AUCD's "Tuesdays with Liz" Webcast Features Interview with House Democratic Leader of the ABLE Act
February 3, 2015
|
On Tuesday, February 3rd, 2015, AUCD policy advocate, Liz Weintraub, interviewed Congressman Chris Van Hollen (Maryland) for AUCD's weekly video policy newsletter Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All. This YouTube series provides cutting-edge policy news in a fun, accessible way to engage policy experts, constituents, students, and people with disabilities alike. In the two months since it was launched, Tuesdays with Liz has gained national viewership and has featured esteemed guests including Nancy Ward, founding member of Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE). AUCD is thrilled to feature Congressman Van Hollen, the lead House Democratic sponsor of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, which President Obama signed into law in December 2014.
The ABLE Act will enable families to create a tax-preferred savings account to support the long-term health, independence, and quality of life of their loved ones with disabilities. Before the ABLE Act was passed, families faced a tradeoff between saving for the future and qualifying for disability programs. AUCD hopes that the ABLE Act will improve employment prospects and quality of life for people with disabilities and their families. During her interview, Weintraub asked Congressman Van Hollen about the future of the ABLE Act and his remarkable commitment to the disability community.
"AUCD thanks Congressman Van Hollen for his longstanding leadership on disability issues and for being the inaugural Congressional guest on our new online video series," states Andrew Imparato, AUCD Executive Director. "Tuesdays with Liz is part of AUCD's effort to make federal disability policies more accessible to the people who are their intended beneficiaries, and we are grateful to Congressman Van Hollen for helping to raise the profile of this new service delivered by AUCD's advocacy specialist Liz Weintraub. We think it is particularly appropriate to begin with Congressman Van Hollen because Weintraub is a Van Hollen constituent."
Host Liz Weintraub, whose long history of disability advocacy has resulted in numerous honors, including her outstanding work at AUCD and the role of President of the Board of Directors for Shared Support Maryland, states, "I'm really excited that my Congressman is dedicated to helping people with disabilities. The ABLE Act is important because it helps people with disabilities save money without losing their supports, so we can live our lives just like anyone else."
Congressman Van Hollen states, "Passage of the ABLE Act would not have been possible without the hard work and persistence of AUCD and advocates like Liz Weintraub, who never gave up the fight for equal access to the kind of savings tools that enable all Americans to reach their full potential."
The Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All episode featuring Congressman Van Hollen can be viewed now at www.aucd.org/inbrief. All episodes of Tuesdays with LIz are archived at the same location as well as on YouTube.
*************
The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), located in Silver Spring, MD, promotes and supports a national network of interdisciplinary centers on disabilities. The members of AUCD represent every U.S. state and territory. AUCD and its members work to advance policy and practice through research, education, leadership, and services for and with individuals with developmental and other disabilities, their families, and communities. For more information, visit AUCD's website: www.aucd.org.
