The Federation has forged an alliance with a network of organizations serving people with disabilities to bring financial services, access to affordable credit, and financial education to millions of people who are disproportionately represented in America's low-income communities. Our work in this area is focused through two projects: the Asset Accumulation and Tax Policy Project (AATTP) and the Disability Outreach Offering Resources through Service (DOORS) Program.
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Asset Accumulation and Tax Policy Project
The Asset Accumulation and Tax Policy Project (AATPP) was funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). AATPP unites organizations serving persons with disabilities with credit unions and other financial institutions to produce groundbreaking research on barriers and opportunities of tax and public policies. The research and accompanying policy recommendations will improve the economic independence, social empowerment, and community integration of persons with disabilities by developing and disseminating a new and comprehensive body of knowledge to multiple target audiences nationwide.
This project is an effort of the Law, Health Policy, and Disability Center (LHPDC) at the University of Iowa College of Law, in collaboration with Southern New Hampshire University School of Community Economic Development, the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions, the World Institute on Disability, and the National Cooperative Bank Development Corporation.
The key questions that this research is addressing are:
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What policies prevent the advancement of personal and economic freedom?
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What strategies effectively advance asset development for individuals and/or communities?
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What services, policies, and/or practices must change to increase effective and meaningful participation in asset development opportunities at an individual or community level for people with disabilities?
Program Resources
Disability Program Presentations
Federation Disability Program-related News
Federation Colleague Offered Obama Administration Post
On March 20, 2010, President Obama announced his intent to nominate Kathy Martinez, President/CEO of the World Institute on Disability, a long-time colleage and partner of the Federation, as the Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) at the Department of Labor.
Federation President/CEO Cliff Rosenthal welcomed the announcement. "Kathy Martinez has been a friend of the Federation for a number of years now," he said. "The World Institute on Disbility is a key partner in our disability initiative, and Kathy has spoken at numerous Federation conferences. She is a leader among people living with disabilities and we commend the President on selecting such a qualified and well-respected advocate."
To read the official White House announcement, please click here.
CDCU Releases Fin Lit Curriculum for Youth with Learning Disabilities
(August 1, 2007 – Syracuse, NY) Syracuse Cooperative Federal Credit Union (Cooperative Federal) is excited to announce the release of a brand new financial literacy textbook for high school-aged youth called Life Skills: Planning Your Financial Future! After two years of developing lessons and teaching classes to students throughout the urban core of Syracuse, the CDCU has combined its best lessons into one unique book that is designed to be engaging and informative for students with different learning styles and abilities.
“We are four teachers who have a passion for sharing knowledge about how to ‘stack chop,'” explained the authors of the new financial literacy curriculum. The curriculum can be used with all youth, but is aimed specifically at youth with learning disabilities. “Stacking chop” means making money, according to the curriculum, and using this kind of vocabulary is an essential part of bridging the gap when working with students from different backgrounds and generations than the instructors.
To read the full press release please click here.
More Information
For more information about this program, or if you are interested in serving on a Federation task force to develop our Disability Initiative, please contact Federation Program Officer Valerie Harrison at vharrison@cdcu.coop, or (800) 437-8711 x218.
