ABLE Act - Savings for People With Disabilities

The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act was introduced in Congress in February 2013 and it has recently been analyzed by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), a nonpartisan federal agency that that provides budget and economic information to Congress. If and when it is finally passed, it can make a huge positive impact on the lives of people with disabilities.

ABLE Act – What it means

The ABLE Act would amend the IRS revenue code in such a way that would allow savings accounts to be set up for individuals with disabilities much like the college tuition accounts known as “529 accounts” that have been around since 1996. The money accrued in that account is not considered taxable income to the individual and their eligibility for SSI or Medicaid is not at risk, which are often times the only income and medical coverage people with disabilities have. 

A real life example:

Tony’s sister has a beautiful little girl who was born with cerebral palsy. Little Maggie is the light of her mother’s eye but she has a long road ahead of her. Tony sees how much it costs to get the equipment Maggie needs and deserves in order to be included in the rest of the family’s daily life. Maggie’s mom works very hard but can’t possibly cover all the expenses on her own.  Medicaid only covers the very basics and even those things are often a fight to get. Tony decides to help out by setting up an ABLE account for Maggie’s needs. He knows it won’t count as income to Maggie’s household so there’s no risk that the SSI and Medicaid Maggie and her family rely on will be affected. Family members & friends regularly deposit money in Maggie’s account for holidays & birthdays and Maggie’s mom is able to pay for the expenses that Medicaid doesn’t cover.

Key Characteristics

• Anybody (including the individuals with disabilities themselves) can set up an ABLE account and multiple accounts in different states can be set up for one individual
• Qualified expenses include education; housing; transportation; employment support; health, prevention, and wellness; miscellaneous expenses (such as financial management or legal fees); assistive technology and personal support services
• Earning and distributions from the account would not count as taxable income to the owner
• Contributions would be made using cash from the contributor’s after-tax income
• Assets in these account would be disregarded when determining the individual’s eligibility for most federal means-tested benefits such as medical coverage
• The first $100,000 would be disregarded when considering the eligibility for SSI

ABLE Act – Impact on SSI

In order to quality for SSI, an individual cannot have more than $2,000 in assets (for couples it’s $3,000). If their assets exceed this maximum amount, they must spend down the excess before they can qualify. Think about what this means! A person with disabilities cannot have a “rainy day” fund or a savings account for fun vacations like the rest of society. Doesn’t every financial expert say that we should have at least 6-8 months of expenses saved in case of an emergency? I guess people with disabilities don’t have emergencies like people without disabilities! Why would they need to have money saved up? The reality is, people with disabilities have higher medical expenses but are expected to live in poverty before they can qualify for government assistance which covers the very, very basics! And I hope that you, dear reader who doesn’t have a disability, will not become disabled due to an accident or illness because any money you’ve worked so hard to save up until then will have to be handed over until you have almost nothing left.

Another real life example:

Joe has always been a hard worker. He got his first job as a cashier at age 16 and was taught to save by his parents. By the time he turned 26, he managed to save over $15,000 in a savings account. For his 27^th birthday he and his friends decided to go bungee jumping. That decision cost him his legs. After a freak accident, Joe became paralyzed from the waist down. He had to stop working because of his injuries and no longer had medical coverage. He applied for SSI and Medicaid but because he had so much money saved – money he was saving to buy himself a home – he didn’t qualify. Joe had to spend all that money he worked so hard for before he could find any assistance. A man who was independent and always worked for the things he wanted now had almost no money left and had to depend on the government for what little they could do for him.

Support is growing

Thankfully, the list of people and organizations that are behind the ABLE Act is steadily growing. The passage of this Act is crucial to people with disabilities and their loved ones.  

Congressman Crenshaw states it well: 

"No longer would individuals with disabilities have to stand aside and watch others use IRS-sanctioned tools to lay the groundwork for a brighter future. They would be able to as well, and that's an accomplishment we can all be proud of."

To see if your state’s Representatives and Senators support the ABLE Act you can check the following websites:

House of Representatives 113th Congress (2013-201

4)

Senate113th Congress (2013 - 2014)

It’s time for the government and certain populations in our society to expect those with the least to give the most!

Equality for all, ALWAYS!

Be sure to Like me on Facebook at theSeed and at Forward RISE

Fundraising Event in NY - Proceeds to Benefit People With Disabilities

Forward RISE, a nonprofit committed to the inclusion of people 

with disabilities, is sponsoring a fun afternoon of 

bowling at East Islip Lanes (NY). 

Check out our website at Forwardrise.org

Like us on Facebook at Forward Rise Facebook

WHEN:    May 17, 1 pm

WHERE:  East Islip Lanes                                                    

               117 East Main St.                 

               East Islip, NY 11730 

COST:     $25 for 2 games & shoe rental, lunch, 

               unlimited soda and coffee & dessert

There will also be a 50/50 raffle and the highest score wins a prize!

All proceeds will go towards workshops and events that 

promote the acceptance of people with disabilities.

Tickets are now on sale!!

New York Gets Inspired - Work Incentive For People With Disabilities Passes the Senate

GOOD JOB NEW YORK!

Inspire NY is a tax incentive spearheaded by Senator David Carlucci (D) that encourages businesses to hire people with developmental disabilities. It just passed the Senate! This legislation helps thousands of New Yorkers gain a sense of belonging and inclusion in their own community. Businesses will receive up to $5,000 for hiring each full-time employee and up to $2,500 for hiring each part-time employee.

Follow Senator Carlucci on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/davecarlucci

Disability Awareness Month - 5 Influential People of the Civil Rights Movement For People With Disabilities

For Disability Awareness Month I’ve put together a list of five influential people of the disability rights movement in the United States. This is just a short list of some people who have made a tremendous impact on how people with disabilities are able to live today.

************************************************

Hellen Keller

 1. Hellen Keller – Born in 1880, Helen was struck by a mysterious illness called “brain fever” by a family physician at 18 months and became deaf, blind and mute. At the age of 7, her parents found a young teacher who would teach Helen how to communicate and they would become life-long friends. Helen graduated from Cambridge School for Young Ladies and went on to become a well-known speaker doing lectures and working on behalf of people with disabilities. She testified before Congress, advocating for an improvement in the welfare of the blind. She co-founded Helen Keller International to combat the causes and consequences of blindness and malnutrition. In 1920, she helped found the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Helen tackled many social issues including women’s suffrage, pacifism and birth control. She traveled to 35 countries on five continents, including a five month trip across Asia at the age of 75 in order to improve the lives of people with disabilities. She died in her sleep in 1968, just a few weeks before her 88^th birthday.

Gini Laurie

2. Virginia “Gini” Grace Wilson Laurie – She is considered one of the “grandmothers” of the independent living movement. A year before her birth in 1913, two of her sisters died from poliomyelitis and her brother was left severely disabled. As an adult, she volunteered with the Red Cross in the Cleveland Toomey Pavilion rehab center during the 1949 polio epidemic. In 1958, she took the unpaid job of editor of the Toomeyville Gazette, a newsletter put together by patients who recovered at the rehab center after contracting polio. The Gazette published articles on legislation, activism and what would become known as the independent living movement. In 1970, Gini wrote an article in the newly-named Rehabilitation Gazette where she stated plainly that for people with disabilities, the most important thing “is the right to freedom of choice to live as normal a life as possible within the community…Segregation is unnormal.” In 1977, she wrote Housing and Home Services for the Disabled: Guidelines and Experiences in Independent Living”. It pointed to the fact that it is more cost-effective for people with disabilities to live in their community than being put into institutions or nursing homes, an important point still being driven in the disability movement today. She died in 1989 of cancer.

Ed Roberts

3. Ed Roberts – After contracting polio at age 14 and living in the hospital for two years, Ed was finally able to move back home. But things were very different. Because of the polio, he was only able to move two fingers and slept in an iron lung. His struggle against discrimination began immediately when school administrators did not allow him to attend school with his classmates. They felt it was best to have teachers instruct him privately at home. The family fought back and they won him the right to attend school with his classmates. After graduating from a junior college, he had to go through another battle in order to be allowed to attend the University of California in Berkeley. He eventually won this fight as well and went on to study Political Science. Because of Ed, more disabled students were allowed to attend Berkeley and they eventually formed a disabled student organization on campus. Their focus was to make the university more accessible and provide trainings on daily support techniques. In 1972, Ed helped the group form the first Center for Independent Living which was considered radical at the time because it was run by people with disabilities rather than medical professionals. He became the first person to serve as the Director of California’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. In 1981, he and Judy Heumann and Joan Leon started the World Institute on Disability (WID) which studies legal rights issues for people with disabilities around the world. Often referred to as “the father of the disability rights movement”, he was president of WID until his death in 1995.

Justin Dart

4. Justin Dart – At the age of 18, Justin contracted polio which left him unable to walk. He came from a wealthy family in Chicago and in 1967 he and his wife devoted their lives to helping people with disabilities. On his own dime, they travelled the across the United States in the early 1980’s which was quite an undertaking because many places were not wheelchair accessible. Universal design was just beginning to be implemented in larger cities but in smaller ones, it was practically unheard of.  What was learned through conversations during this tour was the basis for a policy that called for national rights for people with disabilities. It would eventually become the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. Because of the national dialogue that took place during this time and the subsequent passing of the ADA, Justin Dart is considered to be “the godfather” of the ADA. In 1995, he founded the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) along with others. At the age of 71, he died in 2002 from congestive heart failure related to complications of post-polio syndrome.

Wade Blank

5. Wade Blank – emulating the great Dr. King, Wade began a movement in the 1970’s within the disability community in Denver, Colorado that would give rise to ADAPT, a national grass-roots community that organizes disability rights activists to engage in nonviolent direct action. A former minister, he saw the sad living conditions of individuals with severe disabilities in nursing homes and took it upon himself to make changes. He not only moved people from institutions into independent living centers but these very same people became co-protestors in his fight against the discrimination built into the public transportation system. They waged the first sit-in of their kind and surrounded a bus with their wheelchairs in Denver. The group quickly expanded to other cities around the US, holding demonstrations fighting for accessibility in public bus systems. His group’s national recognition paid off as accessible public transportation was included in The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a landmark law passed in 1990. He continued to be a leader in the civil rights movement of people with disabilities until his death in 1993.

************************************************

Without these role models and others like them, people with disabilities would not have the right to a free and public education, public transportation and barrier-free public places, among other civil rights. Although there is still much work to be done, it is uncontestable that the foundation laid down by these pioneers sparked a movement that is still growing today.

Can you think of any others who have made a major impact on the lives of people with disabilities?

International Women's Day - 8 Ways We Can Treat Ourselves Better Immediately

March 8 is International Women’s Day around the globe. It started back in 1911 and has been getting stronger ever since. We all know we should be sleeping 7-8 hours a night, exercising and surrounding ourselves with happy, loving people. But let’s face it, sometimes we’re lucky to get 4 good hours of shut eye and our closest friends are doing all they can to share their misery. So what else can we do to realistically make a positive impact on our daily lives as busy women?

In honor of International Women’s Day, I have put together a list of 8 tips for us women to live a healthier life.

1.       Eat less salt – Half of women over the age of 45 have high blood pressure and a lot of that is due to a high salt consumption. Rather than flavoring your meals with massive amounts of salt try other seasonings like garlic powder, adobo, oregano, rosemary seeds or cumin. A bonus to an aromatic dish is that by filling multiple senses (taste, sight AND smell) you tend to eat less in one sitting!

2.       Increase blood supply to your heart and lungs – Every night before going to sleep, hang your head and shoulders over the edge of the mattress. This opens up your chest, increasing the blood supply to the area and as a bonus can help with bad posture gained from sitting hunched over a desk at work.

3.       Rinse your mouth after drinking soda – We’ve all heard that we should eliminate or limit the amount of carbonated beverages for other health reasons but have you considered what the sugar does to your teeth? Rinsing with water will wash away the acids that erode tooth enamel.

4.       Walk extra steps each day – Instead of using the elevator, take the stairs. Instead of circling the parking lot for the closest spot possible, park far away from the store. Instead of sitting on the couch after a large meal, head outside even if it’s just to take the trash down to the curb.

5.       Change up your look – Did you have the same hairstyle at your 20^th high school reunion as you did when you graduated? Too often, women try to hold on to their youth by never changing their look when in fact, it does the opposite – it dates you. Try a new look for the spring. If you wear it wavy, try a sleek look. Brunettes can try out a few face-framing highlights and blondes can add in some low-lights. A new hair style just may re-energize your spirit!

6.       Wear a hat – Using a facial moisturizer with SPF 30 and sunblock on the rest of your body is a good start to protecting yourself from harmful UV rays but what about your scalp? That skin is just as prone to skin cancer as any other part of you so show it some love by protecting it with a cute sun hat or baseball cap.

7.       Apply lip balm – To piggy back on the last tip, your lips are also often neglected in the sun-protection beauty regimen. There are some great balms containing SPF 15 these days so pucker up and keep those luscious lips kissable and free from dry cracks.

8.       Treat your eye-area gently – This is the most delicate part of your face and shows aging the quickest. Cleanse with care – always blot, never rub! Always use your ring finger to apply moisturizer and concealer because it uses the least amount of pressure.

Now go out and have a great day!

Top 5 Visitable Cities - Places Where People With Disabilities Have Great Accessibility

Vacations are enjoyed by millions of people all over the world but some people with disabilities can find planning a vacation a bit daunting because of disability issues. Some may even think it’s impossible. I say, with proper planning, you can have a great vacation to remember. Here is a list of the top five most accessible places to visit in the world.

Berlin, Germany

1. Berlin, Germany

It was awarded the “Access City of the Year” in December 2012 by the European Commission due to its aggressive and forward-thinking plan of creating a fully accessible public transportation system. Its plan also includes broadening sidewalks and using tactile guidance systems at road crossings. By the year 2020, the government plans on Berlin being 100% accessible. A large majority of museums in Berlin are already accessible as are most of the more well-known hotel chains but be sure to ask when making reservations what accessible features are currently available. You can search for places to visit at Visit Berlin for People with Disabilities. 

Vancouver, British Columbia

 2. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

One of the most diverse cities in the world, Vancouver offers visitors a wide variety of cultural foods and experiences. With its great public transportation system – buses are equipped with wheelchair ramps and the Sky Train and SeaBus are also accessible – visitors have a variety of choices when deciding how to get to where they’re going. Vancouver International Airport is one of the world’s most accessible airports. Some barrier-free features include amplified handsets at service counters, low-mounted information monitors, services for the deaf and accessible washrooms. Travelers can rent vehicles with hand-controls or use the Airporter shuttle bus service to get to their hotels. For more information on where to go and what to do, go to Accessible Vancouver.

San Diego, California, United States

3. San Diego, California

When you think “California” you should also think “beach”! With its mild climate you can enjoy 70 miles of beach when visiting this city year-round. At at least fifteen San Diego beaches, beach wheelchairs are available for people with disabilities at no charge. Some even offer motorized chairs. To find a list of beaches with phone numbers check out CaliforniaCoastal Commission. You can also take accessible sightseeing tours via bus, boat or old-fashioned trolley. Go to SanDiego.org to plan your trip. 

Denmark

4. Denmark

Yes, the whole country. While all Scandinavian countries are very disability-friendly, Denmark stands out because of its “Accessibility For All” program. This is a tourism labeling system for hotels, attractions, restaurants and other places you might want to visit while there. You can search for places and other things accessible using http://www.godadgang.dk/ and narrowing it down by city, type of place, disability and more. You can also find more tourism information at VisitDenmark.com. 

London, England

5. London, England

England might call to mind old tradition but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t modernized its accommodations for people with disabilities. The subway system, called the Tube, has some stops that are not wheelchair accessible so if you’re planning on traveling that way be sure to research ahead of time to find the stops that are accessible. However, the large majority of their buses are accessible and their taxis are required by law to be accessible. You can find accessibility information at Transport For London. Many of London’s most popular sight-seeing stops are free or offer a discount for people with disabilities. There are some places that even allow one care giver in at no charge.

Special Mention:

Morgan’s Wonderland in San Antonio, Texas – A recreational park that provides a beautiful environment free of economic barriers that all individuals, regardless of disability can enjoy. It boasts many attractions such as a sensory village, picnic area, playground and sandpit and a carousel that is accessible to all including wheelchair users. Tickets can be purchased online and are very reasonably priced. Individuals with disabilities and children under 2 get in for free. Visit their site at Morgan’s Wonderland.

*************************************************

So now that you have some ideas of where to go, let’s go over a few tips on how to travel with a disability:

1.  Plan ahead! Give yourself as much time as possible to research where you are going. Here are some questions you should ask:

·         Is the destination airport accessible? Who can help you find the right accommodations?

·         Does the hotel have a no-step entrance; rooms on the first floor; wide hallways/doorways; grab-bars or roll-in showers? Do they have other accommodations such as interpreters or amplified handsets?

·         Is the local area disability-friendly? How will you be getting to local attractions and sites?

2. Bring a letter from you doctor - Preferably on a letterhead, a doctor’s note explaining your condition and necessary treatments could help you if you become ill or injured. Make sure the doctor’s contact information is on the letter.

3. Be specific - Not everybody will know what your particular disability entails or requires. When makin queries be very clear about what your needs are.

4. Know about emergency services - In the US, 911 is the universal emergency phone number. What about in other countries? Be sure to know what to do if you have an emergency.

Remember, being prepared for the worst allows you to enjoy your time better. Here are some travel sites geared toward helping people with disabilities:

Mobility-Advisor.com 

Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality 

Enable Mob Travel Resources 

Disability Travel and Recreation Resources 

Happy vacationing!

Subminimum Wage Debate Rages On

***********************************************

UPDATE 2/12/13: 

The disability community has been heard!

According to a White House memo, “Under this Executive Order, all individuals working under service or concessions contracts with the federal government will be covered by the same $10.10 per hour minimum wage protections."

ALL = Workers with and without disabilites

***********************************************

In his State of the Union Address last week, President Obama mandated an increase to the minimum wage rates of employees working for companies doing business with the government. It seems as if the government does not view workers with disabilities as equal to workers without disabilities – at least until the disability community yelled out “WHOAH!” In a letter to the administration signed by 25 disability advocacy groups the point was made that “all employees” should mean just that. ALL. The government is now reconsidering its position. According to U.S. Secretary of Labor Tom Perez, “We’re actively looking at what our legal authorities are and what our abilities are” as they finalize the executive order to increase the minimum wage.

There is a debate going on within the disability community on whether or not subminimum wage is a detriment or an advantage to workers with disabilities. 

You can read about what both sides have to say on my blog here: Subminimum Wage For People With Disabilities Debate