REDWOOD CITY, CA — AbilityPath announced that it’s now the exclusive provider of rehabilitation programs and therapy services on the Peninsula for adults who have suffered a stroke or traumatic brain injury (TBI).  Services for Brain Injury (San Jose) and REACH Program (Palo Alto) were the only remaining organizations on the Peninsula providing these services prior to their closure due to the economic impact caused by the pandemic.

The announcement marks AbilityPath’s fourth acquisition or assumption of services of nonprofits serving the disability community in the Bay Area since AbilityPath CEO Bryan Neider joined the organization in 2016.

“As a community-based organization, we thought it was extremely important to continue the missions of these two organizations who were meeting a critical need in the community,” said Neider. “Without a solution, there would have been no remaining organization on the Peninsula providing therapeutic services for people who have experienced a stroke or traumatic brain injury.”

AbilityPath retained the REACH staff of licensed therapists who specialize in speech and language pathology, occupational therapy, and physical therapy at its Palo Alto location, ensuring continuity of services for the adults currently enrolled in classes.  Participants travel from all over the greater Bay Area to attend group classes each week in Palo Alto.

“It’s been a very smooth transition.  We wanted our students to be taken care of and have the stability of the same therapists and peers,” said Brenda Brown, a physical therapist who teaches the mobility skills classes. “This program has been a really important part of their life. And it’s been an important part of their family’s life as well.”

Jerry Martinson, who suffered a stroke many years ago, has been attending classes twice a week for more than 10 years. “It is a wonderful feeling to be understood and accepted for my condition. It’s important for me to be around other people,” Jerry said. “I would be completely on my own and having to fend for myself without this wonderful program.”

Linda Leao, Chair of the AbilityPath Board of Directors, said the board has been very supportive of Neider’s priorities, allowing AbilityPath to seamlessly and effectively assume the services of the nonprofits they have merged with.

“Bryan’s visionary leadership and business sense have transformed disability services on the Peninsula and ensured continuity of care for so many individuals and their families,” Leao added.

“When joining AbilityPath, we invested in staff pay, benefits and training, along with technology upgrades and process improvements. These early investments not only helped us develop and retain a strong team, but they also provided us with a scalable infrastructure that could quickly adapt to change and grow with any potential mergers,” Neider said. “By doing this, we were able to navigate the rapidly changing economy during the pandemic and ensure there was no interruption of services for the amazing families and individuals we serve.”

AbilityPath offers a comprehensive lifespan of services and provides an essential resource for people of all abilities to get the support and information they need to achieve their full potential. Providing stroke and brain injury services is another way the nonprofit is innovating to fulfill its vision of creating a world where people of all abilities are fully accepted, respected, and included in all aspects of life.

To learn more about stroke and brain injury services and programs, visit abilitypath.org/strokeandbraininjury.

ABOUT ABILITYPATH

AbilityPath has been a cornerstone of the greater San Francisco Bay Area community for more than 100 years, providing a lifespan of support services to individuals with special needs and developmental disabilities. Our mission is to empower people of all abilities to achieve their full potential through innovative, inclusive programs and community partnerships. With educational, therapeutic, vocational, and family support services, we are distinctive in providing support to individuals throughout their lifetime. AbilityPath is one of the largest nonprofits in the Bay Area, with a budget of $22 million and serving more than 1,000 individuals daily at 12 locations across San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. We collaborate with businesses, third party providers, local nonprofits, and various organizations to bring the highest quality services to the children, youth and adults in our programs. Together, we are creating a world where people of all abilities are fully accepted, respected, and included in all aspects of life – in the classroom, the workplace, and in our communities.

CONTACT: Julia Ballantyne, 916.390.4671
julia@ballantynemediaconsulting.com