The North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) has a long history of exploring and supporting efforts to expand the range of asset development choices for individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD). As such the Council recognizes the importance of NCABLE accounts as an important savings vehicle and investment option for people living with disabilities and their families.

Why is NCCDD funding this initiative?

To increase public awareness and expand outreach efforts through training and education about NCABLE and other savings options available to people living with disabilities and their families. This initiative supports NCCDD's Goal 1 of the current Five Year Plan: Increase financial security through asset development for individuals with I/DD.

What are the major goals and objectives?

• A contractor will facilitate collaborative efforts among Department of State Treasurer (DST), North Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation, and the network of previous trainers and master trainer from the Upward to Financial Stability Initiative for coordinated outreach efforts and targeted trainings covering NCABLE
• Develop a pipeline of trained VR staff that are familiar with NCABLE
• Encourage synergy between VR transition and Depart of Public Instruction regarding importance of asset development options available to students living with disabilities and their families (2020)
• Leveraging partnership with NCDVR and DST a NCABLE module will be developed and added to the Upward to Financial Stability curriculum

What has taken place since the start of the program? (Activities)

• Coordinate the development of live and on demand webinars
• Facilitation of Partnership among Department of State Treasurer, North Carolina Vocational Services to promote NCABLE
• Design NCABLE module to be added to Upward to Financial Stability curriculum and present four in person trainings using the “Train the Trainer “model.
• Facilitation of LMS (Learning Management System) training designed to be offered to all NCVR employees
• Targeted NCABLE outreach activities among private financial institutions

What has been achieved to date?

• Formation of NCABLE Alignment team which includes: NCDVR, DHHS, NCCDD and The Collaborative
• Convened statewide conference on asset building for people living with disabilities that included 63 bankers, bank regulators, advocates and personal finance professionals to focus on the asset development and disability
• Development of NCABLE vignette assigned to NCVR employees via LMS (Learning Management System) – currently there is a 93.4% completion rate with 877 NCVR employees taking the training
• Coordination of four NCABLE Trainings in Raleigh and Winston Salem and two virtual trainings
• Coordinated outreach with NCVR
• NC Advocates Network Online Portal – used to provide program updates, opportunities to collaborate and connect with fellow advocates, and serve as a clearinghouse for NCABLE presentation tools for training others on NCABLE

How can I get involved?

Contact Travis Williams, Systems Change Manager, [email protected] for more information on becoming involved in one or more of the above elements.

Who can I contact for questions?

NCCDD: Travis Williams, Systems Change Manager, [email protected]

Additional Resources

Click here to download a one pager of this initiative.