When Jacqueline Daniel was 12 years old, she met a 3-year-old girl named Macy who was living with disabilities. Although she did not talk, communicating love came naturally to Macy.
"The more time I spent with Macy, the more I learned from her," said Daniel, a 2004 University of North Georgia (UNG) graduate.
Twenty-five years later, Daniel finds herself offering programs to individuals like Macy and their families. Daniel is the founder of ConnectAbility, a Dahlonega-based nonprofit organization that is creating communities where people of all abilities are valued, included and empowered.
"Having someone with a disability in a family impacts everyone in the family," she said. "We provide them the opportunity for skill building and building social networks."
Daniel said the idea to start her own nonprofit to reach out to people with disabilities began while she was a student at UNG. After volunteering in her home county of Gwinnett, Daniel searched the Dahlonega area for a Special Olympics program to offer her time. She had no luck. Daniel worked with another UNG group to bring a Christmas party event to Dahlonega in 2001.
"One person with a disability showed up along with a handful of college students," she said.
Realizing she needed to build awareness, Daniel diligently worked to build a community of support in the area. In 2010, she founded ConnectAbility.
"We try and break down every barrier to provide access to people of all abilities," she said. "We have no restriction on diagnosis, ages, income level, or geographic location."
Her vision was to bring those of all abilities into the community to experience and share the unique gifts they have to offer. To accomplish that, ConnectAbility provides events accessible to everybody. For example, ConnectAbility hosts an annual race accessible to those with and without physical disabilities.
"Through grant funding, we have been able to purchase a fleet of top-notch racing wheelchairs," Daniel said. "We have taken away the physical barrier to help an individual become part of that cultural experience. There is a thrill of crossing the finish line and an enjoyment of having a group of friends have the same fun that you do."
ConnectAbility's mission is working. In 2018, the nonprofit served more than 3,000 people with and without disabilities.
"We are thriving by creating a community where everybody belongs," she said.
ConnectAbility does not only serve its "friends." The program utilizes students and resources from UNG. Daniel established an internship program for the organization, which has seen six to eight students from UNG working and volunteering for ConnectAbility.
"What's neat about it is, the students come from all over the world," she said. "It's possibly their initial exposure to a person with disability. They take experience with them all over the globe, which impacts the rest of their lives."
