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AbleD Artist Foundation and Advocacy Center
Empowering the Disabled Through Art, Advocacy, and Whole-Person Support
Our Mission
Artists Bettering Lives, Empowering the Disabled
We believe no one should navigate disability alone. At AbleD Artist Foundation, we combine creativity, compassion, and community to serve disabled individuals across Southeastern Louisiana. Whether it’s navigating a new diagnosis, facing housing insecurity, or transitioning through end-of-life care, we’re here to provide the support, guidance, and advocacy every person deserves — with dignity, understanding, and heart.
Built in the Pandemic. Powered by Purpose.
Our Story: Born in a Time of Crisis
In 2020, just weeks before COVID-19 forced the world into isolation, we opened our doors to address the deep gaps in support for the disabled community. We were founded by artists, advocates, and organizers who knew firsthand the healing power of art — and the urgent need for real systems of care.
Our co-founder, the late Vincent Piazza, was a local artist who dreamed of building an inclusive gallery and gathering space for disabled creators. While the pandemic cut that dream short, it ignited something powerful. In Vincent’s honor, we pivoted — launching emergency aid programs, providing pandemic relief, supporting displaced families during four hurricanes, and meeting the complex needs of our neighbors through what we call the Whole Person approach.
What We Do
Support Rooted in Real Life
Our programs are built for the people who often get overlooked — those who may not even know what help to ask for, or who’ve been failed by systems too rigid to understand their needs. We respond with empathy, direct action, and real-world solutions.
- Emergency & Disaster Relief: Providing food, supplies, and housing support after hurricanes and during public health emergencies.
- End-of-Life Advocacy: Helping families navigate death and disability with dignity — including estate support, legal aid, and nursing home coordination.
- Disability Life Guide Project: A free resource-in-progress for understanding disability transitions, services, and decision-making tools.
- Community Connection: Case management, social aid, and emotional support — from “hand-holding” through bureaucracy to mental health advocacy.
Transform Housing. Change Lives.
Donate Your House to the Disabled
Affordable, accessible housing is one of the greatest barriers to independence for the disabled. Our Donate Your House to the Disabled initiative invites property owners to contribute real estate toward long-term solutions — whether through donation, land trust, or affordable leasing.
We aim to build protected, permanent live/work spaces for disabled individuals and their families. Every home donated becomes part of a legacy of equity, community care, and independence.
No One Teaches You How to Be Disabled
Why It Matters
Living with a disability often means managing stigma, complex systems, and daily barriers most people never consider. From high counters and inaccessible transportation to unspoken social shame, the obstacles are real — and they’re not just physical.
At AbleD Artist Foundation, we believe support means more than access — it means understanding. We meet people where they are, walk with them through hard chapters, and help them build confidence, community, and autonomy.
We’re not here to “fix” disabled people. We’re here to dismantle the broken systems around them and build something better in its place.
Get Involved
Help Us Keep the Work Going
Volunteer
Bring your skills, compassion, and presence to our community.
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Advocate
Help us raise awareness and hold space for disability justice in your own circles.
