The Goal

The Asset Accumulation and Tax Policy Project (AATPP) is a project 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.

The Collaborators

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 are developing and disseminating a new and comprehensive body of knowledge to multiple target audiences nationwide.

The Project

This five-year project, ending October 31, 2008, unites LHPDC and its partners in examining the potential of tax policy and asset accumulation to improve the economic stability of people with disabilities. The impact of financial education, matched savings accounts, expanded financial services, and increased use of state and federal tax incentives for asset and community economic development is being explored across six states and ten pilot demonstration sites.

The AATPP research and outreach extend beyond traditional boundaries of employment, education, and health care academia. It examines a new frontier of asset development strategies as a way to advance economic and personal freedom and full community participation of people with disabilities.

The Key Questions

• What policies prevent the advancement of personal and economic freedom?

• What strategies effectively advance asset development for individuals and/or communities?

• 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?

Contact Information

Law, Health Policy & Disability Center, University of Iowa College of Law

Michael Morris
Associate Director
Law, Health Policy & Disability Center
And
National Cooperative Bank Development Corporation
1725 Eye Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, D.C. 20006
Ph: 202-521-2930
Fax: 202-218-7297
E-mail: mmorris@ncbdc.org

Johnette Hartnett
Director of Public Policy
1725 Eye Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, D.C. 20006
Ph: 202-218-7284
Fax: 202-218-7297
E-mail: jhartnett@ncbdc.org
http://disability.law.uiowa.edu

World Institute on Disability

Thomas Foley
3075 Adeline Street, Suite 280
Berkeley, CA 94703
Ph: 510-225-6312
Fax: 510-225-0477
E-mail: tom@wid.org
http://www.wid.org

School of Community Economic Development Southern New Hampshire University

Tobey Davies
2500 N. River Road
Manchester, NH 03106
Ph: 603-644-3159 ext. 13
E-mail: T.davies@snhu.edu
http://www.snhu.edu/sced.html

National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions

Valerie Harrison
120 Wall Street, 10^th Floor
New York, NY 10005
Ph: 212-809-1850 ext. 218
Fax: 212-809-3274
E-Mail: vharrison@cdcu.coop
http://www.cdcu.coop