As the holiday season unfolds, all of us at National Disability Institute (NDI) wish you and your loved ones joy, peace and hope for the year ahead!
This season is particularly special as we prepare to celebrate NDI’s 20th anniversary in 2025—a milestone made possible because of your unwavering support, partnership and shared belief in our mission. For two decades, NDI has worked tirelessly to transform the financial futures of individuals with disabilities and their families, and we’re excited to mark this anniversary by reflecting on our collective impact and looking ahead to what we can accomplish together.
In 2024, your generosity and collaboration helped us achieve incredible milestones, including:
Driving Change in Banking Access: NDI continues to advocate for financial inclusion, contributing to a remarkable 38 percent reduction in the unbanked rate, for people with disabilities, as reported in FDIC data.
Empowering Workforce Reengagement: Through the American Dream Employment Network (ADEN), individuals reentered the workforce after experiencing a disability, collectively earning over $82 million in new income while reducing reliance on the Social Security Administration (SSA) trust fund by an estimated $23 million.
Promoting Financial Independence Through ABLE Accounts: Through advocacy, outreach and education efforts, our ABLE National Resource Center (ABLE NRC) contributed to the growth of ABLE accounts to more than 187,000 ABLE accounts nationwide, with total savings exceeding $2 billion. Many account holders are first-time savers, breaking barriers and redefining economic possibilities for people with disabilities.
Advancing Disability Owned Entrepreneurship: This fall, our third virtual Disability Owned Small Business Convening brought together more than 850 participants from across 48 states, the District of Columbia and three U.S. territories. More than 65 percent of registrants identified as having a disability and 54 percent identified as entrepreneurs or were thinking of starting a business. The event spotlighted 30 speakers, the majority of whom were successful small business owners with disabilities.
Championing Financial Inclusion: In 2024, we facilitated conversations with over 500 individuals across 40 states to uncover and address the complex financial challenges faced by individuals with disabilities who are also members of other marginalized communities.
These achievements are just a glimpse of what we’ve accomplished together—and they reflect the profound impact of your trust, commitment and investment in our work. As we enter our 20th year, we invite you to help us build on this foundation to create an even brighter future for individuals with disabilities and their families.
This holiday season, please consider supporting NDI in your year-end giving. And here’s some wonderful news: our Board of Directors and staff are generously matching all gifts made before December 31st! Together, we can double the impact of your generosity and carry our mission forward into 2025 and beyond.
Visit our giving page today to make a difference.
With heartfelt appreciation and warm holiday wishes,
Thomas E. Foley, J.D.
Executive Director
