First-Ever ABLE Account Resource Launched in American Sign Language

ABLE today™, CSD Learns, and the Wells Fargo Foundation partnered to develop an accessible national ABLE resource for the deaf and hard of hearing community

(February 2, 2023 — Washington, D.C.) Today marks an important milestone for members of the deaf and hard of hearing community: The launch of the first-ever ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) account resource in American Sign Language (ASL). For nearly 38 million Americans who identify as deaf or hard of hearing and other people with disabilities and their families, ABLE accounts could provide a way to save for the future without losing eligibility for means-tested benefits programs like SSI and Medicaid.

The 29-minute video presents important information about ABLE accounts by native ASL users. The content offers a clear explanation of the benefits these types of financial accounts can provide people with disabilities. The video was produced by deaf and hard of hearing community members and includes English and Spanish voiceover with captions.

The accessible video is also a valuable tool for disability advocates and stakeholders to promote financial wellness and community inclusion for people with disabilities. For example, teachers and financial advisors now have an additional tool to positively impact the lives of those within deaf and hard of hearing communities across America.

NAST’s Program Director for ABLE today, Eric Ochmanek shares: “With this collaborative partnership, state ABLE programs have a resource specifically for the deaf and hard of hearing audience to promote the opportunity for greater financial empowerment through ABLE accounts.”

ABLE accounts can change the way individuals with disabilities and their families participate in the community, build financial wellness, and plan for the future. The accounts empower individuals to save and invest for the added expenses that come with having a disability without losing access to means-tested benefits programs.

“Financial empowerment is fundamental to creating and strengthening the economic mobility of the deaf and disabled communities,” shares Chris Soukup, CEO of CSD. “In this vein, our organization is ecstatic to work with leaders to deliver essential information about ABLE accounts in a native format that is fully accessible to individuals that primarily use sign language to interact with the world around them.”

The innovative partnership between the National Association of State Treasurers Foundation (NASTF), ABLE today, Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD), CSD Learns, and the Wells Fargo Foundation brings together leading advocacy organizations, enabling individuals with disabilities to save and spend money without losing eligibility for essential government benefits.

“Wells Fargo has a long history of supporting ABLE account access. We know that making sure all of the resources about them are accessible to everyone, especially those in the deaf and hard of hearing community, is an important aspect of ensuring that access,” said Bonnie Wallace, head of Financial Health Philanthropy at Wells Fargo. “We appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with NAST, ABLE today and CSD to ensure that everyone can benefit from these programs.”

On Thursday, February 23, at 3:00 pm ET, ABLE today and CSD Learns will host a free webinar to introduce the video and answer questions from community members. The live event will explore why it is important for deaf and hard of hearing community members to have financial stability; how to save money using an ABLE account; what types of expenses an ABLE account can cover; eligibility requirements; and more. Learn more about this partnership, webinar, and resource at abletoday.org/asl and csdlearns.com.

For more information on this partnership and resource, visit the ABLE today website at abletoday.org/asl. Media and press inquiries about this partnership can be sent to either Catherine Seat with ABLE today or Katie Murch with CSD.

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About ABLE
The 2014 Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act created a savings and investment account specifically for people with disabilities and allowed them to save money beyond asset limits set by means-tested benefits programs. ABLE accounts foster person-centered independence, build self-reliance, encourage employment, and improve quality of life. Individuals can enroll in an ABLE account if their disability onset began before they turned 26 but can open the account at any age. Individuals also must be eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits (SSI/SSDI) or have marked and severe functional limitation due to their disability.

As reported by the National Association of State Treasurers (NAST), more than $1.1 billion has been saved in 131,000 accounts nationwide through September 2022. Learn more at abletoday.org.

About ABLE today
The National Association of State Treasurers Foundation launched ABLE today to advance financial empowerment for people with disabilities by increasing the awareness of ABLE accounts. ABLE today supports national outreach for ABLE Programs, directly engages the disability community, and provides resources on ABLE accounts. Learn more at abletoday.org.

About the National Association of State Treasurers
The National Association of State Treasurers (NAST) provides advocacy and support that enables member states to pursue and administer sound financial policies and programs benefiting the citizens of the nation. Membership is composed of all state treasurers or state finance officials with comparable responsibilities from the United States, its commonwealths, territories, and the District of Columbia as well as their staff. For more information, visit www.nast.org.

About CSD Learns
CSD Learns transforms narratives through innovation and collaboration to create educational equity for deaf and hard of hearing K-12 students and educators, the adult learning community, and the professional collective. CSD Learns incorporates diversity and inclusion and accessibility practices, advocates for access to resources for deaf and hard of hearing people, and leads by example in generating top quality virtual programs and products that empower individuals to succeed. To learn more about CSD Learns, please visit CSD Learns' website and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

About Communication Service for the Deaf
Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD) is the largest Deaf-led social impact organization in the world. For more than four decades, CSD has been a leader in creating and providing accessible and innovative solutions for the Deaf community. Today, CSD continues its work to create opportunities for personal and economic growth within the Deaf community, specifically addressing leadership and employment. For more information, please visit CSD and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.