Watch Our Webinar:
A DEIA Tool for Employers and Their Employees
ABLE today and SHRM teamed up to host its first national webinar, which included an overview of the following:
The benefits of ABLE accounts and how these accounts can support people with disabilities, their families and their caregivers;
How ABLE accounts can be incorporated into your company-wide DEIA strategy and act as a workplace benefit; and
Ways employers can offer ABLE account benefits in a workplace to promote disability inclusion and recruit new talent.
Special Thanks to all our speakers for sharing their time and expertise.
Dante Allen, Executive Director of CalABLE
Linda Fernandez, Director of Texas
Bette Ann Mobley, Director of Maryland ABLE
Andrew Aragon, SHRM
Promote ABLE Accounts in your Workplace.
Throughout the country, businesses are prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) in the workplace. And that means attracting, retaining, and supporting employees with disabilities and their caregivers. Educating employees about ABLE accounts and offering ABLE account benefits is an excellent way to promote disability inclusion and recruit new talent.
ABLE today provides several ways an employer can get involved in helping promote ABLE accounts. Learn more below.
Take the Pledge!
“For 75 years, SHRM and its partners have driven change and promoted equitable workplaces for all workers. We are proud of our longstanding partnership with ODEP, and we welcome ABLE today as we reaffirm our dedication to increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The 2023 Disability Inclusion Pledge is an opportunity for HR professionals and employers to be changemakers by building and promoting truly equitable and inclusive workplaces for workers with disabilities.”
Emily M. Dickens
Chief of Staff & Head of Public Affairs at SHRM
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SHRM, in collaboration with the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) at the U.S. Department of Labor and ABLE today, has launched the 2023 Disability Inclusion Pledge to give HR professionals and business executives the tools they need to build better workplaces for disabled workers.
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SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management)
SHRM is the #1 association that provides a variety of resources and services to support and advance the practice of human resource management. This includes offering training and certification programs, conducting research on HR best practices, providing guidance on compliance with employment laws and regulations, and connecting HR professionals through networking opportunities and events. SHRM also advocates for HR issues and policies at the national and international level.The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)
A US government agency that promotes employment opportunities for people with disabilities. ODEP works to develop policies and practices that ensure that people with disabilities have access to meaningful employment and career advancement opportunities. They also provide technical assistance, training, and resources to employers, service providers, and policymakers to support the inclusion of people with disabilities in the workforce. ODEP collaborates with a wide range of stakeholders, including disability organizations, employers, and government agencies, to advance disability employment policies and practices.
ABLE today
We are the leading organization in the country promoting ABLE accounts nationwide.
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By promoting diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible workplaces for people with disabilities, HR professionals can lead the discussion on this critical topic and benefit from the skills and talents of workers with disabilities while directly contributing to major long-term business objectives, including:
- Low turnover rates, medical expenses, and time off for people with disabilities compared to employees without disabilities.
- More innovative, diverse, and inclusive workplaces.
- Building a more skilled workforce.
- Comprehensive DEIA strategies.
- Reaching a large untapped talent pool.
- Opportunities for federal and state tax incentives.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:
Here are some simple strategies to integrate ABLE into your company:
Partner with ABLE today to offer employee education about ABLE accounts
Does your company have a disability resource group? ABLE today experts can participate in ERG, BRG and other company-wide training programs for employers
Training sessions and support can also be provided in partnership with state programs and our ABLE today team
ABLE today can assist your employer with educational materials, website materials, newsletters, social media information and other information on the national ABLE program and/or specific state ABLE programs
Include ABLE accounts as part of your HR department onboarding process
Our ABLE today team of experts can work with your HR department to provide the free training and education on how to start incorporating ABLE accounts to a company’s benefits package
We can create customized information and resources for your employee benefits website and HR packages including on how to find the program that is the best fit for your employees and how to open an account
ABLE today can ensure you have a direct link with ABLE program providers who can offer guidance, enrollment assistance and communication
Offer direct deposit to ABLE accounts - for employees with disabilities and their caregivers
Most ABLE plans allow direct deposits via payroll. Our ABLE today team can work with you to help offer direct deposits via payroll similar to what employers are doing for 529 plans
We can provide training to HR and/or employees on how to take advantage of saving in an ABLE account whether as a family member, caregiver or an individual with a disability
Employers who want to go a step further can contribute to the ABLE account
Our ABLE today team can work with employers to help create customized packages to allow for matching contributions, or even contribute a flat percentage to employees with an ABLE account
Because of legal restrictions, many employees with disabilities cannot contribute to traditional retirement plans like a 401(k). ABLE today can work with employers to address this inequity by offering ABLE accounts as a substitute retirement vehicle
Partner with ABLE today to help you put “ABLE to Work” in your workplace.
In 2017, the U.S. Congress passed the ABLE to Work Act, making ABLE accounts especially attractive to workers with disabilities. ABLE to Work allows employees who are not already contributing to a workplace retirement plan to bypass standard ABLE contribution limits. Eligible employed account holders can contribute an additional amount of money equal to their current year’s income up to the federal poverty line. Currently that includes the following additional amounts:
Continental US: $14,580
Hawaii: $16,770
Alaska: $18,210
These work contributions can be made in addition to the standard ABLE contribution limit of $18,000 per year. This means that employed account holders can contribute upwards of $30,000+ to their ABLE account each year. Because of these benefits, ABLE accounts are critical tools for employers to promote.
INTERESTED IN PARTNERING WITH US?
ABLE today will partner with companies large and small to educate employers about the benefits of ABLE accounts and how to engage your employees.
Host a presentation or webinar with your company, Employee Resource Group (ERG), H.R. Department, or DE&I team. Complete the form below to get started:
