The AND Initiative is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering people with chronic illness and physical disabilities to live their AND. Rooted in the framework of This is Body Grief, we spark vital conversations about accessibility, ableism, and the emotional realities of life in a body that doesn’t always cooperate—through advocacy, education, and storytelling.
The AND Initiative sparks powerful conversations about disability, body grief, and access—so everyone can live their AND.
"Changing the conversation around disability, one story at a time."
We do this through storytelling, education, and advocacy—offering keynotes, workshops, and consulting to workplaces, speaking at conferences, and mental health spaces. We amplify the lived experiences of disabled and chronically ill people to foster understanding, reduce stigma, and drive systemic change.
Our vision is a world where conversations about disability are not an afterthought—but a foundation for creating truly inclusive communities. We're here to shift culture, center disabled voices, and help people navigate the complex, emotional terrain of Body Grief—with honesty, humor, and humanity.
Thank You to our Partner
We are proud to partner with byACRE in fulfilling our mission to provide mobility aids to people with disabilities.
Alyshia
Rollator Recipient
“When I first became disabled, having a Rollator was extremely hard for me. I am in my early 30s and having to use mobility equipment was tough for me to wrap my head around. when I won the byACRE rollator in the giveaway, I was so excited. Not only because it helped me be mobile around my home it made me feel beautiful. She is absolutely my special occasion Rollator. As a former makeup artist, feeling glamorous was significant to me. When my mobility started to be affected, I feel like I lost a part of that. My byACRE Rollator definitely helped me gain that confidence back. She gave me a piece of glamor that I needed to fill the gap.”
Clara
Rollator Recipient
“Losing mobility was incredibly difficult for me, especially when it came to being independent. Having the opportunity to apply for a byACRE rollator through The AND Initiative was a tremendous gift. Within a week I had applied, received my rollator, and was experiencing mobility I didn’t think would be ever be possible with my disability. My rollator has been a wonderful tool for my independence and has allowed me to feel confident away from home and solo, plus, it is so well-made and beautiful! I am forever grateful to The AND Initiative, Jayne, and byACRE for making mobility accessible for me again; this is not something I would not have been able to achieve on my own, but is now part of my daily life.”
A Shift in Focus
Since the beginning, The AND Initiative has been rooted in community care. Through your support, we’ve been able to gift dozens of mobility aids to disabled folks who needed them—no strings attached. These gifts have meant greater freedom, safety, dignity, and joy. We are deeply proud of the lives we’ve touched through this work.
We want to especially thank byACRE and every single donor who made this possible. Your generosity created real, tangible change.
As of Spring 2025, we are no longer able to continue our mobility aid gifting program due to a lack of sustained funding. This decision was not made lightly. The AND Initiative is run entirely by one person—me. I’m a disabled, chronically ill advocate doing this work as a volunteer. The emotional and financial labor of sourcing, shipping, and coordinating aid at scale is no longer sustainable without dedicated funding and infrastructure.
That said, this is not the end. We’re evolving.
The AND Initiative is shifting our focus to storytelling, education, and advocacy—amplifying disabled voices, challenging ableism, and fostering community around Body Grief. Our future will include workshops, consulting, speaking engagements, and media campaigns that continue to center disability justice and care.
If you’d like to book The AND Initiative for your conference, event, panel, or organization, please reach out directly at Jayne@jaynemattingly.com.
We’re still here. We’re just moving differently.
With gratitude and momentum,
Jayne Mattingly
Founder, The AND Initiative