Tower Peak Partners invests in disability-focused companies

Innovation drives inclusion. That’s why CPARF launched Remarkable US, the first nonprofit-funded disability technology accelerator in the country. By investing in innovation, we’re helping start-ups create life-changing technology for people with disabilities, older adults, and those living with chronic illnesses. So far, 18 start-ups have raised more than $28 million to power the potential of people with disabilities around the world. 💡 Learn more about how innovation is changing what’s possible: https://bit.ly/3JEmFBN [Image description: A green graphic with text that reads “What investments are being made in disability technology?”]

In a region where housing affordability and accessibility remain among the most pressing challenges, Casa Familia is redefining what inclusion looks like in Miami-Dade County. The nonprofit – known for creating supportive, affordable communities where adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and other related disabilities, can thrive – has joined forces with Pinnacle, a leading real estate development and construction firm specializing in affordable and workforce housing, to bring to life The Gardens at Casa Familia. The visionary $27 million residential community is designed to empower adults with Intellectual, Developmental, and Other Related Disabilities to live independently in a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment. “The Gardens at Casa Familia is so much more than a housing development,” said Dr. Anay Abraham, Executive Director of Casa Familia, Inc. “It is a community built on hope, inclusion, and opportunity. For families who have spent years searching for a safe, supportive place for their loved ones with Intellectual, Developmental and Other Related Disabilities, this community represents peace of mind. It is where their family members can live independently, build friendships, and truly thrive.” Read the article now: https://lnkd.in/gD6RMdzt

Special thanks to the Disability Innovation Forum and its organisers for hosting Luke Apicella on the panel “Worth the Risk” alongside Charlie Hammerman, The Disability Opportunity Fund, Peter Kant, Enabled Intelligence, Inc, and Byran Dai, Daivergent. This year’s presentation explored the advantages of upskilling and reskilling workers with disabilities in competitive, emerging, and innovative industries, as well as the outcomes that can come from supporting skills aligned with the digital economy, new industries, and employee ownership models. Luke Apicella, "Risk analysis is predominantly weighted toward loss aversion, but in rapidly changing markets - like adaptive products, assistive tech, and workforce inclusion - the risk of not fueling the innovation, said differently the opportunity cost, really emerges." #TowerPeakPartners #TPP #DisabilityInnovationForum #PrivateEquity #VentureCapital #WorththeRisk

🌐 Strengthening Digital Communities at Eldervale 🧑💻 In Greater Manchester, we believe digital inclusion is about more than just access - it's about connection, confidence, and community. Our latest case study is a brilliant example of community-led digital inclusion in action. Through the Strengthening Communities Fund and the support of Wigan Council's Digital Communities Manager, Alex Yoxall, staff and volunteers at Eldervale are overcoming digital barriers and embracing new opportunities. This is how targeted funding and local collaboration can empower residents and communities, using technology and data proactively and responsibly, to give people the connectivity, tools and know-how to work and live smarter. 👉 https://orlo.uk/b5teg #Digitober #GetOnlineWeek #DigitalInclusion #Wigan #TogetherWeAreGM

Ben Hartranft and his mom use Life360, which is a family safety app that shares the location of friends and family. In this video, Ben’s mom explains that she likes Life360 because she can see where Ben is, how far away he is from home, how fast he is going per mile, how on task he is with his activities, and more! Watch the full video to see all the features that Ben and his mom use. Have you been following along with us throughout the month of November for Assistive Technology (AT) Awareness Month? We have been sharing videos of how Pennsylvanians with disabilities use AT and how they fund it, and we will be continuing to share these videos throughout the rest of the month! PATF can support funding assistive technology through our financial loans that are offered at 0% and 3.75% based on funding availability. You can learn more on our website: https://lnkd.in/eQgpKf-w Thank you to Highmark Wholecare being a proud sponsor our AT Awareness Month campaign. #ATAwarenessMonth #AT #AssistiveTechnology #Disability #DisabilityInclusion #CDFI

Big news! 🎉 The ICA-affiliated Fund for Jobs Worth Owning received a grant from Wells Fargo’s Open for Business Growth Initiative. This support will fuel their Care Cooperative Business Growth Initiative—helping home care and child care cooperatives scale sustainably with access to financing and business support. Care work is essential, yet too often undervalued. By investing in worker-owned models, The Fund for Jobs Worth Owning is helping build a resilient and equitable care economy that uplifts workers and communities alike. Learn more: https://hubs.li/Q03Pz1790 #WorkerCoops #HomeCare #ChildCare #InclusiveEconomy #OpenForBusiness

Melwood is proud to partner with Wesley Housing to transform an outdated property in the Aurora Highlands neighborhood of Arlington into one of the most innovative disability-forward affordable housing communities in the country. We're transforming Melwood’s outdated Arlington property into a vibrant, fully accessible community where people with and without disabilities can live, work, and thrive together. This means hallways wide enough for two wheelchairs to pass, roll-in showers, adjustable countertops—design that goes well beyond ADA compliance to create true inclusion. Currently, only about 5 percent of housing stock is accessible for people with disabilities. With units for families and community members across income levels, this endeavor addresses Arlington's affordability crisis while setting a new national standard for inclusive living. Watch Melwood President & CEO Larysa Kautz and Wesley Housing President & CEO Kamilah McAfee discuss this groundbreaking community with NBC4 Washington. https://lnkd.in/e8p7HBwB

DMU graduate and entrepreneur slays in the Dragons' Den with app that could be "a game changer for the disabled". Well done to Simon Sansome who appeared last night on BBC One's Dragon's Den looking for £80,000 investment in his Snowball app, which has been described as ‘Trip Advisor for the disabled community’. The app allows its global community of users to see, and rate for themselves, the accessibility of almost 100,000 business venues and other locations all over the UK including restaurants, shops and attractions. Simon, who studied journalism at DMU and later joined The Crucible Project DMU business incubation programme, needed at least one of the multi-millionaire dragons to offer the full investment in his company Snowball Community Limited, otherwise he would have come away with nothing. On the night though, all five dragons jumped at the chance to invest in and work with Simon, who was named in 2023 and 2024 as one of the UKs most influential disabled people in the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 list. Veteran dragon Peter Jones proposed the £80k investment was split equally between the five dragons, and the others all agreed to each invest £16k for a 5% share of the Simon’s business. His stunning success sees Simon join a select group of entrepreneurs who have bagged all five dragons on the popular BBC show. “When I received a clean sweep of all five dragons I was in shock. After eight years of hard work, it’s fair to say this was a very emotional moment for me," said Leicestershire-based Simon, who experienced a life-changing injury in 2014, leaving him paralysed from the waist down. “It’s an extremely exciting time for Snowball, and this level of investment and expertise is going to help me support a lot of people very quickly,” Dragon Deborah Meaden commented: “In this day and age, wheelchair users and people with disabilities still struggle to identify the most basic of accessible services, and this needs to change. I’m delighted to back Simon and his smart idea to transform the day-to-day lives of people living with disabilities”. Steven Bartlett said: “Simon is such an inspiration. His mission to create better inclusivity for people with a disability is so important and we are looking forward to seeing him drive this forward with this investment”. Touker Suleyman added: “The potential for Snowball is off the scale.” Peter Jones, concluded: “Snowball isn’t just a mobile app, it’s a game changer for the disabled.” Snowball can be downloaded for free for Android and Apple devices.

Must-reads from LIIF’s October newsletter ... - An explainer of “Equity with a Twist,” a wholly unique tailored financial tool pioneered by LIIF with support from JPMorganChase that helps “community quarterback” organizations scale their impact. - A spotlight on Brooklyn’s Coney Landing, and the catalytic capital provided by LIIF to Settlement Housing Fund that’s spurring #affordablehousing and supporting a range of populations experiencing housing instability. - How LIIF is strengthening the #childcare ecosystem in San Francisco by scaling up the Felton Institute in Visitacion Valley, and how the investment exemplifies our approach of offering flexible, catalytic capital to create community anchors. ... and much more! Read for yourself: https://lnkd.in/ePnYp2Fk #CDFIs #CommunityDevelopment #ImpactInvesting

Across the country, more than 2 million adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are not connected to any state or federal service system. That’s not just a human tragedy — it’s a market inefficiency. When millions of capable Americans are sidelined, we all lose: lower workforce participation, higher public costs, and a growing caregiver crisis. Nearly 1 million aging parents still provide full-time care for adult children with IDD. When those caregivers can no longer continue, taxpayers pick up the cost. Here’s the upside: ✅ Every $1 invested in community-based IDD support saves $1.33–$1.70 in institutional costs. ✅ Adults with IDD who gain employment contribute an estimated $45,000 per year in GDP through productivity, taxes, and reduced dependency. ✅ Modern workforce models — supported employment, co-housing, and digital skills training — deliver measurable ROI on inclusion. This isn’t about charity. It’s about unlocking value and rebuilding independence — two cornerstones of the American economy. The next generation of smart policy and private investment should treat adult IDD inclusion as both a moral and strategic imperative: • Expand public-private partnerships for workforce integration. • Incentivize housing innovation and caregiver succession planning. • Hold systems accountable with real performance metrics — not bureaucracy. Grant opportunities worth watching: • Administration for Community Living (ACL): Funds innovation in inclusive workforce and housing models. • Department of Labor (ODEP): Supports employer-led disability inclusion pilots. • HRSA & SAMHSA grants: Increasingly prioritize cross-sector integration for adults with IDD. • State innovation funds (CA, TX, FL): Opening RFPs for workforce, digital skills, and health equity in 2025. Empowerment and efficiency aren’t opposites — they’re the same goal, executed with discipline and data. If we get this right, America won’t just serve people better — we’ll compete better. #WorkforceInnovation #GrantFunding #IDD #DisabilityInclusion #EconomicGrowth #PublicPrivatePartnerships #Leadership #PolicyReform #ImpactInvesting #HealthEquity