THE ABLE NETWORK

Q: What was the path like that led you to become the Director of ABLE United?

I’m very fortunate; 16 years ago, a small group leader from my church reached out to me to see if I would be interested in serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the state of Florida. Little did I know that taking the administrative assistant position at the Arc of Florida would lead me on a path to continue to serve one of Florida’s most underserved populations.

Q: What does ABLE United do?

ABLE United is the State of Florida’s ABLE Program that offers ABLE accounts specifically to Florida’s disability community. ABLE Accounts are tax-advantaged savings and investment accounts that generally do not count as a resource (i.e. cash) when determining eligibility for public benefit programs like SSI and Medicaid. Eligible individuals with a disability diagnosed prior to age 26 may qualify, enrollment is online, and anybody can contribute to someone’s ABLE Account – they can even save their own money.

Q: What do you feel is the largest value that ABLE United provides?

For many, it is the first time they are allowed to have more than $2,000 to their name. The flexibility allows parents to start planning now for whatever the future holds. It allows those who are working to potentially have their money go further by growing tax and be used for just about anything that will benefit them.

Q: If there is one piece of advice you would share with your colleagues in the disability employment industry, what would it be?

Please, please, please make sure that the individuals you work with who have a disability are made aware of ABLE Accounts. Consider adding this as a resource when providing benefit materials as it provides a low to no-cost way to invest. Electronic materials can be found here and printed material is free of charge and can be requested by clicking here. If you want to talk more about how we can work together, schedule a meeting with me by sending an email to [email protected].  

Q: What is the most important piece of information you would want our provider partner audience to take-away from this to the clients they work with?

ABLE United is a reality. The ability to invest in the future and purchase anything that will help improve or maintain their health, independence, and quality of life is now possible with an ABLE Account. Try it now by taking 15 minutes to open an Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Account by visiting www.ableunited.com. 

Many individuals with disabilities want to work, but often times they are concerned with losing their financial benefits or health care coverage from Social Security. However, under the Social Security Administration (SSA), SSA does offer special consideration that may allow an individual to make more income without impacting their benefit called a “subsidy” once you go over substantial gainful activity. A “subsidy” is support provided by your employer that may result in your receiving more pay than the actual value of the services the individual with a disability performs.

To view a sample subsidy letter, and if you want to learn more about subsidies, please click here.

Disability Representation on Boards Is Up, Yet Inclusion Lags

An increase in people with disabilities in boardrooms and corporate leadership isn’t always translating to more inclusive workplaces for rank-and-file employees.

Of the 415 companies that participated in the 2022 nonprofit Disability:IN’s Disability Equality Index Report, 30% have at least one senior executive who is disabled and 6% have someone who identifies as disabled serving on their corporate boards.

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