Achieving Goals: Why it is Time for Passage of the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act

In the words of the civil rights leader we honor this month, "We must never al­low ourselves to become satisfied with unattained goals." Decades later, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s words still ring true for all of us, including those who have disabilities.

What are these goals for people with disabilities? They include education, employment, active partici­pation in a community, and living as independently as possible. They are the same goals we all share.

As the mom of a 7-year old son, Cole, who was born with Down syndrome, I know firsthand the chal­lenges those with disabilities face. But while their chal­lenges are great, our resolve - to empower them with a future of independence - is far greater.

Despite the tremendous, bipartisan strides that our country has made for those with disabilities, there is evidence that people with disabilities have unattained goals. For example, if you are a working-age adult with a disability, you are more than twice as likely to be living in poverty when compared to your peers who have no apparent disabili­ties. The median income for an individual with a disabil­ity is 85 percent of that of an individual without a disabil­ity. When looking at issues of independent living, 37 percent of people who are homeless have a disability.

We must build upon the ideals of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Individuals with Disabil­ities Education Act (IDEA). The next step is to explore ways to provide for eco­nomic security - including finding jobs and balancing the support provided by the public sector with the op­portunity provided by the private sector.

This is what I want for Cole and the millions of individuals like him who have a disability. And the bi­partisan disability commu­nity - on that has welcomed our family with open arms - agrees with me. When asked, 80 percent of people with disabilities want a job.

The Achieving a Bet­ter Life Experience Act (ABLE) will provide a tool to do just that - pro­vide for economic success while preserving access to government programs. It is must-pass legislation for this Congress.

The ABLE legislation is simple. It is predicated upon the belief that people with disabilities should be treated fairly. Current law requires people with disabilities to meet an asset requirement in order to qualify for Medic­aid and some social security benefits. If an individual has more than $2000 in as­sets, he or she is no longer eligible for benefits. The result is that people with disabilities do not have ac­cess to savings plans such as 529 plans to help them with educational and other expenses. They are forced to live in poverty because current federal policies man­date that they do so in order to be eligible for support.

ABLE would change that. In creating ABLE accounts, the legislative intent is to provide a vehicle whereby a person with a disability would be able to save for disability-related expenses. The ABLE funds would supplement, but not supplant, benefits provided through private insurances, the Medicaid program, the supplemental security in­come program, the ben­eficiary's employment, and other sources.

Those funds would be available for certain quali­fied expenses, but would not "count against" the person's eligibility for services that they need. These accounts, like 529 accounts, will be simple to open and available in every state.

For our son Cole, an ABLE account would allow him to save for a postsecond­ary education program. An­other person with a disability might be able to use ABLE funds to provide transporta­tion to a job. It enhances choice and flexibility for those with disabilities and their families. ABLE is one step toward economic self sufficiency.

ABLE has garnered the support of 323 Members of the House of Representa­tives and 61 Senators. In the House, the support is as bipartisan as any bill has been in recent years with 165 Democrats supporting the legislation as well as 158 Republicans. This legisla­tion has the support of well over 100 diverse disability advocacy groups including Autism Speaks, The Arc, the National Down Syndrome Society, and US Against Al­zheimer's.

So now is the time to get ABLE passed through Con­gress and to the President's desk for his signature. It is a matter of fairness, it is a part of the solution to poverty, and it is about reaching those un­attained goals that Dr. Martin Luther King mentioned so many years ago.