San Antonio Community Resource Directory
disABILITYsa (Nonprofit )

disABILITYsa.org is a 501(c)3 charitable organization with a mission to educate, advance, and engage individuals with disabilities by sharing information, creating opportunities and strengthening the organizations that serve them.

We connect children and adults with disabilities and their support networks to programs, services, and opportunities that promote greater independence and inclusion.

disABILITYsa programs fall under four pillars of operation:

  • EDUCATE: Share information, resources, ideas, and support between people with all types of disabilities and the organizations that serve them.
  • ADVANCE: Advance public attitudes, awareness, respect, and consideration for the success of individuals with disabilities.
  • ENGAGE: Engage individuals with disabilities as active participants in their communities.
  • STRENGTHEN: Strengthen organizations that provide services that benefit people with disabilities.

Our vision is to help make San Antonio the #1 community where people with disabilities want to live, work, and play.

Office hours are irregular, please schedule an appointment in advance.
Melanie Cawthon - Co-Founder & Executive Director Send email
(210) 704-7262
Online and Virtual Assistance

The MCU is one of the first attendant run, mobile, self-contained, and environmentally controlled changing and toileting facility in the United States.

Why is it needed?

There are 232,627 individuals within San Antonio with one or more disabilities. Of these people, there are roughly 117,000 who struggle with living on their own or taking care of themselves on a day-to-day basis. Many of these individuals see lack of appropriate changing and toileting facilities as a significant barrier hindering them from community experiences.

Accessible toilets do not provide these individuals with the room or equipment needed, requiring them to be physically lifted onto toilets or changed on bathroom floors, backseats of cars, or even the hot pavement. These ill-equipped and unsanitary environments can lead to injury or infection. These risks lead to decisions of non-participation.

By offering our disabled community access to the MCU, we have the ability to open up new experiences to you and/or your loved ones to participate and enjoy events and venues not previously available. Imagine this barrier being removed and attending your first Concert, Play, Rodeo, Festival or Museum. That is precisely why we developed the MCU! 

What is it?

The Mobile Changing Unit (MCU) program features a 20 foot trailer with changing and toileting facilities to meet the needs of those with ambulatory disabilities or who require additional changing and toileting assistance. The MCU includes:

  • Power Hoist/Hoyer Lift for safe transfers
  • Height Adjustable Universal Changing Table
  • Handheld Shower Head
  • ADA Toilet with Handlebars
  • Height Appropriate Sink
  • HVAC (Air Conditioning / Heat)

Click here to learn how you can get the MCU at your event, rental requirements and the Mobile Changing Unit Event / Location Schedule

Programs Group Send email
(210) 343-2462
Updated within the last 5 months.

Our website, disABILITYsa.org, a collaborative online tool for sharing information, resources, ideas, and support between people with all types of disabilities; highlighting organizations and businesses that provide these services; and advancing public awareness, respect, and consideration for the success of people with disabilities.

Since going live in 2007, disABILITYsa has given over 16,000 unique visitors access to useful information about programs, services, legislation, and “real people” stories that impact individuals with all types of disabilities in San Antonio and surrounding communities.

Free

Online 24/7
Melanie Cawthon Send email
(210) 704-7262
Updated within the last 1 month.

disABILITYsa Creative Services offers marketing design, layout and printing services for nonprofit organizations serving children and adults living with a disability in the San Antonio community. By doing so, we are able to help fulfill the mission of disABILITYsa to strengthen the nonprofit organizations that serve individuals living with a disability in San Antonio by moving funding out of their marketing budgets and back into programming and direct services.

Contact disABIITYsa for details.
Melanie Cawthon Send email
(210) 704-7262
Updated within the last 1 month.

The Food for Thought educational series offers nonprofit leaders serving within disability service organizations the opportunity for low-cost education on topics within the realms of planning, HR, finance, fundraising, marketing, story-telling, management principles, and more. Serving up a little food for thought along with some tasty morsels, we bring these educational tidbits to community leaders over lunch. This is a valuable opportunity for nonprofit leadership to learn, network, and discover.

Contact disABIITYsa for details.
Melanie Cawthon Send email
(210) 704-7262
Updated within the last 1 month.

The Service & Leadership program identifies opportunities and provides training for individuals with disabilities who are interested in serving the San Antonio community by engaging in volunteerism, service on nonprofit boards, and participation in strategic conversations about the future of our community. While there are other opportunities for people with disabilities to learn to advocate for themselves, there are few programs that expect, encourage, and empower these citizens to advocate for and serve others.

This opportunity is for individuals with disabilities.

Office hours are irregular, please schedule an appointment in advance.
Melanie Cawthon Send email
(210) 704-7262
Updated within the last 1 month.

Volunteer for a disABILITYsa event or program:

There are a number of opportunities to engage with disABILITYsa through one-day events and program interactions. Click here for a list of events you can volunteer for.

Volunteer to support disABILITYsa outreach:

One of the best ways to learn about our organization and promote our mission within the San Antonio community is to serve as an outreach volunteer. This position requires a two hour training where we walk you through each of the disABILITYsa programs, show you how to set-up our information table, and prepare you to answer some basic questions about the organization regarding programs, volunteer opportunities, and ways others can get involved. You'll accompany us to various information fairs, and then once you're ready, you'll take off on your own. Outreach volunteers are a big part of fulfilling our mission to educate, advance, and engage.

Volunteer with a program:

Utilize your skills and expertise to help change a life or our community. These volunteer opportunities allow you to share your expertise and experiences with others in the community to help effect positive change.

Volunteer to serve on a Planning Team: 

disABILITYsa programs would not exist if it weren't for the long-term commitment of those who are serving on our planning teams. From budget to logistics, our planning team members work to plan and implement the mission of disABILITYsa into our programs that benefit our community.

disABILITYsa Volunteer Team: 

Join this team of individuals as we get together and volunteer in our local community. Volunteer service activities will be selected in areas of human services, arts, culture, animal services and more! disABILITYsa will work to provide the supports necessary for individuals of all abilities to participate.

Click here to sign up for the disABILITYsa Volunteer Team.

Click here to find out how to volunteer for all other programs and events.

Office hours are irregular, please schedule an appointment in advance.
Updated within the last 1 month.