DisAbility Partners - Sylva
525 Mineral Springs Drive
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 631-1167
Fax: (828) 631-1169
Serving Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain, Cherokee, Graham and Clay counties
Disability Partners formerly Pathways for the Future was formed in 1991 as a tax exempt, non-profit, charitable organization to advocate for issues that concern persons with disabilities.
Our mission in the beginning was directed primarily toward the development of the Balsam Lake Lodge Recreation Area in the Roy Taylor National Forest in Jackson County. Pathways For The Future was responsible for coordinating thousands of hours of volunteer labor in addition to a significant amount of donated materials and funding to develop this model project.
Due to the efforts of Pathways For The Future, the lodge and recreation area are totally accessible and allows persons with various disabilities to enjoy the beauty of the rugged national forest.
Since then, DisAbility Partners has grown and evolved into an organization with a far broader focus of providing services to individuals with disabilities by becoming an Center for Independent Living (CIL). Consistent with the definition of a Center, as cited in Section 702 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Pathways is a consumer managed and controlled, community based, cross-disability, non-residential, non-profit organization. The core services of Information and Referral, Independent Living Skills Training, Peer Counseling, Transitions, and Advocacy are provided to the far western counties of Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain, Clay, Cherokee and Graham.
As a Center, Disability Partners Board of Directors and staff are required to consist of a majority of individuals who have significant disabilities.