Our History
INCIGHT began with a vision of raising expectations for people experiencing disabilities and helping them pursue education, employment, and live independent lives.
The idea of creating INCIGHT came from friends who met while attending the University of Portland. Started by Scott Hatley, diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and Vail Horton, born without legs, each saw ways to support and empower people with disabilities. Feeling so passionate about this new entity, Scott put $5,000 of his own savings into getting the nonprofit off the ground. Joined by their college friend Jerry Carleton, INCIGHT soon took flight. An important commonality joined each, their families expected they would attend college, pursue a career path and live independently.
Amidst this backdrop, this passionate group of changemakers recognized a critical gap in society—people with disabilities and barriers were often left out of the conversation, lacked expectations for their lives and were not finding the same levels of education or employment success. Fueled by a commitment to create real change, they envisioned a nonprofit which could provide the tools, resources and support needed for this population's contribution while also inspiring confidence and igniting potential.
As fate would have it, the INCIGHT name was no accident. The final product, a hybrid of the word Insight, meaning the power or act of seeing into a situation to gain understanding, and Incite, to move to action. More than a mere name, this hybrid describes INCIGHT's founders, staff, and board members who share a passion to make a difference along with the personal insight into the challenges and hurdles facing people with disabilities.
A few of the highlights of this 22 year journey have included:
- Officially launched INCIGHT's signature scholarship program in 2004 with our first scholarship recipient Netsanet Muleta, a graduating student from Roosevelt High School in Portland, Oregon.
- The scholarship program has awarded more than 1,062 scholarships totaling $751,105 to students pursuing college, trade school, and certificate programs.
- Received 501c3 tax-exempt on February 27, 2004 as INCIGHT officially became a non-profit organization.
- Received our first grants from the Nike Factory Store and Reeve Paralysis foundation in 2004 to get us started.
- Held our 1st Fall Harvest Gala at the Governor Hotel in 2007 raising $74,000.
- Received the 2008 Partner of the Year award from the USBLN.
- Recognized with the 2011 Spirit of Portland Award.
- Launched The Understanding publication in 2019.
- Served 17,000 students and jobseekers with a variety of disabilities and barriers through 228 INCIGHT's Job Fair, Get Ahead and employment event since 2011.
- Launched the Scott W. Hatley Endowment at the Oregon Community Foundation in 2017.
- INCIGHT trained its first Disability-Aware Leader™ cohort in 2026.
INCIGHT's work reflects its mission to change hearts and minds, leverage obstacles, and unlock potential by supporting students as they build confidence, pursue goals, and share their insights with others. Today, as INCIGHT enters its 22nd year, the organization continues to support students, job seekers, employers, Disability-Aware Leader™s and community partners while looking ahead to many more years of growth and impact.