501(c)(3) · the Town of Hempstead, NY
Empowering every ability.
We're a community of builders helping adults with developmental disabilities create meaningful, connected, and more inclusive lives — through education, leadership, advocacy, and recreation - for them and the networks that support them.
- 200+
- Lives touched annually
- 4
- Pillar Programs (and Growing)
- 100%
- Community-funded
- 1
- Towns we call home (for now)
Rooted in the Town of Hempstead
Built for the whole community.
Why we're different
Opportunity alone isn't enough.
Many organizations create opportunities. We create the conditions that help people succeed within them — through coaching, leadership pathways, community partnerships, and real-world experiences that turn participation into possibility.
When we set up camp, we don't just open doors. We help people walk through them.
Join our builder's circleHow it works
We do the heavy lifting so inclusion actually happens.
Real inclusion takes more than good intentions. We coordinate the moving parts — businesses, volunteers, support staff, community partners, and the builders themselves — so everyone succeeds together naturally.
- Builders
- Family Advocates
- Support staff
- Businesses
- Volunteers
Our Programs
Four pillars. One shared belief.
Everyone deserves a chance to grow, contribute, and belong. At Abilities Unleashed, we create real-world experiences in community spaces that help people turn participation into possibility.
Education
Develop the everyday skills and systems to navigate responsibilities, contribute meaningfully, and thrive across home, work, and community.
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Leadership
Build confidence through leadership pathways that transform interests into initiatives, ideas into action, and participation into purpose.
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Advocacy
Transform communication into action by helping people find their voice, influence decisions, and be included in conversations that matter.
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Recreation
Turn shared interests into shared experiences by exploring hobbies, building connections, and participating more fully in community life.
Learn more"Ability isn't something to be measured. It's something to be unleashed—through the right people, in the right places, at the right moment."
— Our promise to our community
Testimonials
Voices from our community
"Abilities Unleashed means so much to our family. As a member, my son has been given lots of opportunities to meet new people and be involved in different events."
Sharon K.
Parent
"I've watched participants walk in quiet and leave loud — leading conversations, pitching ideas, and building real friendships."
Fran D.
Community Partner
"This isn't a program. It's a home for people who were always told they didn't fit. Here, they don't just fit — they lead."
Kevin S.
Educational Psychologist
Ready to build with us?
However you choose to show up — as a participant, partner, or supporter — you help create the conditions where abilities can be unleashed.