Abilities in Motion

Abilities in Motion is a non-profit organization based at 755 Hiesters Ln in Reading, Pennsylvania, working with people who have disabilities of all types and ages. It operates as a Center for Independent Living, a category of consumer-controlled non-profit established under federal rehabilitation law. Centers of this kind are built around a specific idea: that people with disabilities should direct their own lives, make their own choices about where and how they live, and have the practical supports and information needed to do so. A majority of the staff and board at organizations of this type are themselves people with disabilities, which shapes how services are designed and delivered.

The organization serves Berks County and surrounding areas of southeastern and central Pennsylvania, with much of its work taking place in people's homes and communities rather than in a clinical setting. The Hiesters Lane office functions as the administrative hub, a meeting place, a resource library and an intake point for the programs described below.

Core Independent Living Services

Centers for Independent Living are organized around a set of core services, and Abilities in Motion provides these at no cost to consumers. They include:

• Information and referral: answering questions about disability benefits, housing, transportation, accessibility, home modification and local supports, and pointing people toward the agencies that handle each.
• Independent living skills training: practical instruction in areas such as budgeting, cooking, using public transportation, self-care, household management and navigating paperwork.
• Peer support: connecting people with others who have lived through similar circumstances, which is often more useful than information alone when someone is adjusting to a new diagnosis or injury.
• Advocacy: assistance with individual issues such as benefit denials, employment accommodation or accessibility complaints, along with broader systems advocacy on policies that affect the disability community.
• Transition services: helping people move out of nursing facilities and institutions back into community housing, helping those at risk of institutionalization remain at home, and supporting young people moving from school into adult life, employment or further education.

Home and Community Based Services

Beyond the core independent living work, Abilities in Motion provides direct support services funded through Pennsylvania's Medicaid waiver programs. These include habilitation services that build daily living and community participation skills, companion services that provide supervision and assistance so a person can safely take part in activities at home and in the community, and respite care that gives unpaid family caregivers planned relief from round the clock responsibility. Respite in particular is often the service that allows a family to keep a loved one at home rather than seeking placement elsewhere.

Staff also help individuals and families apply for and understand the waiver programs themselves. The waiver application process in Pennsylvania involves eligibility determination, assessment and service planning, and many people are unaware of which programs exist or which they might qualify for. Guidance through that process is a significant part of what the organization does day to day, and it frequently leads to people learning about supports they did not know were available.

The LEAP Equipment Program

One of the most visible community-facing efforts is the LEAP program, which collects gently used durable medical equipment and makes it available to people who need it. Items typically handled include wheelchairs, walkers, rollators, canes, crutches, shower chairs, commodes, transfer benches and similar assistive devices. Equipment that is still serviceable is cleaned, checked and redistributed rather than discarded.

The program addresses a gap that insurance often leaves open. Coverage for mobility and bathroom safety equipment can be slow, limited to one item within a set period, or unavailable altogether for a temporary need such as recovery from surgery. A reuse program fills that gap quickly and keeps usable equipment out of landfills and basements. Donations are accepted from individuals, families settling an estate and healthcare providers. Anyone considering a donation or in need of an item is encouraged to call ahead at +1 610-376-0010, since availability changes constantly and certain categories of equipment may or may not be accepted at a given time.

Community Work and Partnerships

Abilities in Motion works alongside other agencies in the Reading area, including human service providers, healthcare organizations, schools, municipal bodies and advocacy groups. This collaborative approach matters because disability-related needs rarely sit neatly within one agency's mandate. A person leaving a rehabilitation hospital may simultaneously need accessible housing, transportation, home modifications, benefits counselling and equipment, each administered separately. Coordination between organizations shortens the path through that system.

The organization also takes part in public education and awareness work on disability rights, accessibility standards and the practical meaning of the Americans with Disabilities Act for employers, landlords and local businesses.

Visiting the Office

The Hiesters Lane location has a wheelchair accessible entrance and a wheelchair accessible parking lot, which is a basic expectation for an organization of this kind but worth noting for first-time visitors planning a trip. Services are available onsite, and staff also work with people in their homes and in community settings across the service area.

Calling ahead is the most reliable way to arrange an appointment, confirm which programs apply to a particular situation and find out what documentation to bring. Useful items for a first conversation often include information about current benefits, any diagnosis or medical documentation already on hand, and a clear description of the day to day difficulties a person is facing. Intake conversations are generally straightforward, and staff can explain eligibility requirements before anyone fills out lengthy forms.

Who It Serves

The organization is cross-disability, meaning it does not limit itself to a single diagnosis or age group. People living with physical disabilities, sensory disabilities, intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, chronic illness and age-related loss of function all fall within its scope, as do family members and caregivers seeking information or relief. Veterans, older adults looking to remain in their own homes, students preparing to leave the school system and people newly adjusting to a disability all make use of its programs.

For questions about any program, equipment donations, waiver applications or scheduling a visit, Abilities in Motion can be reached at +1 610-376-0010.