Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities(CCD) Ad Hoc Asset Task Force in Asset Development, Financial Literacy, and Tax Policy

Kerry Lida¹, Center for Workers with Disabilities, introduces a newly formed group designed to explore fiscal policies that affect the lives of people with disabilities.

The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) is a coalition of national consumer, advocacy, provider and professional organizations headquartered in Washington, D.C. Since 1973, CCD has advocated on behalf of people of all ages with physical and mental disabilities and their families. CCD has worked to achieve federal legislation and regulations that assure that the 54 million children and adults with disabilities are fully integrated into the mainstream of society.

CCD does this by:

• Identifying and researching public policy issues, developing testimony and policy recommendations and encouraging innovative solutions to public policy concerns.
• Educating members of Congress in an effort to improve public policies and programs that foster independence, productivity, integration and inclusion of people with disabilities.
• Encouraging people with disabilities and their families to advocate for themselves and coordinating grass roots efforts to support these advocacy efforts.

In December 2006, the creation of a new Ad Hoc Task Force in Asset Development, Financial Literacy, and Tax Policy was approved at the Annual CCD Members Meeting in Washington, DC. The purpose of the ad hoc task force is to examine and support initiatives in asset development which directly impact the economic well-being and security of individuals with disabilities, their families, and communities highlighting state and national initiatives that national disability organizations may utilize in expanding asset development, financial literacy, and tax policy programs.

Initial task force activities have included task force development and organization, and inviting guest speakers to present on key topics in asset development and financial literacy which impact persons with disabilities and their family members. In late summer, the task force anticipates developing specific legislative goals and priorities.

The task force meets regularly on the first Monday of each month from 1-3 p.m. ET. For additional information regarding the CCD Ad Hoc Task Force in Asset Development, please contact Kerry Lida, at the Center for Workers with Disabilities by e-mail (kerry.lida@aphsa.org) or phone (202-682-0100, ext. 247).

1. Kerry Lida is a Senior Policy Associate at the Center for Workers with Disabilities (CWD). The Center is an affiliate of the National Association of State Medicaid Directors (NASMD) and the American Public Human Services Association (APHSA) in Washington, DC.