National Disability Institute celebrates 35 years of advocacy and inclusion
Thirty-five years ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush. Passed with bipartisan support, the ADA was the first set of comprehensive civil rights and protections for people with disabilities.
A note from Thomas Foley, NDI Executive Director
As we celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, we recognize the people, organizations and allies that labored tirelessly for the passage of this watershed legislation. And while we can, and should, reflect upon the measurable successes of our past, we must also look to the future and take intentional steps to increase our authentic inclusion efforts.
The ADA reads, in part, “the Nation’s proper goals regarding individuals with disabilities are to assure equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for such individuals.” These are not just goals or platitudes, but a promise. A promise for civil and economic justice, that inclusion and opportunity should, simply, be available to everyone. We will only accomplish this by working together. Corporations, government, allies and disability advocates all working toward the shared goal will make the promises of the ADA a reality for all people with disabilities. The ADA is not something to reflect upon only once a year, but it is an obligation, a shared responsibility, a vow, to what will be!
We, at National Disability Institute, will continue our 20-year commitment to building a better financial future for all people with disabilities. Join us.
For 20 years…
National Disability Institute has worked to fulfill the ADA’s promise of economic self-sufficiency for all people with disabilities.
NDI envisions a society where people with disabilities have the same opportunities to achieve financial stability and independence as people without disabilities. We’re the first and only national organization exclusively focused on improving the financial health and wellness of all people with disabilities.
Essential Resources to Fulfill the Promise of the ADA
These resources, which focus on the employment and economic inclusion of people with disabilities, are essential supports to fulfill the promise of the ADA. We encourage you to check back for new items and share this online resource guide with others.
The Disability and Employment eLearning Task Force in collaboration with the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) released three eLearning Training Modules to help support the professional development needs of the workforce development staff across the country. These modules are designed to help support American Job Centers provide more effective and efficient services to individuals with disabilities and businesses using our services.
In 2021, the eLearning modules were updated to include new Reflect, Relate, and Apply activity sheets for staff and a Manager’s Toolkit to support AJC leaders.
Module 1: Serving Individuals with Disabilities – A Day in the Life of an American Job Center
Module 2: Working Across Partners – A Day in the Life of an American Job Center
Module 3: Providing Inclusive Business Services – A Day in the Life of an American Job Center
An Employment Network (EN) is an entity that enters into an agreement with the Social Security Administration (SSA) to either provide or coordinate the delivery of services to Social Security disability beneficiaries. The U.S. Department of Labor encourages public workforce system entities to become active ENs as part of its comprehensive effort to expand the capacity of the American Job Center network to serve people receiving Social Security disability benefits.
Participation as a workforce system in the Ticket to Work program has resulted in positive outcomes in two key areas by: 1) providing a source of income to help the American Job Center enhance services; and 2) helping job seekers with disabilities who are receiving SSA benefits return to or enter the workforce. The following technical assistance resources can support workforce entities in learning more about the EN process.
National Disability Institute understands the short and long-term impact that COVID-19 will have on the financial and personal health of people with disabilities and those with chronic health conditions, as well as their families and communities. The Financial Resilience Center website provides users with trusted answers to their frequently asked questions, including assistance help you manage their finances. The FRC’s partnership with LifeCents gives users access to free online financial wellness training, and free professional financial counseling is offered by AFCPE.
ABLE savings accounts can have a positive impact on the lives of millions of Americans with disabilities and their families. The ABLE National Resource Center (ABLE NRC) is the leading source of objective, independent information about federal and state ABLE programs and activities, including guidance on tax-advantaged ABLE savings accounts. Founded and managed by National Disability Institute (NDI), the ABLE NRC’s website has become the go-to source for all information on ABLE for people with disabilities and their families, as well as employers, state and federal agencies, service providers, tax practitioners, financial planners and attorneys.
If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you may be entitled to more income than you think. This video explores some of the myths regarding your eligibility to receive SSI or SSDI cash benefits while working and earning an income.
Sixteen years after it was founded, National Disability Institute has grown to include over 30 staff members from across the nation with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences of disability. In celebration of the 31st anniversary of the ADA, this blog is a compilation of our staff’s thoughts on the ADA and the profound effect it has had on the work they love to do.
This blog was written by Kate Brouse, a disability advocate for national nonprofit NTI, the leader in helping Americans with disabilities train for and find work-at-home jobs. In this blog, Brouse highlights the ways in which remote work benefits inclusion and people with disabilities.
Americans with Disabilities Act: Countdown to the 30th Anniversary
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