BRIDGING THE ECONOMIC DIVIDE FOR AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES

Washington, D.C., Aug. 22, 2017 -- Today, National Disability Institute (NDI) assembled policymakers, stakeholders and thought leaders at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida for a Financial Inclusion Summit. The Summit addressed the financial knowledge and skill gaps of Americans with disabilities and the barriers that prevent their full participation in the economic mainstream.

“Twenty-seven years after the signing into law of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), there remain persistent barriers to economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities, a third of whom live below the poverty line,” Michael Morris, Executive Director, National Disability Institute, said. “Equal opportunity must include options to build the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed financial decisions, access to financial education and coaching, affordable and accessible financial services and products, inclusion in career pathways and the ability to save and build assets. The Orlando Financial Inclusion Summit is about the power of collaboration. Together, we can build opportunity for shared prosperity and the full participation of Americans with disabilities in the economic mainstream.” 

Collaborating organizations for the event included ABLE United, Agency for Persons with Disabilities, Brevard Achievement Center, CareerSource Central Florida, Central Florida Disability Chamber of Commerce, City of Orlando, FDIC, Florida Prosperity Partnership, FAAST, Goodwill Central Florida, Heart of Florida United Way, the Internal Revenue Service and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. 

As the nation’s first nonprofit dedicated exclusively to improving the financial health and future of all people across the spectrum of disability, NDI has long documented the unique financial challenges and hurdles individuals with disabilities face. In April 2017, NDI released the report, Banking Status and Financial Behaviors of Adults with Disabilities: Findings from the 2015 FDIC National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households. 

Findings from the report include:

• Among those who are banked, more than 40 percent have a checking account, but do not have a savings account.
• Only 40 percent of households with a disability save for unexpected expenses, compared with 61 percent of other households. In addition, savings are more likely to be kept at home or with family and/or friends rather than in a savings account.
• Almost half of households with disabilities have no credit and are twice as likely to lack credit as households with no disability.
• Households with disabilities face a digital divide; only half of households with a disability have internet access at home or a smart phone, compared with three-quarters of households without disability.

The overflow crowd at the Summit heard from a diverse set of speakers representing both public and private interests and the nonprofit sector. Special guests included: Lonnie Bell, Director, Family Services Department, Orange County Government; Rodney Hood, Corporate Responsibility Manager, JPMorgan Chase & Co.; Linda Rimmer, VP, Vocational & Community Services, Goodwill Industries of Central Florida, Inc.; Eric Reed, New Horizon Loan Program Director, Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology; Don Hendricks, Project Manager for the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Program, Brevard Achievement Center; April Atkins, Community Affairs Specialist (North & Central Florida), FDIC; Nancy Gresham-Jones, Southern District Community Affairs Officer, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency; David Foote, Manager, Financial Stability Initiatives, Heart of Florida United Way; and Tasha Carter, Director, Division of Consumer Services, Florida Department of Financial Services. Each speaker highlighted their own and/or organization’s work to help Americans with disabilities build a more financially secure and independent life. 

During the afternoon session, Summit attendees formed working groups to identify pathways to create better economic futures for all individuals with disabilities. The goal was to develop and refine strategies to fulfill the promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act “to assure equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities.” Following the breakout session, the working groups gave their reports and recommendations to advance financial inclusion for Americans with disabilities.

As part of the day’s program, a proclamation from Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs was presented by Lonnie Bell, Director, Family Services Department, Orange County Government, announcing August 22, 2017 as Financial Inclusion and Economic Empowerment Day. 

Visit the Orlando Financial Inclusion Summit webpage for more information. Photographs of the event are available upon request. 

The Financial Inclusion Summit was made possible through lead funding from JPMorgan Chase.  

About National Disability Institute

National Disability Institute (NDI) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to building a better economic future for people with disabilities. The first national organization committed exclusively to championing economic empowerment, financial education, asset development and financial stability for all persons with disabilities, NDI affects change through public education, policy development, training, technical assistance and innovative initiatives. NDI and its Real Economic Impact (REI) Network have helped more than 2.3 million people with disabilities receive nearly $2.3 billion in tax refunds and credits. To learn more, visit www.realeconomicimpact.org. Engage with NDI on Facebook: RealEconImpact or follow NDI on Twitter: @RealEconImpact. Take the pledge to DISABLE POVERTY at www.disablepoverty.org.

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/451cfff4-93ff-49ad-849f-919662e5c13e

Kathleen Brannigan
National Disability Institute
202 296 5393
[email protected]