ABLE Act 2011 - It's time to call your senators and members of congress

The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2011 was introduced on Tuesday with bi-partisan support. The ABLE Act would enable contributions to tax-free 529 savings accounts for people with disabilities. This savings account would be similar to funds for college savings and would allow individuals with disabilities and their families to deposit earnings into a tax-exempt savings account to help pay for qualified expenses. Qualified expenses could include education, housing, transportation, employment support, health prevention and wellness, and assistive technology. Click here to check out a one page summary created by Autism Votes with a detailed description of qualified expenses.


What you can do to help:

• Contact your member of congress and your senators and ask for their support. Autism Votes has created a basic letter that you can use. Click here to check it out. The website also identifies your members of congress and senators for you based on your address. Your child or family member does not have to have autism to use this template. You can add to it and customize it to describe your personal situation.

 

• Spread the word. Ask your friends and family to get involved by sending in an email of their own.

 

• Use social networking. Post something like this (courtesy of Autism Votes) on your Facebook page:

"Please help me contact our Congressmember & Senators today to ask for their support for the ABLE Act of 2011.  This bill will allow me to save for the future care needs of (CHILD's NAME) in the same way you set aside money for your child's college fund.  It takes 5 minutes and will help our family. Write DONE so I can thank you!"  

Please take 5 minutes out of your day to support this Act. Passage of the ABLE Act would be life changing for individuals with disabilities and their families. Check out Autism Votes for more information.