A Note of Gratitude For 20 Years of Impact

A Note of Gratitude For 20 Years of Impact

This year marks National Disability Institute’s (NDI’s) 20th Anniversary. 20 years of advancing financial empowerment and disability economic justice. Two decades of impact shaped by our partners, our research, and a team deeply committed to systems change.

I cannot let this moment in time pass without extending my deep gratitude to the NDI team and Board, our partners, and each of you reading this blog. Thank you for two decades of measurable progress. In our 20 years, we have grown into a disciplined, inclusive, and effective engine for nationwide systems change. We could not have done it without you.

When I joined the organization back in 2006, the overarching goal was clear: to address the systemic economic barriers facing people with disabilities. What I’ve learned in two decades is that the strength of NDI lies not just in our purpose, but in the unwavering commitment of our staff team and Board Members. And in the individuals, organizations, corporations, foundations and government agencies that provide financial and human resources to propel our work forward.

This milestone moment – 20 years – provides me with the unique opportunity to acknowledge NDI’s growth and the professional bedrock it has provided me, even during personal challenges.

NDI’s Path: From Innovators to Agents of Systemic Change

Over the past two decades, NDI has undergone significant organizational maturity, evolving from a small group of innovative advocates to a national authority driving measurable economic change. To get here, we committed to practices that guide our work.

We focus on measurable outcomes. We moved the conversation past basic needs toward wealth creation, entrepreneurship, and asset building. Our research and evaluation frameworks ensure that our programs are not simply busy but are demonstrably effective, ensuring steady advancement of our mission and fiscal responsibility.

We value and practice rigor. Our expansion is supported by rigorous research initiatives that transform data into actionable insights and community investment blueprints, establishing NDI as the definitive authority on disability economics.

We expand our reach through partners. NDI has strategically built a national ecosystem of partners – including disability leaders, community-based organizations, state agencies, and federal entities – to ensure that our solutions reflect what the community wants and that our financial empowerment models have broad impact.

We understand and influence policy. Our earliest work laid the necessary groundwork to establish that financial health and economic security must be central to disability policy. Today, we expand that reach to influence economic policy. We are engaged in policy implementation, leading the charge to influence complex legislation and regulation on tax credits, workforce development, consumer protection, and wealth building vehicles, and dismantling archaic income and asset limits that penalize people with disabilities for working and saving money. Our team has provided invited testimony to the U.S. Senate, advised the White House’s Domestic Policy Council and the Internal Revenue Service on policy implementation, presented research findings to the Social Security Administration and influenced Consumer Financial Protection Bureau regulations. We translate policy intent and disability-centered values into practical, scalable policy solutions.

The Power of NDI’s People, Culture and Partners

I am often asked what makes NDI so special. Enthusiastically answering, “the people!” just doesn’t do justice to the combination of people, partners and culture that make NDI a powerful agent of change.

The people at NDI are extraordinary. Their commitment to NDI’s mission – a better financial future for people with disabilities – anchors everything they do. And boy oh boy do they do. In 2025, this thoughtful group of people (52 staff and our Board) implemented more than 30 projects, provided over 1,400 hours of training, responded to more than 4,228 requests for technical assistance, influenced more than 40 regulatory and legislative proposals, worked with 889 partners, reached 36,864 people through our engagement efforts, shared 1,198 posts on social media, managed five websites/microsites with 583,000 active users and almost 1.5 million page views, and moved forward our mission in significant ways.

These outcomes are a daily reminder that our work is good for people with disabilities, good for industry and good for the economy.

Our NDI partners come in many forms. From individuals who add their voice of lived experience to services providers focused on disability, workforce, and economic empowerment services. From banks and credit unions to states and federal agencies. From corporate funders to foundations. We value partnerships that add to our understanding and execution of evidence-based, validated, replicable, scalable solutions that move our mission forward. NDI alone cannot make the change to stigma, policy, and practice that is required to truly realize an inclusive economy. Our partners are key to our success.

NDI’s culture has had a profound impact on my career and my life. At NDI, we value purpose coupled with a culture of mattering and belonging to foster both professional excellence and collective well-being. This combination of being mission driven and people driven opens us up to ideas from across the organization, leveraging the lived and professional experiences of our team. Having spent my career in the nonprofit sector, I can attest to the fact that working in this sector is inherently demanding. The highs of securing a major grant or celebrating a policy win are often balanced by the lows that come with limited resources and shifting needs. Over the years, these challenges were compounded for me by my own health conditions – persistent anxiety and a rare blood cancer. In the hardest moments, our mission provided a critical anchor for me, our benefits ensured I could take the necessary medical leave, and the support of my colleagues allowed me to manage treatment and contribute to our meaningful work.

To the NDI team, Board, partners, and beneficiaries: Thank you for two decades of shared commitment and significant progress toward a brighter financial future for all people with disabilities.

The Road Ahead

As we celebrate 20 years of impact, we know there is much more ahead. NDI’s next chapter will be defined by our commitment to understanding what works, innovation, inclusion, equitable access to financial and an economy that is strengthened by the employment and financial gains of people with disabilities. The question now is: What will the next 20 years look like and how can you help shape them?

Join us as we continue building financial equity and opportunity for every individual and family we serve.