing customizable digital experiences for people with disabilities, and more.

The healthcare access training focus addresses the pervasive barriers to communication with healthcare professionals faced by patients with communication disabilities. It seeks to equip healthcare professionals and healthcare systems with the knowledge, accessible resources, and multi-modal communication partner strategies to improve culturally responsive care for patients with communication disabilities. Ability Central is looking for projects developing and implementing resources and programmatic models for people with disabilities who communicate and access information via methods such as braille, screen readers, American Sign Language (ASL), tactile interpreters, co-navigators, and/or Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

The leadership development focus seeks to fund robust, scalable, and replicable projects that provide supportive and fairly compensated career training opportunities for people with communication disabilities. Projects should include innovative strategies for long-term support for participants, establish relationships with relevant stakeholders, incorporate person-centered planning, and more.

Ability Central is accepting annual grant application inquiries until July 12th, 2023.  

To learn more about a grant from Ability Central, eligibility requirements, and a cycle timeline, including details on a webinar for applicants, visit https://philanthropy.abilitycentral.org/what-we-support/grant-opportunities/.


Headquartered in Oakland, California, Ability Central is the philanthropic division of the California Communication Access Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2003. Ability Central is committed to serving as an educator, convener, and resource working to expand communication and information access for individuals who are Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent and communities of support. Ability Central also offers technical support to other nonprofits working to help people with disabilities and provides online information and resources for people with questions about disabilities and communication access. Since 2010, Ability Central has granted more than $12.5 million to 200+ projects, serving more than half a million people with disabilities.

Contact: Grant Barringer, Communications Manager

gbarringer@abilitycentral.org