Novick’s interest in the disabled dates back to frustrations that grew out of watching a couple of his closest childhood friends, his aging parents, and grandparents in El Paso, Texas try to cope in a society that hadn't given much thought to things like grab bars, wheelchair ramps and low, easy-to-reach light switches. He eventually turned those frustrations into positive actions moving to San Diego in 1987, feeling the urge to relocate after having spent most of his life in El Paso. "There's more to life than just living in one spot," Novick said. It was a gutsy decision. He used his resume as the owner of his own construction company to line up work as construction manager for several projects over the next few years. By 1993 his passion for helping the disadvantaged, however, eventually led him to federal agencies in Washington, D.C., on  a fact-finding mission for information on federal fair-housing and disability laws. He flew to Chicago to visit with another start-up company specializing in projects for the handicapped, and on his return flight he formed AM ABLE Inc., an acronym for All Modifications for A Barrier-free Life and Environment. Novick's AM ABLE focuses on projects that offer seniors and the handicapped more freedom and independence, providing wheelchair ramps, grab bars, stair lifts, wider doors, lower bathroom accessories and light switches, replacing bathroom vanities with wall-mounted cabinets and lavatories, and replacing tubs with barrier-free showers, all giving wheelchair users easier access.

Bob Novick's business essentially has locked in some primary objectives. He helps commercial, municipal, institutional facilities, and the legal community identify areas not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines (ADAAG) and the California Accessibility Code, offering creative and explicit suggestions, and his company’s construction services, for modifications to allow easier access and meet the laws’ requirements. Bob remodels residences for seniors with special needs and persons with physical disabilities. He has built a 6-unit multi-family accessible apartment building with roll-in showers and many other features for wheelchair users to maintain their independence.  He's particularly interested in reaching out to financial institutions and private investors for joint efforts in turning problem properties into accessible housing for seniors and the handicapped.

Having turned nearly half of his 300-square-foot AM ABLE office into a resource library, it features hundreds of brochures, directories, pamphlets, catalogs, newspapers and magazine articles on designs, products, equipment and services associated with accessible accommodations. Bob says, "I use this collection of information not only to find products to be suggested for a person’s possible use, but as a referral for countless people desperately looking for support or another service to fill an immediate need. If that leads to referrals or projects, then great. But if it doesn't, then that's OK, too. We live in a different world now, and it’s more important to be tolerant of and helpful to one another now more than ever before. I want to do my part to help our community be a better place to live for all people."