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Disability Network Lakeshore

Disability Network Lakeshore empowers individuals with disabilities by promoting access, choice, and independence. Through advocacy, education, and community engagement, we strive to create an inclusive society where everyone can thrive.

About the Ability Award Gala Join Disability Network Lakeshore for the Ability Award Gala, a garden party&ndash;themed evening bringing together community members, partners and supporters to recognize leadership, lived experience and collective efforts advancing disability access, inclusion and independence. This year&rsquo;s Ability Award Gala honors the longstanding tradition of the Ability Award while offering a relaxed, welcoming garden party atmosphere. The event reflects both the history of the award and DNL&rsquo;s ongoing work to support access, choice and independence in our community. Throughout the evening, guests will hear from individuals with lived experience, recognize community leaders advancing independence for people with disabilities and take part in the live presentation of the Ability Award, continuing a meaningful tradition of community recognition. A Garden Party with Purpose The Ability Award Gala is designed as a social, engaging and accessible garden party, focused on connection and community. Guests will have opportunities to support DNL&rsquo;s work through:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li dir="auto" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A silent auction</li><li dir="auto" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A wine pull</li><li dir="auto" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Additional ways to give throughout the evening</li></ul> All proceeds support DNL&rsquo;s mission to advance access, choice and independence for people with disabilities. For those interested in deeper involvement, the Ability Award Gala offers a variety of sponsorship opportunities for individuals, businesses and organizations. Sponsors play a meaningful role in supporting the event while demonstrating a commitment to disability access and inclusion. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Emma Balaskovitz at emma@dnlakeshore.org. Dress Code We suggest cocktail attire with a garden party flair, while encouraging guests to come in whatever feels most comfortable and authentic to them. Our goal is to create an inclusive, welcoming environment where everyone can fully enjoy the evening &mdash; so please dress in a way that works best for you. Ticket Information&nbsp; Tickets are suggested at $50 per person. We believe everyone deserves a seat at the table. If cost is a barrier, please join us as our guest &mdash; your presence matters more than the price of admission. &nbsp; Your Ticket Includes:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li dir="auto" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Community gathering in a garden party setting</li><li dir="auto" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Plated dinner and music</li><li dir="auto" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Community voices</li><li dir="auto" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Ability Award finalist recognition and live award presentation</li><li dir="auto" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Silent auction, wine pull, and more!</li></ul>

Ability Award Gala 2026

Welcome to our online shop&nbsp; This holiday season, we invite our community to join us in Making Futures Bright for young adults with disabilities across the Lakeshore. Your generosity fuels vital Youth Services at Disability Network Lakeshore, with a special focus on our Youth Summer Work Program &mdash; a transformative opportunity that provides hands-on career experience, workplace skill-building, and the confidence needed to step into adulthood with purpose. Every purchase you make directly supports our mission. Browse our selection and find the perfect items for you. Your generosity helps us continue this important work, and we&rsquo;re grateful for every order, every gift, and every act of support. As our appreciation, every order SHIPS FREE! Thank you for shopping with purpose and helping us build brighter futures! ***Please note that this storefront, through Zeffy, is 100% free for DNL to use. All donations for items go to DNL, no skimming a percentage off the top! However, Zeffy does ask donors for tips with transactions (that&#39;s how they make their money). Tips to Zeffy are completely&nbsp;optional and can be set at any amount you choose. Thank you for helping us keep our costs low and being good stewards of our donor funds. Happy Shopping! Disability Network Lakeshore

Welcome to our online shop This holiday season, we invite our community to join us in Making Futures Bright for young adults with disabilities across the Lakeshore. Your generosity fuels vital Youth Services at Disability Network Lakeshore, with a special focus on our Youth Summer Work Program — a transformative opportunity that provides hands-on career experience, workplace skill-building, and the confidence needed to step into adulthood with purpose.Every purchase you make directly supports our mission. Browse our selection and find the perfect items for you.Your generosity helps us continue this important work, and we’re grateful for every order, every gift, and every act of support. As our appreciation, every order SHIPS FREE! Thank you for shopping with purpose and helping us build brighter futures!***Please note that this storefront, through Zeffy, is 100% free for DNL to use. All donations for items go to DNL, no skimming a percentage off the top! However, Zeffy does ask donors for tips with transactions (that's how they make their money). Tips to Zeffy are completely optional and can be set at any amount you choose. Thank you for helping us keep our costs low and being good stewards of our donor funds.Happy Shopping!Disability Network Lakeshore

Making Futures Bright

Bienvenido a nuestra tienda en l&iacute;nea&nbsp; Esta temporada de vacaciones, invitamos a nuestra comunidad a unirse a nosotros para Hacer un Futuro Brillante para adultos j&oacute;venes con discapacidades en todo Lakeshore. Tu generosidad alimenta servicios vitales para j&oacute;venes en Disability Network Lakeshore, con un enfoque especial en nuestro Programa de Trabajo de Verano para J&oacute;venes, una oportunidad transformadora que brinda experiencia laboral pr&aacute;ctica, desarrollo de habilidades laborales y la confianza necesaria para ingresar a la adultez con prop&oacute;sito. Cada compra que realizas apoya directamente nuestra misi&oacute;n. Explora nuestra selecci&oacute;n y encuentra los art&iacute;culos perfectos para ti. Al comprar con nosotros, nos ayudas a alcanzar nuestros objetivos e impactar positivamente a nuestra comunidad. Gracias por apoyar nuestra misi&oacute;n, tu contribuci&oacute;n es invaluable. *Ten en cuenta que esta tienda virtual, a trav&eacute;s de Zeffy, es 100% gratuita para DNL utilizar. &nbsp; &iexcl;Todas las donaciones por art&iacute;culos van a DNL, sin ning&uacute;n porcentaje extra! &nbsp; Sin embargo, Zeffy solicita propinas a los donantes en transacciones (as&iacute; es como obtienen su dinero). &nbsp; Las propinas a Zeffy son opcionales y se pueden establecer en la cantidad que elijas. &nbsp; Gracias por ayudarnos a mantener nuestros costos bajos y ser buenos administradores de los fondos de nuestros donantes. &iexcl;Felices compras!&nbsp; Disability Network Lakeshore

Bienvenido a nuestra tienda en línea Esta temporada de vacaciones, invitamos a nuestra comunidad a unirse a nosotros para Hacer un Futuro Brillante para adultos jóvenes con discapacidades en todo Lakeshore. Tu generosidad alimenta servicios vitales para jóvenes en Disability Network Lakeshore, con un enfoque especial en nuestro Programa de Trabajo de Verano para Jóvenes, una oportunidad transformadora que brinda experiencia laboral práctica, desarrollo de habilidades laborales y la confianza necesaria para ingresar a la adultez con propósito.Cada compra que realizas apoya directamente nuestra misión. Explora nuestra selección y encuentra los artículos perfectos para ti.Al comprar con nosotros, nos ayudas a alcanzar nuestros objetivos e impactar positivamente a nuestra comunidad. Gracias por apoyar nuestra misión, tu contribución es invaluable.*Ten en cuenta que esta tienda virtual, a través de Zeffy, es 100% gratuita para DNL utilizar. ¡Todas las donaciones por artículos van a DNL, sin ningún porcentaje extra! Sin embargo, Zeffy solicita propinas a los donantes en transacciones (así es como obtienen su dinero). Las propinas a Zeffy son opcionales y se pueden establecer en la cantidad que elijas. Gracias por ayudarnos a mantener nuestros costos bajos y ser buenos administradores de los fondos de nuestros donantes.¡Felices compras! Disability Network Lakeshore

Haciendo Futuros Brillantes

Join Disability Network Lakeshore for the Ability Award Gala, a garden party&ndash;themed evening bringing together community members, partners and supporters to recognize leadership, lived experience and collective efforts advancing disability access, inclusion and independence. Blooming Beyond Barriers supports Disability Network Lakeshore&rsquo;s work to remove physical, social, and systemic obstacles so people with disabilities can live with greater independence and choice.

Join Disability Network Lakeshore for the Ability Award Gala, a garden party–themed evening bringing together community members, partners and supporters to recognize leadership, lived experience and collective efforts advancing disability access, inclusion and independence.Blooming Beyond Barriers supports Disability Network Lakeshore’s work to remove physical, social, and systemic obstacles so people with disabilities can live with greater independence and choice.

Disability Network Lakeshore

Past events

Past events

Ability Award Gala 2026

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Making Futures Bright

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Blooming Beyond Barriers

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