Arizona Bridge to Independent Living (ABIL) - Ability360

Author: Thomas C. Weiss
Published: 10 Sep 2012 - Updated: 28 Sep 2026
Publication Type: Informative

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This information profiles the Arizona Bridge to Independent Living (ABIL), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Center for Independent Living that has since rebranded as Ability360, and explains how it serves people with disabilities and seniors across Maricopa County from offices in Phoenix, Mesa and the West Valley. With more than 80 staff and over 1,600 personal assistants and volunteers, the organization runs what is described as the largest in-home care provider in the county, serving people qualified through the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS), the Division of Developmental Disabilities and Native American community health programs. It also operates one of the most successful Ticket to Work employment networks in the country, focused only on integrated, community-based jobs rather than sheltered or enclave work. The overview is useful for disabled adults, older people, families and caregivers in the Phoenix area who want a clear picture of in-home support, benefits-friendly employment help, peer mentoring and accessible community facilities, all run by an organization whose staff share lived experience of disability.*

At a Glance

• 1 - Classroom A is fragrance-free with dedicated HEPA filtration for people who experience multiple chemical sensitivity.
• 2 - The Nina Mason Pulliam Conference Center offers 3,034 square feet of space and can seat 110 people or hold up to 150 standing.
• 3 - ABIL began in 1977 as the Arizona Congress for Action, a grassroots group of people with physical disabilities in Central Arizona.
• 4 - Every ABIL employment staff member has personal experience with disability, and most have received Social Security benefits themselves.

Topic Definition

Center for Independent Living

A Center for Independent Living (CIL) is a community-based, nonprofit organization run by and for people with disabilities that helps individuals live as independently as possible in the setting of their choice. Authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and its later amendments, CILs are required to have a majority of disabled people on their boards and staff, and they offer four core services: information and referral, independent living skills training, peer counseling, and individual and systems advocacy, along with help moving out of nursing homes and into community living. Rather than treating disability as a medical problem to be managed, CILs are rooted in the independent living philosophy, which holds that disabled people are the best experts on their own needs and should have full control over the decisions that affect their lives.

Overview

ABIL is now rebranded as Ability360.

ABIL is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that works to assist consumers with achieving self-sufficiency. Through a variety of programs, ABIL positively affects the lives of people who experience forms of disabilities, addressing the concerns of their family members, friends, co-workers, and employers.

ABIL started in the year 1977 as the, 'Arizona Congress for Action (ACA),' a group of people who experienced diverse forms of physical disabilities who began a grassroots effort with the goal of educating their community about issues related to disability in Central Arizona. By the following year, Congress had enacted Independent Living Center legislation as a portion of the amended Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The year 1981 found ABIL receiving funding and starting to provide services.

More than 80 staff members work at ABIL, with greater than 1,600 assistants and volunteers. The organization has offices in Phoenix and Mesa, as well as the West Valley and provides services to people with disabilities throughout Maricopa County.

The programs through ABIL are made possible through a number of grants, individual and corporate contributions, and fee-for-service contracts. Examples of the programs through ABIL include:

• Advocacy
• Peer Support
• Home Modification
• Employment Services
• Information and Referral
• Personal Assistance Services
• Social Recreational Programs
• Social Security Work Incentives
• Empowering Youth in Transition
• Reintegration from Nursing Homes
• Outreach to Rehabilitation Centers
• Independent Living Skills Instruction
• Early Intervention for Newly Disabled Individuals
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Training and Counsel

ABIL and Personal Care Assistant Services

The Personal Assistance Services through ABIL have been recognized nationally.

ABIL provides quality, in-home care services to people with disabilities and seniors and has been doing so for more than 25 years. The Personal Assistance Services places value on the whole person, empowering people to live and be as independent as they possibly can be.

Independent Living, as seen by its advocates, is a philosophy, a way of looking at disability and society, and a worldwide movement of people with disabilities who proclaim to work for self-determination, self-respect and equal opportunities.

The Personal Assistance Services through ABIL employs more than 1,600 care assistants in Maricopa County. The services are the largest provider of in-home care and despite this fact ABIL still maintains a, 'small town,' approach as it provides people with disabilities and seniors with individualized personal services.

ABIL's Personal Assistance Services recruits, screens, trains and employs personal assistants who provide care services to people with physical disabilities and seniors who are qualified through the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) and who have selected Mercy Care, Evercare, Bridgeway, or SCAN health plans as well as to Native Americans who live off the Reservation and are qualified and receive services through AHCCCS/ALTCS and the Native American Community Health Centers.

ABIL provides personal assistants to people with developmental disabilities through the Arizona Department of Economic Security's Division of Developmental Disabilities as well.

Employment Services Through ABIL

People with Disabilities who receive Social Security benefits can still work. The majority of people with disabilities still have the ability to do some work and many can work again on a full-time basis.

For people with disabilities who are tired of worrying about money and being bored and who receive SSDI or SSI benefits, there are programs and work incentives that can help them to get a job while managing their benefits. People who receive Social Security benefits are qualified for a variety of work incentives and a program called, 'Ticket to Work.'

ABIL offers Employment Services and has been providing support and assistance to people with disabilities who want to become employed through the Ticket to Work program since the year 2002.

ABIL Employment Services has been recognized as one of the biggest and most successful organizations that provides services through the Ticket to Work program in all of America. Every one of ABIL's employment services is geared toward community-based and integrated employment.

ABIL's employment services do not support either sheltered or enclave employment.

Instead, peer support and mentoring are large aspects of the services the organization provides. All of ABIL's staff members have personal experience with disability and the majority of their staff members have received Social Security benefits at some time in their lives.

People with disabilities seeking employment through ABIL's Employment Services can rest assured that staff members understand the concerns and questions they have about returning to work because the staff members themselves have been there. People with disabilities seeking employment through ABIL will certainly receive the encouragement and support they need from staff members who have left their benefits behind, successfully returning to the workforce.

The Disability Empowerment Center

ABIL is located in the Disability Empowerment Center (DEC). The Disability Empowerment Center is a 62,000 square-foot universally designed, accessible and transit-oriented non-profit resources center with one goal - serving the community of people with disabilities in the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan area.

The DEC is a national model for accessible design and collaborative programs and is located in the very heart of Phoenix, Arizona less than 2.5 miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and placed conveniently on the Valley Metro light rail system.

Along with ABIL, a number of other disability organizations are located within the Disability Empowerment Center:

• NAMI Arizona
• Joni & Friends
• Symbius Medical
• Raising Special Kids
• Arizona Autism United
• Multiple Sclerosis Society
• Valley Center of the Deaf
• Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona
• Arizona Center for Disability Law
• Arizona Spinal Cord Injury Association
• AZ Statewide Independent Living Council

The Disability Empowerment Center (DEC) has a great deal to offer People with Disabilities in the Phoenix Metropolitan area. The Center includes a Conference Center, classrooms, a rooftop patio, computer labs and much more. Planning for the future includes additional expansion, all of which is accessible.

The Nina Mason Pulliam Conference Center

The Nina Mason Pulliam Conference Center is a state-of-the-art video conferencing facility. The facility offers 3,034 square-feet of conferencing space that may be divided into two separate meeting rooms. The conference center has the ability to seat 110 people or up to 150 people who are not seated.

Courtyards adjacent to the conference center provide guests with the perfect setting for a buffet meal or an outdoor cocktail hour. Additional features of the conference center include:

• In-house PC
• DVD capabilities
• Two laptop connections
• Audio and video teleconferencing
• Four large screens with projectors
• Listening systems and descriptive video
• A full service-catering kitchen for events

Classroom A:

Classroom A measures 526 square-feet and has the ability to accommodate 15 people. The classroom is ideal for a small seminar or meeting. The room has teleconferencing capabilities and is fragrance-free with a dedicated HEPA filtration system for people who experience multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS).

Classroom B:

Classroom B measures 732 square-feet and has the ability to accommodate 25 people. The classroom also has teleconferencing capabilities, as well as a fully accessible kitchen. The room is perfect for breakfast or lunch meetings.

The Disability Empowerment Center's Rooftop Patio

The Disability Empowerment Center (DEC) has an incredible 7,400 square-foot lighted patio with the ability to accommodate almost 500 guests.

The patio has a sweeping panoramic view of Tovrea Castle to the north and South Mountain. It is a memorable and breathtaking setting for outdoor events, cocktail receptions, and weddings.

As if this wasn't enough to dazzle every person with a disability, our family members and friends, the DEC has a 377 square-foot computer lab with 11 computer workstations, which are ideal for classes and workshops. The DEC is also available days and evenings with venues for conferences, meetings, weddings, holiday parties, corporate and other social events. But wait... there's even more - the future.

The Virginia G. Piper Sports and Fitness Center at the Disability Empowerment Center

The future of the Disability Empowerment Center includes plans to include the Virginia G. Piper Sports and Fitness Center.

The Sports and Fitness Center will be a universally accessible one that is designed to bring people with all forms of disabilities together, from all age groups, with the goal of encouraging wellness, nutritional health, and physical fitness.

The Sports and Fitness Center will measure 45,000 square-feet and include fitness, sports, and aquatics. It will be the first of its kind in the Western United States. The Sports and Fitness Center will host competitive sports programs for people with disabilities while accommodating fitness, wellness, and health programs.

ABIL is now rebranded as Ability360.

Frequently Asked Questions

NOTE: Researched FAQs by Disabled World (DW)

Is Arizona Bridge to Independent Living the same organization as Ability360?

Yes. Arizona Bridge to Independent Living rebranded as Ability360 and continues to operate as a Center for Independent Living serving people with disabilities and seniors in the Phoenix metropolitan area.

Do I have to pay for services from a Center for Independent Living?

Core independent living services such as information and referral, peer support, advocacy and skills training are usually offered at no cost, while in-home care is typically paid through programs such as ALTCS, a health plan or private pay.

What is the Arizona Long Term Care System?

The Arizona Long Term Care System, known as ALTCS, is the long-term care program of AHCCCS, Arizona's Medicaid agency, and it covers in-home care and other supports for people who meet medical and financial eligibility rules.

Will working part time cause me to lose my SSDI or SSI benefits?

Not necessarily. Social Security work incentives such as the Trial Work Period, the Extended Period of Eligibility and SSI earned income exclusions let many people test work or earn some income while keeping benefits or health coverage.

Is the Ticket to Work program voluntary?

Yes. Ticket to Work is a free and voluntary Social Security program for adults ages 18 through 64 who receive SSDI or SSI, and people can choose which approved employment network or vocational rehabilitation agency to work with.

What is the difference between sheltered employment and integrated employment?

Sheltered employment places people with disabilities in separate work settings, often at lower pay, while integrated employment means working alongside non-disabled coworkers in regular community jobs at competitive wages.

Can family members be hired as paid personal care assistants in Arizona?

In many cases yes. Arizona programs such as ALTCS and the Division of Developmental Disabilities allow certain family members to be paid caregivers, depending on the program rules and the member's plan.

How do I find a Center for Independent Living outside of Arizona?

Every U.S. state and territory has at least one Center for Independent Living, and directories maintained by the Independent Living Research Utilization program and the National Council on Independent Living list centers by location.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: What stands out about ABIL, now operating as Ability360, is how much of its work was shaped by disabled people themselves - from its 1977 grassroots beginnings to employment counselors who have personally moved off Social Security benefits and back into the workforce. Its home at the Disability Empowerment Center, a 62,000 square-foot universally designed building on the Valley Metro light rail line, brings together more than a dozen disability organizations under one accessible roof, from the Arizona Center for Disability Law to NAMI Arizona and the Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona. For Phoenix-area residents, that means advocacy, legal help, peer support, recreation and planned adaptive sports and aquatics can be reached in a single trip, and the building itself serves as a working example of how accessible design and shared services can function together. Readers should keep in mind that program names, health plan partners and facility details change over time, so contacting Ability360 directly is the best way to confirm current services and eligibility.*

Author Credentials: Thomas C. Weiss is a researcher and editor for Disabled World. Thomas attended college and university courses earning a Masters, Bachelors and two Associate degrees, as well as pursuing Disability Studies. As a CNA Thomas has provided care for people with all forms of disabilities. Explore Thomas' complete biography for comprehensive insights into his background, expertise, and accomplishments.

* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.