Financial Education for People with Disabilities

[Community Development Banking List]

Original message from: karenharris@povertylaw.org

As part of our broader asset building advocacy, the Shriver Center works on
the issue of asset building in the disability community. We published an
article in the *Clearinghouse Review: Journal of Poverty Law and Policy* that
provides an overview of some existing programs geared toward people with
disabilities, from EITC outreach to assistive technology IDA programs. The
article is available at the bottom of this
page<http://www.povertylaw.org/advocacy/c...sets/training>
.


The article also includes a summary of proposed legislation that would make
it easier for people with disabilities to save and build assets without
compromising their existing benefits. In particular the ABLE
Act<http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s111-493> would
allow an individual with a disability to save up to $500,000 over her
lifetime to pay for a very wide range of expenses while still maintaining
eligibility for federal benefits.

Additionally, the Shriver Center has been conducting financial planning
trainings for people with disabilities and their service providers. We have
set up a Resource
Page<http://www.povertylaw.org/advocacy/c...sets/training>
where
you can download copies of the presentation materials, watch a recording of
the training, and find links to additional resources.

Regarding financial education, VISA Financial
Soccer<http://reitour.financialsoccer.com/> has
a version of the interactive game that encourages players to test their
knowledge of core financial concepts, with the addition of 100
disability-related questions. Similarly, I know that Allies, Inc. in New
Jersey has been working on a financial education curriculum for individuals
with developmental and intellectual disabilities, but I am not sure whether
they have completed that project.