News and Updates from the Illinois State Treasurer's ABLE Plan
Millions More Now ABLE-Eligible
New IL ABLE Account Owners, the Chicago Lighthouse, Access Living and Professor Harold Pollak of the University of Chicago joined Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs to celebrate ABLE age expansion at a March 9 news conference.
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.
Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Mother nature delivered a picture-perfect day for Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs visit to Urban Autism Solutions’ Growing Solutions Farm in Chicago earlier this month. During the visit, which was in celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Treasurer Frerichs learned how students with autism build important vocational skills through working on the Farm.
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Listen to recording of special AARP Illinois Telephone Town Hall.
On December 6, AARP Illinois hosted Treasurer Michael Frerichs for a Telephone Town Hall about IL ABLE Accounts. The Treasurer discussed and answered listeners’ questions about IL ABLE Accounts and how grandparents, parents, siblings and others can help loved ones with disabilities build higher quality of life and protect their benefits with an IL ABLE tax-advantaged savings and investment account for people with disabilities.
A champion of Achieving a Better Life Experience Program
Last December, the IL ABLE program lost a fierce advocate and dear friend of Treasurer Michael Frerichs. Illinois State Senator Scott Bennett was the original sponsor of the legislation responsible for creating the Achieving a Better Life Experience program here in Illinois. Today, the program is named the Senator Scott Bennett Illinois ABLE Program in honor of his legacy.
Read More “Treasurer Frerichs Honors Illinois State Senator Scott Bennett”
Treasurer Frerichs visit’s the Open Door Rehabilitation Center’s Lemon Shake Up Stand
A few raindrops didn’t get in the way of Treasurer Frerichs having a great time visiting the Open Door Rehabilitation Center’s (ODRC) Lemon Shakeup stand at the Sandwich Fair on September 8. While there, the Treasurer met with staff, volunteers, and clients of the disability services organization, some of whom own IL ABLE accounts. ODRC has a long history of serving fresh lemonade and pizza at the Sandwich Fair every year.
New law requires Illinois public schools to share information at annual IEP meetings.
It’s back to school! Did you know that, with this new school year, parents and guardians of Illinois public school students who have Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) must now be provided with information about IL ABLE Accounts during the students’ annual IEP meetings?
Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs has partnered with the Illinois State Board of Education to ensure that the estimated 290,000 Illinois public school students who have IEPs – many of whom are eligible to own an IL ABLE Account –will receive information about IL ABLE Accounts at every annual IEP meeting. This is thanks to legislation, sponsored by Sen. David Koehler of Peoria and Rep. Dagmara “Dee” Avelar of Bolingbrook, which passed unanimously with bipartisan support.
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In May, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs stopped by the Village Bakery in Oregon, IL to meet with staff, leadership, educators, and families from the community.
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IL ABLE will cheer on Account Owner athletes and all of the teams that will compete at the Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games in Bloomington-Normal, IL this weekend!
Our editors connected with IL ABLE Account Owner and Special Olympics Illinois Global Messenger and athlete Zinyra “Z” Ross and her mom, Simyra. During the interview, Z shared how being a participant and owning her IL ABLE Account boosts her continued achievements as an entrepreneur, artist, disability community advocate and volunteer.
Read More “Special Olympics Illinois Global Messenger Achieves More with her IL ABLE Account”
In March, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs stopped by the Ray Graham Association to meet with some of the disability services organization’s staff, leadership, and clients who are also IL ABLE Account owners. It was a wonderful visit that provided an opportunity to talk about programs like IL ABLE and the importance of financial literacy.
Read More “Treasurer Michael Frerichs Visits the Ray Graham Association”