About Us

Ability Connection, a 71-year-old 501(c)3 nonprofit, serves over 1,000 people with all types of intellectual or other developmental disabilities across Texas.

Our core values of Compassion, Respect, and Results drive us to provide world-class services for our members and their families, with an individualized focus on each person’s ability and the belief in each individual’s potential.

Through our “one person” focus, we learn what priorities individuals and families want, and we work diligently to address those choices and goals.

Our services and support include physical, speech and occupational therapy, adult day habilitation, assistive technology, transportation, residential care, information and referral, case management, and in-home support for our members and their families.

 

History

 

Beginning as the United Cerebral Palsy of Dallas County in June of 1953, we have been providing world-class services to our members and their families for 70 years.

Milestones/Timeline:  

  • 1986 UCP/Ability Connection opened our first residential group home.
  • 1991 UCP/Ability Connection opened our second residential group home.
  • 1992 UCP/Ability Connection received a Texas Department of Human Services contract for the Community Living Assistance Support Services (CLASS) program.
  • 1994 UCP/Ability Connection began working with the Texas Rehabilitation Commission for Employment Services.
  • 1996 We built the current Headquarters/Main Campus at 8802 Harry Hines Boulevard.
  • 1997 We received a contract to become a provider of Home and Community Based Services (HCS).
  • 1998 We added our third group home.
  • 2000 We expanded the CLASS (Community Living & Support Services) program to East Texas and opened a field office.
  • In 2006, we were chosen as an official demonstration site for the Texas Technology Access project of The Texas Center for Disability Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. This designation provided cutting-edge applications to build greater independence through the use of technology.
  • 2007 We opened our fourth residential group home.
  • 2008 We added the fifth and sixth residential group homes.
  • 2010 Our seventh group home, located in Richardson, was added.
  • In 2011, UCP officially changed its name to Ability Connection to better define the scope of the organization’s mission and to focus on the abilities of the people we serve. Although originally assisting only individuals with cerebral palsy, we now serve individuals with all types of physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities and their families throughout Texas. 
  • 2020 Ability Connection proudly announced the launch of its newest program, Camp Connections (Summer, Care Giver Relief/Respite, and Holiday School Programs), which will double the amount of people served by our programs and provide services for 12-17 year-olds with disabilities.
  • 2023 Ability Connection moved its Training Center and Headquarters into a new, expanded location in Las Colinas to better serve its existing members and to reach even more members and their families in the North Texas area.

Today, through our experienced team of employees and volunteers, Ability Connection’s passion is to provide the highest quality of care and support to the community we serve. We empower individuals to live the best life possible by removing barriers that inhibit independence and autonomy with our core values of Compassion, Respect, and Results.

Our members reflect our community. They are individuals with skills, passions, interests, humor, creativity, dignity, and determination. Today, one in five people have a disability which is why our organization and its services are so critical to the community.