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In a successful career as a software developer, Chris Peterson has learned a great deal about managing his finances. In 2020, he decided to make it his mission to teach other blind people some of the things he had to learn the hard way. Knowing he could not do it alone, he began building Penny Forward, a community of people who are blind, who share his interest in financial independence. In this podcast, Chris shares his perspective on the impact and opportunity that ABLE accounts present to working people with disabilities. “It is very powerful to start now. The earlier you start in investing, the more your investment has time to grow before you might need to use it to weather a hard time or take advantage of an opportunity.” - Chris Peterson

Taylor Carty is a graduate of the University of California with a B.A. in Molecular and Cell Biology. She is currently working at the Burton Blatt institute as a research assistant. As someone with cerebral palsy, Taylor is using her ABLE account to navigate the financial challenges of applying for medical schools and working a full-time job. “My ABLE account has been a lifesaver and helped me to build my own future.” - Taylor Carty

Katy Oliver works full-time as a member of a research team for PPD Global Pharmaceutical Contract Research Organization specializing in data management. In this podcast, Katy shares her experiences as a working person who accesses her state's Medicaid Buy-In Program and uses her ABLE account to save for disability-related equipment. She also looks to her future in which she hopes to use her ABLE account to support her dream to design and build an HGTV quality accessible home.

In this episode you'll hear from guest Marlene Ulisky, Social Security subject matter expert. Marlene shares her perspective on ABLE for people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities from a family member and ABLE subject matter expert. 

Hector Ramirez, a disability rights advocate serving on the board of directors for Disability Rights California and with the National Disability Rights Network, joins the program to share his perspective about the benefits of being an ABLE account owner. 

This episode features an interview with account owner Nathan Turner, who has had his ABLE account since 2016. Hear what Nathan has to say from his experience about the power of ABLE accounts.

Edward Mitchell, a working-age account owner and service provider, joins the program to share his perspective on ABLE accounts. 

Kathy DeAngelo, a certified benefits and work incentives planner for CDO Workforce, joins the program to share employment success stories why she is an advocate for ABLE accounts. 

This episode features an interview with Jenny Casselman, parent of an ABLE account owner, as she discusses why she chose to open an ABLE account for her daughter. Jenny is also Vice President of Commercial Operations with Greater Commercial Lending in Nevada.

This episode features an interview with disability rights advocate and attorney Steve Dale, and Amy Tessler, a parent of a child with an ABLE Account. Amy reveals how she first heard about ABLE accounts, and why she decided to open one for her child. Discover the differences between an ABLE account and a special needs trust.

Betsy Blair, SSA Policy Analyst, joins the program to discuss what SSA is doing to increase awareness and provide the most up to date and accurate information around ABLE accounts to local SSA offices and disability beneficiaries and their families who may be eligible. Discover if the Economic Impact Payment from the government can be saved in an ABLE account, if people are able to maintain their ABLE account after they have exited SSA benefits, and more. 

Michael Morris, Founder of National Disability Institute (NDI) and  Senior Strategic Advisor for NDI joins, Miranda Kennedy, Director of the ABLE National Resource Center to discuss the benefits of ABLE accounts. Learn more about how an ABLE account can help maintain and improve health, independence and quality of life for people with disabilities and their families.