About Us
Our Story
How it All Started…
Our story began long before The Ability Company had a name — in the everyday moments between two sisters navigating disability, caregiving, and the world as it was.
One of those moments happened on a quiet day with a tennis racket. Jennifer was hitting gentle tosses toward her sister, Patricia. The joy wasn’t about keeping score or playing a “proper” match. It was the simple freedom to swing, laugh, and be part of something together. That moment cracked something open for Jennifer: inclusion isn’t only ramps and policies — it’s the everyday chances to participate, connect, and feel joy.
That realization set Jennifer on a path of advocacy and hands‑on caregiving that spanned more than a decade. She worked alongside families, supported individuals with disabilities, and kept learning what real inclusion demands: listening first, and building around what matters to the person in front of you.
Sisters, Care, and the Gaps We Saw
Living with a disability or being a family member of someone who has one brings a unique set of challenges. It forces people to confront the way society views disability — often through the lens of limitations. Society tends to focus on what people with disabilities can’t do, rather than what they could do with the right support. Jennifer and Patricia both understood this reality well. They saw firsthand how the world would often define Patricia by what she couldn’t do, instead of exploring ways to help her achieve the things she wanted.
For years, Jennifer played the role of not just sister, but also caregiver, helping Patricia navigate daily life and advocating for the support she needed. Even though Patricia had home care, many tasks required extra help — simple things like decorating for the holidays, preparing meals for family gatherings, or simply having a conversation with friends and family. These tasks often fell on Jennifer, or on other family members and friends, because the services Patricia received didn’t always meet the full spectrum of her needs.
A New Chapter After Losing Their Mother
Life changed again in 2003 when their mother passed. Jennifer became Patricia’s primary support. Even with home care, there were so many essentials that weren’t covered: decorating for the holidays, preparing for gatherings, managing the little logistics that make life feel like life. The message was clear — systems handled tasks, but not the whole person.
During the pandemic, when services narrowed to “essential” care, the gaps widened. Basic support continued, but isolation deepened. What counted as essential on paper didn’t always meet what was essential in real life: connection, community, meaning, and mental wellbeing.
Through it all, Patricia continued to live independently, and together the sisters kept shaping a rhythm that worked: family, community, and creativity as care. They learned that inclusion isn’t a single service — it’s a circle of support.
What We Believe
We refuse to let disability be defined by limits. We choose to celebrate ability — the strengths, stories, and contributions that shape community.
We are disability‑led, women‑led, and Indigenous‑led. Our work is rooted in lived experience and guided by dignity, clarity, and relationship.
From Lived Experience to a Movement
What began as two sisters figuring it out became The Ability Company — a purpose‑driven organization built to close the gaps we felt and saw:
Community and connection for adults with disabilities and caregivers
Accessible experiences that make participation possible
Storytelling and education that shift mindsets and dismantle stigma
Design and products that reflect real people and spark better conversations
How Our Story Becomes What We Do
Ability Storytellings: We speak, teach, and listen. Through keynotes, workshops, and lived‑experience education, we help teams and communities move from intention to inclusion.
Ability Events: As an accessibility partner, we bring relational guidance and thought leadership to organizations and event hosts, helping them create spaces where people feel genuinely welcome.
Ability Circles: Our membership community is the support we wished existed: peer connection, shared learning, and a place where disabled adults and caregivers don’t have to explain themselves to be understood.
Ability Explorations: From day trips to accessible travel, we build experiences that center joy and participation. Think of it as the spirit of that tennis day — designed thoughtfully, shared together.
The Ability Collective (Products): Our designs carry stories. Each item is created to raise awareness, represent real experiences, and spark conversations that make inclusion part of everyday life.
Where We’re Headed
We’re building a future where accessibility is standard, representation is authentic, and belonging is practiced — in homes, workplaces, classrooms, and community spaces. We know inclusion is built one decision, one design, and one relationship at a time.
This isn’t just our story. It’s an open invitation.
Join us in creating a world where inclusion is lived, learned, and embraced — because ability comes in many forms.