To commemorate Financial Capability Month, and learn more about the challenges and opportunities to address the needs of Americans with disabilities to become more financially capable, National Disability Institute (NDI), the LEAD Center and Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) partnered for the webinar event: Advancing Financial Literacy for Individuals with Disabilities.
Two panels, one of federal agency representatives and the other of disability community leaders, discussed the challenges and opportunities to improve financial capability and inclusion for individuals across the spectrum of disabilities.
Participants learned about the consumer protections provided by MSRB rules for ABLE tax-advantaged savings accounts; new materials from the FDIC to build financial capability for adults with disabilities; favorable tax benefits for people with disabilities from the IRS; and financial literacy requirements in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) from the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP).
Panelists included:
- Andy Arias, Policy Advisor, Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)
- Don Dill, Senior Tax Analyst, Stakeholder Partnerships, Education and Communication (SPEC), Internal Revenue Service
- Pamela Ellis, Associate General Counsel, Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB)
- Mark Humphries, Acting Retirement Savings Education Campaign Coordinator, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)Oscar Jimenez-Solomon, Research Scientist, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University
- Lynnette Kelly, President and Executive Director, Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB)
- Anil Lewis, Executive Director, Jernigan Institute, National Federation of the Blind Patrick Mannix, Senior Advisor, Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)
- Ritta McLaughlin, Chief Education Officer, Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB)
- Michael Morris, Executive Director, National Disability Institute
- Luke W. Reynolds, Chief of Outreach & Program Development, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
- Joseph Santini, Ed.S., Program Manager, Communication Service for the Deaf, CSD Learns
- Maria Town, Director, Houston Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities
April is National Financial Capability Month. It is a time for public and private sector organizations to work together to improve the knowledge and skills of all Americans with and without disabilities to make more informed financial decisions, better manage their financial lives, set financial goals, build and preserve assets, reduce economic vulnerability and improve economic security.
To learn more about NDI’s activities during National Financial Capability Month, please visit the NDI website.
