The National Disability Institute announced in August that Thomas Foley, WID’s Deputy Director, will receive the 2010 Richard Keeling Leadership Award for outstanding leadership in building a better economic future for Americans with disabilities. Citing an aptitude for “putting complicated issues into bite size chunks that are understandable and thought provoking,” Foley is being recognized for his pioneering work and leadership in the emerging field of asset building for people with disabilities. Foley will receive the award at this year's REI Tour Celebration at the National Press Club on October 19, 2010.

The mission of  National Disability Institute (NDI) is to build a better economic future for Americans with disabilities. Based in Washington, DC, NDI works to implement an economic empowerment public policy agenda, expand capacity of financial service organizations to be responsive to the needs and interests of the target population, and create and translate new knowledge for action that empowers individuals with disabilities and other relevant stakeholders to work together to advance economic stability, mobility, and independence. Individuals with disabilities are three times more likely than their nondisabled peers to live in poverty, and through programs like the Real Economic Impact Tour and other economic empowerment training and capacity building initiatives, NDI is increasing access to and use of a wide variety of tools and strategies to improve financial stability and independence for hundreds of thousands of individuals with disabilities.