Who We Are

• Our History


• Accomplishments
• Guiding Principles
• Our Vision for the Future
• Where To Find Us
• Our Team
• Board of Directors and Board of Trustees
• Consumer Stories
• Employee Testimonials
• Accreditation & Funding
• Frequently Asked Questions

Our History

A History of Distinction

In 1953, a small group of parents dared to dream of a better life for their children - a life in which disability would not define who they were, what they did, or where they could go. To fulfill that dream, they founded Datahr Rehabilitation Institute, now known as Ability Beyond Disability. Since that modest beginning, Ability Beyond Disability has helped make the hopes and dreams of thousands of people with physical and mental disabilities a reality.

We have pioneered ways to support people with disabilities to live with independence, respect, and dignity. After opening the first group home in 1968, for example, Ability Beyond Disability, quickly became Connecticut's largest private provider of residential services for people with disabilities. During the 1980's Ability Beyond Disability expanded services to offer clinical supports including occupational, speech and physical therapy, on-site nursing, dietary and behavioral professionals; and in 1983, we began our Traumatic Brain Injury Program in Connecticut, making it the first of its kind to be offered in the state. In 1987 our first two residential homes for TBI patients were opened, making Ability Beyond Disability the first agency in the state of Connecticut to serve those with traumatic brain injuries through a residential program. In the mid-nineties we started the first program providing direct services for people with brain injuries in New York. Next, we began helping hundreds of adults to find paid employment each year, and by 1997 achieved the highest number of job placements in the state of Connecticut. In 2001, Ability Beyond Disability took community inclusion a step further and launched our Community Integration Project, an initiative to move the people who were being served in sheltered workshops and structured programs out into community settings. In 2003, we embarked on the most ambitious fund-raising initiative in Ability Beyond Disability's history - the 50th Anniversary Campaign raising close to $8.5 million.

 Breaking new ground, Ability Beyond Disability closed its sheltered workshop and transitioned its services to being 100% community-based in 2005. It is believed we were the first in the country to do so and still continue to lead the way in community-based services. That same year we received our fifth consecutive CARF accreditation noting the leadership and staff of our organization, the quality of our homes and the employment opportunities for consumers as we began consulting local businesses on employing people with disabilities. Throughout our history, Ability Beyond Disability has long been a beacon of light leading efforts for community-based services. Our strong belief in community inclusion and a history of creating a level playing field for people with disabilities has made us a leading provider of the services that make a tangible difference in people's lives. In fact, Ability Beyond Disability - now offers one of the most comprehensive systems of community-based support for people with disabilities in the Northeast, with services spanning Connecticut and northeastern metropolitan New York.