Specialized savings accounts protect the benefits of individuals with disabilities.

Treasurer Colleen C. Davis is marking the first anniversary of the Delaware ABLE Plan by releasing a new awareness campaign and video. ABLE is a savings program for individuals with disabilities that ensures their ability to put away money and advance in life without risking their important government benefits. Without ABLE, saving money for the future or earning a fair wage can put a person’s ability to utilize Medicaid and Supplementary Security Income (SSI) at risk.

“During ABLE’s first year, the focus was on getting the program up and running. Now the groundwork is laid, and we are shifting our focus towards getting information about the plan into the hands of those who could benefit from it,” Treasurer Davis explained, “Our new awareness video is a great, sharable way for residents to learn about the program and how easy it is to sign up.”

During 2019 alone, Treasurer Davis and staff have reached over 3,000 people through direct, in-person outreach at dozens of events and community meetings. This week, a more broad online awareness effort begins with the release of a video about ABLE.

“Throughout my career, I have worked with thousands of people with disabilities seeking employment,” said Dan Madrid, Director of Policy and Performance Management and ABLE Manager in the Office of the State Treasurer. “They would tell me that they needed a job, but could only make so much, or needed a job that paid less. Several would obtain jobs and then have to refuse promotions and raises because of the asset limits associated with their benefits. With ABLE, they don’t need to hold themselves back anymore. They can have a stable, successful future – and we want everyone to know about the opportunity.”

The Treasurer has hope that Congress will help the plan expand as well. Davis is supportive of the ABLE Age Adjustment Act, which would increase plan eligibility to those who incurred a disability by age 26 to those whose disability onset by age 46, making an estimated six million more Americans eligible for the important program. Treasurer Davis is strongly in support of the ABLE Age Adjustment Act, and released an op-ed to encourage support and a joint statement with Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long.

The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) program allows for the creation of tax-advantaged savings accounts for individuals with disabilities without compromising eligibility for federal benefits such as Medicaid and Social Security. Delaware’s ABLE plan is administered by the Office of the State Treasurer. Learn more about Delaware’s ABLE Plan by visiting ABLE.delaware.gov.

NEW CASTLE (January 10, 2019) – More than 500 people are expected to attend the 2019 LIFE Conference, the largest annual cross-disability conference in support of people with disabilities and their families, on Thursday, January 31, at Dover Downs Hotel and Conference Center.

The conference brings together people with disabilities, their families and professionals for educational and networking opportunities.  LIFE stands for Liberty and Independence For Everyone, and the conference addresses the topics of legislation, independence (through assistive technology), families and education.

The 21^st annual conference, put together by a coalition of Delaware organizations serving people with disabilities, runs from 8 a.m. until 3:45 p.m. Registration ($35-$95) is required. Conference participants can choose from 12 different workshops, with break times throughout the day to visit the dozens of conference exhibitors.

Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long and Dr. Kara Odom Walker, Cabinet Secretary for the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, are among those scheduled to make opening remarks.

“The LIFE Conference is a wonderful opportunity for Delawareans with disabilities to connect to the educational and occupational resources they need to live, work and participate as active members of the community,” Secretary Walker said. “For more than two decades, this conference has provided information, empowerment and inspiration to people with disabilities and their families. That is what makes the LIFE Conference one of the most important events on the calendar each year.”

This year’s keynote speaker is Rebecca Cokley, Director of the Disability Justice Initiative at the Center for American Progress. Cokley is expected to give a state of the state on issues related to the disability community and share her thoughts on opportunities for positive change.

More details about the conference, including session descriptions, the schedule, and a link to the online registration form are available on the conference website, www.lifeconferencede.org.

NEW CASTLE (Oct. 16, 2018) – More than 90 students with disabilities are expected to participate in career-building experiences during Delaware’s Disability Mentoring Day on Oct. 17 at locations in Newark and Talleyville. Disability Mentoring Day is held each October during National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Several New Castle County school districts have again joined together to host their Second Annual Career Development Day at the Siegel Jewish Community Center in Talleyville. Sessions planned for the 75 students expected to attend include sessions on how to be a self-advocate under the Americans with Disabilities Act, work readiness and social media matters.

During lunch, employees from area businesses and organizations will rotate among the tables talking to the students and answering questions about their jobs.

Students from Appoquinimink, Brandywine, Christina, Colonial, Red Clay and New Castle County Vo-Tech school districts, as well as the Delaware School for the Deaf and Independent Resources, Inc., are expected to participate in the Career Development Day.

At the Courtyard Marriott-University of Delaware in Newark, 15 students from UD’s Career & Life Studies Certificate (CLSC) program will gather to have breakfast and hear from previous participants about the experience. They will then transition to work sites for job-shadowing experiences in the Newark area before returning to the Marriott for lunch and a panel discussion.

“Disability Mentoring Day continues to be a valuable experience for all those involved here in Delaware,” said Governor John Carney. “Whether it’s high school students with disabilities deciding on pursuing more education or entering the world of work, or older students deciding on a career path, Disability Mentoring Day offers experiences that will serve these young people well as they discover their passions and plan for their next steps.”

Disability Mentoring Day is a national program, and in Delaware, the collaboration involves several agencies, educational institutions, business groups, and organizations, including the University of Delaware’s Center for Disabilities Studies, which started the first Disability Mentoring Day in Delaware nine years ago. Joining the collaboration are the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), the Department of Labor’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Department of Education, the New Castle County Transition Committee, the Delaware Business Leadership Network and Easterseals of Delaware & Maryland Eastern Shore.

The group is co-chaired by two young people with disabilities – Alyssa Cowin, an operations support specialist with DHSS, and Julia Hensley, who is working through Easterseals at Victory Fellowship Church.

“Disability Mentoring Day is a great opportunity for these students to learn more about the employment options available to them and to interact with employers who could soon be looking to hire enthusiastic new employees,” said Dr. Kara Odom Walker, Cabinet Secretary for Delaware’s Department of Health and Social Services. “It also gives the students a chance to explore the opportunities that exist for them as they take more steps toward a life of independence.”

University of Delaware CLSC students will do job shadowing at: VCA Newark Animal Hospital, Casino at Delaware Park (Security), WVUD radio, Ricciardi Brothers, Fair Hill (Md.) State Park, UD Office of Education Technology, Gambles Florist, STAR Nurse Managed Primary Care Clinic, Trilogy Salon, Newark Police Department, Brewed Awakenings, U.S. Sen. Chris Coons’ office, the Disability Law Center, Bancroft Construction and Veterinary Specialty Center.

WILMINGTON – On the heels of its 10th anniversary celebration, the Can-Do Playground at Alapocas Run State Park has been selected to be featured on the national crowdfunding site, “Fund Your Park,” by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). The crowdfunding campaign launched this week by the NRPA, to raise $10,000 for the expansion of the unique playground administered by DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation.

The Can-Do Playground was chosen to be featured through the NRPA’s competitive grant process. “Fund Your Park” is a crowdfunding platform designed by NRPA exclusively for park and recreation agencies and donations can be made through a secure site at: http://www.fundyourpark.org/campaign/detail/4892.

“Strong partnerships have brought great results for the Can-Do Playground,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin. “Working with community partners such as the Wilmington Area Rotary Clubs and the NRPA, we have the opportunity to expand and enhance recreational experiences for Delaware residents and visitors of all abilities. The Can-Do Playground is a shining example of what ongoing support and dedication can accomplish.”

DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation and six greater Wilmington area Rotary Clubs — Brandywine Hundred, Brandywine Naamans, Caesar Rodney, Wilmington and Wilmington West Rotary Clubs — conceived and developed the playground a decade ago, and have reunited to revitalize and expand the state’s first barrier-free public playground for children of all abilities.

The Can-Do Playground promotes cooperative play between children with and without disabilities, and engages them in a wide range of activities essential to their social, emotional, cognitive and physical development.

The money raised for the project will:

• Expand the project’s footprint by 5,000 square feet, adding additional pieces of nature-themed interpretive equipment aimed at improving the play experience of children with intellectual disabilities and those with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder;
• Enhance the parent-child bonding experience with “expression swings,” configured with a face-to-face design;
• Replace play components worn by weather and use with panels that add auditory, tactile, and visual experiences throughout the playground;
• Optimize the rubberized surface to ensure ease of access for children with mobility disabilities; and

• Add an accessible area for picnic tables and ground level music activities.

The NRPA is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of 50,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space.

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WILMINGTON –DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation and the Wilmington Area Rotary Club’s Community Fund will host a 10th anniversary celebration of the Can-Do Playground in Alapocas Run State Park from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday, July 15. The celebration, open to the public, will feature family-friendly activities, including a “Nature on the Go” cart and the Brandywine Traveling Zoo, along with free giveaways for the first 200 guests.

The festivities are also designed to unveil plans to the public for the Can-Do Playground’s nature-themed expansion. The state’s first barrier-free public playground, the Can-Do Playground promotes cooperative play between children with and without disabilities, and engages them in a wide range of activities essential to their social, emotional, cognitive and physical development.

The Can-Do Playground’s expansion, scheduled to be begin in September, will:

• Add additional pieces of nature-themed interpretive equipment aimed at improving the play experience of children with intellectual disabilities and those with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder;
• Enhance the parent-child bonding experience with “expression swings,” configured with a face-to-face design;
• Replace play components worn by weather and use with panels that add auditory, tactile, and visual experiences throughout the playground;
• Optimize the rubberized surface to ensure ease of access for children with mobility disabilities; and

• Add an accessible area for picnic tables and ground level music activities.

For the past decade, Rotary has remained actively involved in stewardship of the playground and will now fundraise for the expansion with its principal partner, DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation. With grant awards from the Longwood and Welfare Foundations and the opportunity for the project to be showcased on the National Recreation and Parks Association crowdfunding platform, the club hopes to reach its $245,000 goal for the expansion.

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