ABLE Act Gets Majority Support

from the Autism Policy Blog by Pitney:

The ABLE Act (HR.647 and S.313) yesterday had majority support in both chambers as the 51st senator became cosponsor (counting prime sponsor Robert Casey (D-PA)). As of this morning, it had 310 in the House (including prime sponsor Ander Crenshaw R-FL)). A number of lawmakers agreed to cosponsor when they met with advocates during last week's Autism Speaks to Washington summit. Autism Speaks provides the full list here.

The Arc explains the bill:

Many families have been searching for a way to plan for the future of a child with severe disabilities. While they are able to save for the educational needs of their other children through “529” college tuition plans, they find those plans do not fit the needs of their child with severe disabilities, since their children may now, or in adulthood, need the long term services and supports of the Medicaid program and the income assistance of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. Some families have found it too expensive to establish a trust which meets the requirements of the Medicaid and SSI programs, yet they recognize that their loved ones may live for many decades beyond the ability of the parents to supplement the services they receive through Medicaid. Others want to ensure the financial security of family members who have the level of disability required for Medicaid eligibility, but for now, are managing to function without the use of those benefits. Still others want to ensure that their family member can exercise control over the funds in the account without endangering the Medicaid and SSI benefits on which they may rely. The ABLE Act (S.313 / H.R.647) would give individuals with disabilities and their families access to accounts that would allow individual choice and control while protecting eligibility for Medicaid, SSI, and other important federal benefits for people with disabilities.

From a Crenshaw press release:

Congressman Ander Crenshaw (R-FL), chairman of the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, stated, “Support for tax-free savings accounts for individuals with disabilities stands at its highest level ever - testament to the tireless dedication of those who believe that ALL Americans deserve equality when it comes to financial planning tools. It’s time to pass this legislation and create a brighter future for those in need. ”

Senator Robert Casey (D-PA) stated, “The ABLE Act is commonsense bipartisan legislation that will help make it easier for those families to save for their children’s future care, and we should pass it immediately. Individuals with disabilities and their families face challenges many of us can’t even begin to imagine.

OKC center fined after trying to expel child with Down Syndrome

from KFOR 4 Oklahoma City:
OKLAHOMA CITY -  An agreement has been reached between the Justice Department and a child development center in Oklahoma City after the center discriminated against a child with Down Syndrome.
The Justice Department says Camelot Child Development Center of Oklahoma City and Edmond violated the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Authorities claim the center prohibited a child with Down Syndrome to go on field trips and threatened to expel her because of her developmental delays.
Also, the girl is not fully toilet-trained and requires help with her diaper.
Officials say that while Camelot helps younger children, workers refused to provide that kind of assistance to the girl during field trips.
Authorities say that is a direct violation of the ADA, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in child care centers.
“Children are our most valuable resource and must be afforded equal opportunities to grow, learn, and develop,” said U.S. Attorney Sanford C. Coats.  “The Americans with Disabilities Act ensures that a child with a disability has the same access to those opportunities as a child who is not disabled.”
The Justice Department says Camelot worked closely with them through the investigation to change its policies.
Under the new agreement, Camelot will pay $3,000 to the family and provide one full year of child care services free of charge.
Camelot will also train its staff on the new anti-discrimination policy and will be monitored by the Justice Department for three years.
 

Culinary inspiration from chefs with Down Syndrome

by Beatrice Credi from West:
ChefDown is the first web channel that broadcasts cooking programmes presented by chefs with Down’s Syndrome preparing tasty dishes from around the world. Launched in Spain as a collaboration between Eroski and Down España, the web channel has an accessible video menu in which people with intellectual disabilities give step-by-step guides to making various recipes. Armed with aprons, scales and all the tools of the culinary trade, the presenters give tips on how to eat healthily and get a balanced diet – all done in a simple and entertaining style. The initiative has a dual objective: on the one hand it aims to encourage independence and to involve young people to take part in a group activity, seeing as they can then present their own recipes, broadcast them and share them with the ChefDown community. On the other hand, it also seeks to improve the eating habits of people with Down’s Syndrome, a demographic with high rates of obesity and celiac disease. ChefDown even allows users to plan their own weekly menu.

Crenshaw calls for support of ABLE Act

by Ripon Advance Reports:
House Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R-Fla.) called on Congress on Wednesday to pass the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act, which would provide people with disabilities access to tax-free savings accounts.
The ABLE Act has 305 cosponsors in the House and 50 cosponsors in the Senate. More than 50 local, state and national groups that advocate for people with disabilities have also supported the measure.
“Support for tax-free savings accounts for individuals with disabilities stands at its highest level ever — testament to the tireless dedication of those who believe that all Americans deserve equality when it comes to financial planning tools,” Crenshaw said. “It’s time to pass this legislation and create a brighter future for those in need.”
The bill is intended to relieve financial stress faced by people with disabilities by allowing tax-free savings accounts to cover certain expenses, including education, housing, medical costs and transportation.
Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) called the ABLE Act a “commonsense piece of legislation.”
“…(The ABLE Act) provides individuals with disabilities and their families with the resources to plan for a sound financial future while continuing to improve the quality of their lives today,” Burr said. “I am pleased to see such overwhelming bipartisan, bicameral support for this important bill and look forward to its consideration in the Senate.”

The ABLE Act: Opportunity for Congress to make a difference

by Sara Hart Weir and Steve Beck from the Hill:

There is a single piece of legislation, the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act (S. 313/H.R. 647), before the U.S. Congress that has earned the bipartisan support of at least 312 representatives and 51 senators.

This bill would ease financial strains faced by individuals with disabilities by making tax-free savings accounts available, through the current 529 program, so individuals with disabilities and their families can save to cover qualified expenses such as postsecondary education, housing, transportation, workforce development, and medical expenses not covered by insurance.

Recently, Sens. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Reps. Ander Crenshaw (R-Fla.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), and Pete Sessions (R-Texas), the ABLE Act's bipartisan, bicameral Congressional champions, teamed up to call on their Congressional colleagues to pass the ABLE Act before the end of the year.

By enacting the ABLE Act, we aren't asking Congress to create a new program or give us a hand out, we are asking Congress to give the disability community the chance to provide and save for themselves through savings tools that all other Americans have access to today.

Over 100 stakeholder organizations have endorsed the ABLE Act. The bill also earned the backing of lawmakers ideologically ranging from  Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) in the Senate and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) to Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) in the House of Representatives.