NAST Foundation launches ABLE today to empower people with disabilities through ABLE accounts

Dear NAST Members:

Earlier this month at the NAST Treasury Management Training Symposium the NAST Foundation launched its new national initiative, ABLE today, to support people with disabilities and ABLE Program members. ABLE today seeks financial empowerment and community inclusion for people with disabilities through increasing awareness and promoting the positive impacts of ABLE accounts.

ABLE today will pursue this vision by leading a collaborative national outreach and awareness effort showcasing the benefits of ABLE accounts on behalf of all ABLE programs. This effort includes providing ABLE education to the disability community, establishing partnerships with stakeholders, and engaging employers on the benefits ABLE provides as a tool toward Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Housed within the NAST ABLE Network, ABLE today will promote all ABLE state programs with a unified brand. For state programs that have limited outreach resources, now you have additional support to connect with the disability community. For states that have robust outreach programs, we will work to expand your ABLE engagement opportunities.

I invite you to visit our new website www.abletoday.org and help us connect with self-advocates, schedule ABLE presentations throughout the summer, and partner with national disability organizations to promote ABLE across the country……and the work is just getting started!

We are passionate and enthusiastic to be leading a first of its kind, coordinated national campaign alongside our ABLE program members to increase awareness of these impactful accounts and foster the opportunity for people with disabilities to save and invest in their future.

We would also like to thank Wells Fargo for their founding philanthropic support of ABLE today. Their commitment has assisted in the successful launch of the national initiative, and we are looking to further this model by partnering with other companies and foundations to increase the outreach support for ABLE programs. While much has been accomplished, there are still millions of people with disabilities who we need to reach through partnering together.

For more information about ABLE today and to get involved, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

Eric Ochmanek
Program Director, ABLE today
eric@statetreasurers.org