The Disability Empowerment Center of Arizona (DEC) is the future home of Arizona Bridge to Independent Living (ABIL) and seven other non-profit organizations that serve people with disabilities. Each organization shares a common history and vision for the future. The 45,000 square-foot center, located at 5025 E. Washington St. in Phoenix, broke ground in early 2007 and is expected to be completed this August.

In addition to ABIL, the DEC will house the Arizona Center for Disability Law, Raising Special Kids, the Arizona Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Joni & Friends, the Statewide Independent Living Council, Arizona Autism United, the Arizona Spinal Cord Injury Association and possibly others. A small amount of rental space is still available. Inquire by calling (602) 256-2245.

The campus will be a universally designed, accessible and transit-oriented non-profit resources center to serve the disability community. Its tenants will be provided with fully accessible administrative office space, meeting rooms, event space, a cafeteria and kitchen, computer lab and resource center. In addition, the center will hold a state-of-the art video conferencing center funded by the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.

The DEC will offer individuals with disabilities and their families empowering programs and integrated services and will create synergistic partnerships and collaborations that promote and enhance the choice, dignity, rights and responsibilities of people with disabilities and their families,” said Phil Pangrazio, executive director of ABIL

The DEC will serve as a national model for accessible design. Future plans for the center also include a universally accessible sports and fitness center for persons with disabilities that is being funded through the City of Phoenix 2006 Bond program and private foundations that include: The Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, the David Reese Family Foundation, Thunderbirds Charities, the Rhett Butler Family Foundation and others that are currently being pursued. Completion of the sports & fitness center is planned for the summer of 2009.

Arizona Bridge to Independent Living programs are designed to empower people with disabilities to take personal responsibility so that they may achieve or continue independent lifestyles within the community. The independent living philosophy states that people with disabilities should have the same civil rights, options, and control over choices in their own lives as do people without disabilities.

Arizona Bridge to Independent Living would like to thank the following organizations for providing grants or other funding to make The Disability Empowerment Center of Arizona” and / or “The Virginia G. Piper Sports and Fitness Center for Persons with Disabilities” a reality:

The Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust

The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust

The City of Phoenix

The David Reese Family Foundation

Thunderbirds Charities

The Rhett Butler Family Foundation