Resources - Financial Literacy

Building a Better Economic Future for Americans with Disabilities
National Disability Institute's Real Economic Impact (REI) Tour has helped millions of Americans with disabilities move toward greater financial stability by promoting full inclusion in economic empowerment initiatives. By working for the past eight years with more than 900 public and private partners in more than 100 cities across the country, National Disability Institute's REI Tour has increased access to and inclusion of people with disabilities in asset development, financial education and free tax preparation programs and services, resulting in more than 1.5 million Americans with disabilities receiving more than $1.4 billion in tax refunds.

Creating Access to Opportunities for Youth in Transition from Foster Care (pdf)
The brief identifies the challenges that youth in foster care encounter when they turn 18. This brief encourages educators, child welfare workers, court personnel and policymakers to shift the conversation from simply “transitioning out of foster care” to “transitioning to opportunities,” which acknowledges that youth in foster care should know and understand the possibilities for their future.

Did You Know You Can Work and Also Receive Home and Community-Based Waiver Services? 
If you are age 21 years and older, you may work and earn additional money while enrolled in one of the following waivers:
  • iBudget
  • Long-Term Care 
  • Familial Dysautonomia 

A Financial Empowerment Toolkit for Youth and Young Adults in Foster Care, National Resource Center for Youth Development (NRCYD)
Tip Sheet Series for Youth in Foster Care:

Financial Literacy Information for Young People with Disabilities (2005) 
This brief from the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability (NCWD) outlines the federal initiatives as well as highlights several state initiatives related to money management and financial literacy for individuals with disabilities, including a list of financial literacy resources.

My Money
This valuable website has three primary sections. The first section is for youth and provides information about fun activities, websites, video games, and other information about handling finances. The second section is for teachers and provides information about and links to a collection of federal guides and curricula for teaching financial capability concepts. The third section is for researchers and provides information about how to search the Financial Literacy and Education Commission’s Financial Capability Research Clearinghouse.

PASS Online: Resource for the Plan to Achieve Self-Support Application
A Plan for Achieving Self Support (PASS) is a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) work incentive that enables a beneficiary to use income or assets to help reach work goals. This website provides basic information about a PASS and a PASS application form with drop down sample answers and helpful hints along with helpful resources.

Planning Ahead (pdf) 
This publication, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Developmental Disabilities and the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council (FDDC), covers many important topics for young adults such as using government benefits, estate planning and legal ways of protecting rights, among others. 

Six Steps to Creating a Financial Literacy Program in Your Classroom or Transition Program
Are you interested in creating a financial literacy program in your classroom? The National Disability Institute offers a free guide to help create a financial literacy program for students with disabilities.

Understanding Community Poverty, Housing and Disability
This policy research brief by the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Community Living for People with Intellectual Disabilities discusses how local level poverty affects people with disabilities across the U.S. and how disability poverty rates relate to local housing issues. Previous Policy Research Briefs are also available in the archive.