Common Ground with National Ability Center

The Vista Outdoor Foundation is supporting 12 nonprofit organizations in Fiscal Year 2023. These organizations represent a cross section of outdoor and recreational causes.

Common Ground is a deep dive into each of these organizations to tell the story of our partners, what is behind their mission and how each partner is using the grant.

This Common Ground feature highlights the National Ability Center, Park City, Utah.

Why the National Ability Center?

The National Ability Center's mission changes lives each season. The organization works to get persons with disabilities in the outdoors, including skiing, climbing, archery, horseback riding and more. This aligns with the Foundation's goal to create a more diverse and accessible outdoor recreation system.

For almost 40 years, this organization has harnessed the power of specialized equipment, techniques, teaching methods and volunteer support to take adventurers on outdoor challenges beyond their expectations.

National Ability Center's Mission: To empower individuals of all abilities by building self-esteem, confidence and lifetime skills through sport, recreation and educational programs.

Serves: Veterans, active duty and retired military servicepersons and individuals with physical, cognitive or disease-related disabilities.

Grant Power: Each year the National Ability Center provides over $500,000 in scholarships to veterans and individuals with disabilities to help make adaptive recreation programs accessible.

Facts from the National Ability Center:

• It's estimated that 1 in 4 Americans lives with a disability. This means most people have someone in their family or knows someone who could benefit from the National Ability Center's programs.

• Whether someone is a never-ever or pursuing dreams of competing in the Paralympic Games, the National Ability Center has programs to suit!