These 2025 micro-grant projects are community-based projects integrating disability inclusion into programs, policies, systems, or environments that enhance health promotion, community inclusion, or healthcare access. Ideal projects will focus on making healthier choices more accessible for everyone, particularly in areas where people live, learn, work, play, pray and receive care. The micro-grant program aims to recognize, support, and grow efforts that design communities promoting inclusive health for people with disabilities. We are particularly interested in projects that will have a lasting impact on the community beyond the grant period.
Ripple Effects Community Inclusion Center
Please provide a summary of your project
Ripple Effects Community Inclusion Center is expanding its respite care services and social skills development programs to better support individuals with disabilities and their families in Kalamazoo County and surrounding areas. These initiatives address critical gaps in services by providing safe, inclusive environments for participants to develop life skills, build meaningful relationships, and engage more fully in their communities. This project directly tackles barriers to care and social isolation, fostering a stronger, more inclusive community.
What excites you about this project?
We are excited about this project because it allows us to make a tangible, positive impact on individuals with disabilities and their families. By expanding our services, we’re providing caregivers with much-needed relief while empowering participants to develop critical social and life skills. Seeing individuals build confidence, connect with others, and thrive in an inclusive environment aligns deeply with our mission and fuels our passion for this work.
How will your project support disability inclusion?
The project fosters disability inclusion by breaking down barriers to care and participation. Respite care services alleviate stress for caregivers, enabling them to continue supporting their loved ones. Meanwhile, social skills programs provide participants with tools to navigate interactions and actively engage in their communities. Together, these initiatives create opportunities for individuals with disabilities to feel valued, supported, and included in all aspects of life.
What is your end goal?
Our end goal is to create a fully inclusive community where individuals with disabilities and their families are empowered to thrive. Through expanded services, we aim to reduce caregiver stress, increase participant social integration, and enhance overall well-being. Ultimately, we envision a community where individuals of all abilities can fully participate, connect, and achieve their greatest potential.
Tell us more about your organization and your collaboration with NCHPAD.
Ripple Effects Community Inclusion Center is committed to creating a community where individuals and families of all abilities can thrive socially, recreationally, and academically. Our evidence-based programs, such as respite care and social skills development, are designed to address the unique needs of individuals with disabilities while fostering an environment of inclusion and support. This collaboration with NCHPAD represents a vital opportunity to advance our mission of inclusivity. As a leader in promoting disability inclusion, NCHPAD’s support enables us to expand our programs and implement innovative strategies that align with national best practices. Their expertise and funding allow us to address critical gaps in services, particularly for underserved populations, and ensure a more accessible and inclusive community for all. By partnering with NCHPAD, we are not only enhancing our existing services but also creating opportunities for individuals with disabilities to engage meaningfully in their communities. Together, we are working toward a shared vision of equity and inclusion that will have a lasting positive impact on the individuals and families we serve.
Autism Society of Acadiana
Please provide a summary of your project
The Inclusive Garden Project was created by Autism Society of Acadiana. We are being hosted by the Children’s Museum of Acadiana. The living garden space will include a Native Plant Garden that will host at least 15 native plant species to attract pollinators. This will allow us to be a Bronze Level Certified Louisiana Habitat. Additional living spaces will host container gardens and wheelchair-accessible beds where we will cultivate vegetables, herbs, and other non-native pollinating plants.
The non-living space will be a Sensory Garden blooming with people, promoting opportunities for movement and engagement. This space will host water fountains, instruments, sensory paths and visual displays.
This Inclusive Garden Project is being planned and developed by individuals with disabilities. Volunteers from surrounding communities and organizations assist with and model the garden tasks.
What excites you about this project?
The most exciting part of our project is that our individuals with disabilities benefit from having a purpose and learning through volunteerism. They are gaining valuable job skills in planning a project and seeing it through production. They are learning to identify plants and animals that will benefit from their project.
How will your project support disability inclusion?
Individuals with disabilities will be given the opportunity to share their knowledge through educational opportunities at the Children’s Museum. The community will learn that everyone can grow and learn together. The Project is open to all ages and abilities.
What is your end goal?
The goal is to bring an inspiring place for all to enjoy while giving opportunity individuals with disabilities basic skills and the value of gardening for health!
Tell us more about your organization and your collaboration with NCHPAD.
Autism Society Acadiana was founded in 1985 by a group of parents and professionals who wanted to share information and resources and provide support to each other and families affected by autism. We host events throughout the year to bring families together and provide support to siblings and caregivers. We appreciate NCHPAD for making this inclusive community-based project possible. Our staff appreciates the educational opportunities and resources you have provided. We sincerely look forward to a continued collaboration on our community engagement.
Misericordia University Integrated Studies Program
Please provide a summary of your project
Pathways to Inclusion and Embracing Neurodiversity is a three-part program designed to promote inclusion in higher education and the workplace. The program includes educational workshops for local employers, Misericordia University faculty, and students, to build confidence and competence in implementing inclusive practices. Employers will also receive consultation and training in individualized job support to create inclusive employment environments. Additionally, a transition camp will be offered to local schools, helping young adults with disabilities bridge the gap between high school and higher education.
What excites you about this project?
This project has the potential to optimize access to employment for individuals with disabilities and learning opportunities through the education of others within the environment. Education focuses on a strength-based approach where individuals with disabilities are honored for their skills and contributions to the work and learning environment. We are most excited about this program as this helps to foster communities that are better informed and, hopefully, as a result more inclusive of individuals with varying abilities and strengths.
How will your project support disability inclusion?
In the short term, this grant will enhance inclusivity in Luzerne County by equipping local educators and employers with the tools to support neurodivergent individuals, leading to more inclusive educational and work environments. This initiative will promote diversity, enhance workforce readiness, and cultivate a more inclusive society in Luzerne County.
What is your end goal?
In the long term, the program will foster a more equitable community by empowering neurodivergent individuals to achieve their academic and career goals, thereby improving their contributions to the local economy.
Tell us more about your organization and your collaboration with NCHPAD.
Misericordia University developed the Integrated Studies Program four years ago to support individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism to access higher education similar to their similarly aged peers. The Integrated Studies Program continues to work with the Pennsylvania Inclusive Higher Education Consortium and Think College to modify the Integrated Studies Program to institute best practices for the inclusion of individuals with disabilities within our university campus community. This partnership with NCHPAD has provided the funding to offer the university and wider community training aimed to increase community members understanding of the benefit of a diverse workforce and learning environment.
Never A Loss of Vision/Camp Abilities Tucson
Please provide a summary of your project
Camp Abilities is an overnight educational sports camp for children and young adults ages 7 and older who are blind, deafblind, or have multiple disabilities including visual impairment (VI). The purpose of the camp is to empower young people with VI to be physically active, improve overall health, and develop self-esteem through physical activity. Camp introduces participants to a variety of sports, including swimming, strength training, horseback riding, soccer, beep baseball, goalball, golf, and hiking. A secondary goal of Camp Abilities Tucson is to train pre-service teachers and therapists to be educators and allies for students with visual impairments.
What excites you about this project?
Camp Abilities Tucson is a long-running program that supports the education and health of youth with disabilities throughout Arizona. This summer, we are poised to support more participants than we have since before COVID.
How will your project support disability inclusion?
Our inclusion outcomes are twofold: training interns to better support community recreation and sport for individuals with VI and introduction of community-based recreation settings to our visually impaired participants. These are important for several reasons. Visually impaired camp participants are only at camp, surrounded by experts in blind sport, for one week a year. Training future OT assistants who will be working with them in school-based and clinical settings to understand appropriate accommodations in sports will help schools and communities to be more accessible for blind athletes. Introducing participants to community recreation settings like hiking trails, golf courses, ranches, and rock gyms encourages them that these places are for everyone, including people who have VIs. We will teach our participants how these facilities work, what accommodations to request, and how to navigate these settings.
What is your end goal?
Camp Abilities Tucson has a goal of supporting health for people with disabilities on several levels. First, on an individual level, Camp Abilities has the potential to support learning self-determination skills through sport and physical activity. Our athletes leave camp feeling supported and encouraged to participate in sports in their communities. On a community level, training future O&Ms, PE teachers, OTs, PTs, and teachers of the visually impaired give more members of the community the knowledge and skills to adapt physical activity experiences for individuals who are blind. The partnerships we are creating with local universities will guide systems change: next year, a required rotation for all OT assistants at the local community college will be to come to camp and learn to support blind students. The college is incorporating information about health and physical activity for people who are blind into their coursework.
Tell us more about your organization and your collaboration with NCHPAD.
Never A Loss of Vision is a registered 501c3 organization whose primary program is Camp Abilities Tucson sports camp for individuals with visual impairments, deafblindness, and multiple disabilities including visual impairment. Our mission is to advocate for increased health and quality of life for people with blindness and low vision through educational health and physical activity programming. NCHPAD will support our field trips into community settings (hiking, golf, horseback riding) to participate in physical activity in the environments in which participants can access activity outside of camp.
Hunger and Health Coalition
Please provide a summary of your project
HHC’s Mobile Food Access Program provides biweekly customized food boxes to 132 clients throughout Watauga County who face transportation and mobility challenges. The program specifically serves people within 200% of the federal poverty line, with 41% of clients self-identifying as having disabilities. The project seeks to expand their capacity to meet a projected 15% growth in demand due to inflation and increasing needs in the community. They combine food delivery with nutritional counseling through in-house dietitians and coordinate with their pharmacy program to provide comprehensive health support.
What excites you about this project?
Our initiatives inspire a strong connection among the diverse threads of our community, highlighting the vital importance of forging meaningful relationships among neighbors, healthcare providers, and local organizations. Through these collaborative efforts, we enhance the High Country region, cultivating a vibrant and inclusive environment where everyone—regardless of their background—feels valued and embraced. By uniting essential resources and services, residents are empowered to effortlessly access critical healthcare, educational opportunities, and social support systems. This comprehensive approach nurtures a culture of resilience and compassion, strengthening the relationships that foster collective growth and development. Ultimately, our goal is to uplift and elevate the well-being of every community member, ensuring that no one is left behind.
How will your project support disability inclusion?
The primary ways we are promoting inclusive health and disability inclusion are through our Mobile Delivery Services, Free Pharmacy, and Food is Medicine program. We provide food delivery services specifically designed for and prescribed to individuals with mobility disabilities who need immediate access to meals. Our approach is grounded in the “Food is Medicine” philosophy, which goes beyond just offering meal boxes by creating tailored meals that support their medical conditions, physical or mental abilities, appliances, storage capabilities, and personal preferences. Additionally, we take a holistic approach to health and well-being by addressing the social and economic factors that contribute to food insecurity. This includes offering a free pharmacy service for clients to obtain their prescription medications as well as over-the-counter medications and assistance getting prescription glasses.
What is your end goal?
We envision a resilient High Country community where every resident has access to nutritious food, healthcare resources, and social support networks that enable them to lead fulfilling lives. We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to participate fully in community life, regardless of their physical limitations or economic circumstances. Through pantry delivery services and dedicated advocacy efforts, we help our clients overcome isolation and access vital resources. Supporting individuals in meeting their basic needs and achieving better health outcomes strengthens our entire community, creating a ripple effect of improved public health, reduced healthcare costs, and increased civic engagement. Our work fosters connections between neighbors, healthcare providers, and local organizations, promoting a more inclusive and supportive High Country region for all. To enhance our impact, we need to expand our mobile delivery services by 15% to provide additional support to the local community. As food and medication prices continue to rise, more community members will require assistance. It is essential that we increase our services to meet these growing demands, as we are the only institution in our community capable of providing this type of support.
Tell us more about your organization and your collaboration with NCHPAD.
For 42 years, The Hunger and Health Coalition has dedicated itself to transforming our community’s hunger into health through compassionate, community-centered hunger relief, medication access, and wellness services. In response to the community’s needs in 2020, we launched our mobile food delivery program to address the extensive waitlist for our county’s Meals on Wheels program. Currently, our dedicated team of 29 full-time professionals provides essential support at both our central food assistance facility and our mobile outreach location. Our comprehensive approach includes personalized assistance and community engagement, allowing us to effectively tackle the unique challenges faced by individuals in need. We were given training materials for staff surrounding supporting clients with disabilities. These materials were distributed to staff to utilize in daily operations.