Phoenix (STN) – They are the simple, everyday tasks that most people take for granted. Tasks like grocery shopping, budgeting, or commuting can feel routine for many. At Ability360, those same skills can represent something far more powerful: independence.
During the March episode of ‘It Happens at STN,’ the live studio audience got an inside look at Ability360’s Independent Living Skills Program through on-location reporting from the STN production team.
The federally funded program provides free support for individuals with any type of disability and focuses on practical, real-world skills that help participants live independently.
“Here at Ability360 with the Independent Living Skills Program, we offer free services for any individual with any type of disability,” said Ashley Diarte, an independent living skills coordinator. “If they want to learn budgeting skills, how to save money, or how to shop independently at grocery stores, we can help.”
The program also connects participants with other resources and services within Ability360’s broader network.
WATCH: Inside Ability360’s independent living skills program
Alex Castillo, another independent living skills coordinator, said accessibility is a key part of the program’s design.
“The program is federally funded, which means it’s completely free,” Castillo said. “You don’t need insurance, we don’t collect medical information, and there’s no waitlist. People can work with us as long as they need.”
For program participant Jenny McCullough Cosgrove, the services offered something even deeper: a path back to confidence.
Cosgrove had been pursuing a PhD in social work when she suffered a stroke shortly after completing a qualifying exam.
“I was in a coma for about a month,” she said. “When I came out, I went through different types of rehab.”
Her recovery journey eventually led her to Ability360, where she began rebuilding strength and mobility through the organization’s fitness programs.
“Seeing myself be able to walk, then balance, and then start jogging was just magnificent,” Cosgrove said.
But the impact went beyond physical recovery. After losing vision on one side, learning how to safely navigate the city without driving became a major step toward independence.
“The help that Ability360 provided helped me feel like a human being on this planet again,” Cosgrove said.
For the team at Ability360, that transformation is exactly the goal.
“We want people to know the help exists,” Diarte said. “We’re here to support people with disabilities and help bridge the gap between people with and without disabilities.”
That support resonated deeply with Cosgrove.
“Ability360 helped me find myself,” she said. “It helped me recognize that life will continue for me in a beautiful way.”
