Disability Reform:
Prior to 2014, individuals with disabilities were unable to proactively save money in saving accounts without threatening the loss of their Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and other beneficiary employment benefits. Numerous attempts were made in previous Congresses to pass legislation creating a tax-free saving account for Individuals with disabilities. However, despite bipartisan support, these efforts fell short as the proposal never achieved the momentum necessary to be reported out of the respective tax-writing committees.
In 2014, The National Down Syndrome Society retained the Bockorny Group to develop and implement a broad-based advocacy and grassroots campaign to pass the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act. After collecting 380 cosponsors in the House and 78 in the Senate, the ABLE Act was signed into law in December 2014. Today, parents of/and people with disabilities are able to use a tax-free savings account cover qualified disability expenses such as education, housing and transportation.