News and Updates from the Illinois State Treasurer's ABLE Plan
3 ABLE Act Provisions Made Permanent
Congress passed the ENABLE Act, and it was signed into law on July 4. The new law makes three ABLE account provisions permanent. These provisions were first approved in 2017 but were scheduled to expire at the end of 2025.
Read More “Congress Passes the ENABLE Act to Expand ABLE Account Benefits”
Treasurer Frerichs leads panel at Special Olympics Illinois Athlete Leadership Academy.
Treasurer Frerichs moderated a lively panel discussion at the Special Olympics Illinois (SOILL) Athlete Leadership Academy that focused on the benefits of working. Panelists included SOILL athletes who have disabilities and leaders from Amazon and Hyatt who focus on initiatives that support hiring people with disabilities.
Read More “How Inclusive Employers and IL ABLE Accounts Support People with Disabilities”
One teacher’s perspective
Each week, students from across Chicago travel to Urban Autism Solutions’ Growing Solutions Farm (UAS), a 1.2-acre produce farm on Chicago’s West Side, where Chicago public high school transition students with autism and related disabilities gain valuable vocational skills to prepare for future competitive employment.
Read More “Growing Work-Ready Skills at the Growing Solutions Farm”
Watch how he “Makes It Happen with His IL ABLE Account”
Receiving public benefits shouldn’t be a barrier to working. Check out Michael’s story: he works and maintains his benefits while saving money with his IL ABLE Account.
Employment training is front and center.
Treasurer Frerichs recently visited Chicago’s Gateway to Learning (GTL) to observe participants with intellectual and developmental disabilities as they build job skills in food preparation, baking, and customer service in GTL’s commercial kitchen and Dorothy’s Can-Do Bakery & Cafe. While there, he heard first-hand from the program’s participants about their work and the impact of GTL’s programs.
Read More “Treasurer Frerichs’s Visit to Gateway to Learning”
Celebrate the contributions of workers with disabilities and help advance workforce access and equity.
Every October, we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and the diverse contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. With NDEAM’s theme “Advancing Access & Equity,” this month is a good time for workplaces to recognize and ensure that people with disabilities have equal opportunity to contribute their skills and talents – that means inclusive employment and workplace policies that benefit employees and employers alike.
Disability is part of the inclusion equation.
Each October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is celebrated across the country to recognize the positive contributions people with disabilities make in America’s workplaces and our economy.
Read More “Celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month! “
Vocational training is what it’s all about.
To celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs visited several disability service organizations in October, including Hope Vocational Academy and Sparc, both in the Springfield, IL area. While there learned about their respective vocational training programs and the organizations’ support services for people with disabilities. The Treasurer spoke about the value of working and the advantages of saving money and protecting federal benefits with an IL ABLE Account.
Read More “Illinois State Treasurer Honors National Disability Employment Awareness Month“
Learn how ABLE to Work can work for you.
IL ABLE Accounts offer many benefits. ABLE to Work is one of them. Account Owners who work and earn money can contribute more than the annual $17, 000 contribution limit. That means more savings.
Read More “Save More in Your IL ABLE Account with ABLE to Work”
…Competitive Employment of People with Disabilities Is in the Mission
This month, Illinois ABLE celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month. And there is no better way to celebrate than with Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs’ visit to Planet Access Company (PAC) in Des Plaines, Illinois, where he saw firsthand how competitive employment of people with disabilities can empower employees and benefit the bottom line.
Read More “Planet Access Company Creates Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities”