By: Renée Dain, SVP, Strategic Partnerships and External Affairs

Imagine a world where saving money doesn’t mean losing essential benefits. That’s the reality Maryland ABLE creates for its residents with disabilities and their families. This innovative savings program, established under federal law, addresses a crucial gap: the financial vulnerability of individuals depending on government support, such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). By allowing people to save without affecting their eligibility for these programs, Maryland ABLE not only preserves necessary benefits but also promotes financial independence and improved quality of life. It’s a testament to the power of thoughtful legislation and community advocacy in creating more inclusive opportunities. Let’s dive into the story behind Maryland ABLE’s inception and its impact on those it serves with Kelly Nelson, Outreach and Communications Manager at Maryland ABLE.

What is Maryland ABLE?
Maryland ABLE is a savings program, that makes it possible for people with disabilities and their families to save and invest money without losing the federal and state benefits they need, like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid. The money in an ABLE account must be used for “qualified disability expenses.” These are things that help the person with a disability support or improve their health, independence, or quality of life. Not only can the person with a disability put money in their account, but so can family, friends, and others. Marylanders who put money in a Maryland ABLE account lower their state taxable income. There are other tax benefits, and account fees are low.

How did Maryland ABLE get started?
For decades, people with disabilities were stuck in a cycle of poverty as they were unable to save for the future or save for the additional costs of living with their disability. People with disabilities, their families, advocacy groups, and service provider agencies joined together way to advocate for a way to save money without losing SSI, Medicaid, and other benefits. People depend on these government benefits for income, health care, and other needs. In 2014 Congress passed a law in 2014 called the Stephen Beck, Jr., Achieving a Better Life Experience Act. It is called the “ABLE Act” for short. This law made it possible for states to create ABLE programs to help people with disabilities build more financial independence. Maryland took advantage of this opportunity and started to create the Maryland ABLE program in 2016. By late 2017, the program was up and running and people started opening Maryland ABLE accounts.

What are some of the benefits of having a Maryland ABLE account?

• Easy to open an account. You only need $25 for your first deposit.
• Easy to put money into your account. The minimum deposit after opening your account is only $5.
• Family and friends can deposit money to your account. This can help you meet your goals.
• Easy to get money out of your account.
• Use the money in your account for a lot of different types of things related to your health, independence, and quality of life.
• Deposit up to $18,000 each year; more if you work.
• Save while still being able to keep federal and state benefits like Medicaid; SSI; waiver services; and food, energy, or housing assistance (like Section 8).
• Save up to $100,000 before your SSI benefits are affected.
• Make deposits until your balance reaches $500,000.
• Pay no tax on the money your account earns or on the money you withdraw to pay for qualified disability expenses (QDEs).
• People who live in Maryland and put money into your account, including you, get a tax benefit.

Join Kelly Nelson, Outreach and Communications Manager, Maryland ABLE on May 14, 2024, at Noon, for a special webinar on ABLE Accounts: A Financial Planning Tool for People with Disabilities and their Families. Click HERE to register to attend. This webinar is part of The Coordinating Center’s new Community Enrichment Series – engaging workshops supporting individuals and families to achieve their aspirations for a meaningful life!

The Maryland ABLE website at www.marylandable.org serves as an excellent source of information, offering a comprehensive set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

The Users Guide to Maryland ABLE published by the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council has been a helpful tool for self-advocates and families as it explains the ABLE program in an easy to digest format. Please note that the Guide was published in 2021 so it does not reflect the standard annual contribution limit of $18,000, which became effective on 1.1.24 or a description of the new fixed income investment option and the allocation method for contributions for savings/investment.

The ABLE Today website is a good resource for learning about the 48 ABLE programs nationwide, archived presentations on a variety of ABLE related topics and other helpful resources.

By: Renee Dain, Sr. VP, Strategic Partnerships and External Affairs

Transition is defined as “the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another.” When you think about your life’s trajectory, it’s incredible to reflect on the vast array of transitions you have experienced in all domains: physical, emotional, social, and cognitive. As adults, we know that transitions are inevitable, through our experiences such as moving into a new home or starting a new job, and small transitions, such as a change in daily routine. While the transition may be difficult, we learn to adapt and manage feelings of stress, anxiety, and nervousness.

For adolescents, the transition to adulthood is perhaps one of the most challenging times in a young person’s life. Leaving the routine of high school to the unpredictable transition to adult life can be even more daunting for a student living with disabilities and/or a complex medical need. This is because they are leaving secure supports that are mandated by law and moving into a system where services are less certain. While one child may transition smoothly, another may have difficulties, which can be impacted by their temperament, life experiences, and resiliency. Keeping child development in mind helps us understand children’s emotions and behaviors as they face transition.

We recently sat down with Alyssa Stoffel, Team Manager, Rare and Expensive Case Management (REM) Program and Sheryl Nickel, Clinical Care Coordinator, Model Waiver Program to learn more about the transition process.

At what age do young people typically begin the transition into adulthood?

Transitioning Youth (TY) is a term used for children ages 14 to 21 who are preparing to leave the school system, either through a certificate or diploma track in high school. Students with disabilities should begin the transition planning process no later than age 16. At The Coordinating Center we recommend supporting students and families with the transition process as early as 14, which is especially important in preparing for the transition to adult healthcare. Within the school system, for students participating in the Individualized Education Program (IEP), transition planning is a part of the IEP process. The transition planning process is designed to help students with disabilities prepare for life after high school, ensuring they have the skills and support needed to achieve their goals in areas such as higher education, vocational training, employment, adult services, independent living, or community participation.

For students living with an intellectual or developmental disability, the Maryland DDA has a special category of eligibility and priority for services through the Governor’s Transitioning Youth Initiative for people 21 through 22 years of age. This makes it possible for the DDA, working with the Division of Rehabilitative Services (DORS), to fund employment services and other day services for eligible students leaving school who otherwise may have gone on the DDA Waiting List. A student is eligible from their 21st birthday until their 22nd birthday to apply for DDA services. If their date of graduation is after the student’s 21st birthday, they are eligible for one year after the date of graduation to apply.

What role can care managers (e.g., care coordinators and supports planners) play in supporting transitioning youth and their families?

One of the best ways adults can support adolescents with the transition process is to start early. Parents, caregivers, teachers and care managers can play an important role in supporting young children through transition. Adults can ensure that children feel protected and nurtured, transforming transitions into learning opportunities that bolster development across all areas of a child’s life.

Care managers at The Coordinating Center are trained to support adolescents and families through the transition process. For youth living with complex medical needs and/or disabilities we can support and/or facilitate the transition to adult healthcare. We recognize how daunting this can be, as the population we serve require specialized and coordinated care. Establishing new relationships with providers who may not have the same level of expertise or understanding of their specific conditions can lead to feelings of anxiety and insecurity. There’s also the challenge of self-advocacy and healthcare management, which needs to be taught early.

There are many other aspects of the transition to adulthood that Care Managers can help facilitate. We can support students with the transition to post-secondary life (e.g., education or training, employment, and, when appropriate, independent living skills) through advocating for transition planning and services during the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process. We can also support students with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities access transition youth services through the Maryland Department of Developmental Disabilities (DDA).

What are some helpful tools for adolescents and families?

There are a lot of great resources out there. One of the tools we encourage families to review is The Coordinating Center’s Milestone Checklist, which starts through birth through the transition to adulthood. Click HERE to access the checklist.

For families looking for resources related to healthcare transition, we recommend the following Got Transition tools:

• Overview
• Transition Readiness Assessment for Youth
• Transition Readiness Assessment for Youth (Spanish)
• Transition Readiness Assessment for Parents/Guardians
• Transition Readiness Assessment for Parents/Guardians (Spanish)

Students with intellectual and developmental disabilities should consider services through the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration. At The Coordinating Center, we are a provider for Coordination of Community Services, a DDA program. Click HERE to learn more.

View the webinar presented by Alyssa Stoffel and Sheryl Nickel on April 16, 2024 HERE.

Alyssa Stoffel, MS, RN, CPN, CCM, Team Manager – Contract Support, REM has nearly 20 years of experience in the human services field in various roles focused on ensuring meaningful community life for individuals with complex medical needs and disabilities and has been with The Coordinating Center for just under nine years.

Sheryl Nickel, BSN, RN, CPN, CCM, Clinical Care Coordinator, Model Waiver has 16 years of experience in the human services field and has been with The Coordinating Center for just under seven years.

The Rare and Expensive Case Management (REM) Program is Maryland’s, case managed, fee for service alternative to HealthChoice Managed Care Organization (MCO) participation. The REM Program is for individuals receiving Maryland Medical Assistance with a qualifying diagnosis that is rare in occurrence and expensive to treat. The purpose of the program is to provide community-based care coordination services for people with specialized health care needs, providing access to high quality, medically appropriate health care services in a cost-effective setting outside of a managed care organization.

Model Waiver is a Maryland Medicaid program, which allows medically fragile individuals, before the age of 22 years to live at home. Without this benefit, these individuals would be hospitalized, as their medical needs require hospital or nursing facility level of care. Under the Waiver, the parents’ income and assets are waived during the financial eligibility process even though the child continues to live in the community with their parent(s).

By: Cindy Ngo, MSW, Supports Planner; and Megan Bazzett, MS, CPRP, CFRP, CFP Director

Advocacy can take many forms including individual advocacy where a person or group represents the interests of a few or even systemic advocacy where groups faced with a common issue can affect change on a broader scale (for example, working toward a change in policy or legislation). Self-advocacy is the ability for a person or their representative to communicate their interests and then make decisions on the next steps to meet those needs. So why is it important that our participants know how to self-advocate, and how do we, as Supports Planners and Service Coordinators, support and enhance this skill? 

We recently sat down with Megan Bazzett, Director, Community First Programs at The Coordinating Center to learn more about self-advocacy. 

What are the benefits of self-advocacy?
When a person self-advocates or has someone advocate on their behalf, it gives them a voice and an opportunity to be heard. Our participants are experts in their own interests, so it is important that they have a platform to communicate these interests. Advocacy can support the protection of human rights, act as a catalyst for change, and have a positive impact on others with similar needs. 

What are a few strategies to getting started with self-advocacy?
In terms of self-advocacy, participants should educate themselves on the related topics. They should complete their own research and learn what has been done already to address their needs and discover if there are any existing advocacy efforts to accomplish their goals. When engaging in individual advocacy, it is important to remain educated and connect with support networks whether that be peers facing the same issues or support groups and advocacy groups. If engaging in systemic advocacy, people may want to go further and advocate at a broader scale by affecting policy or legislation. 

What role can coordinators and supports planners play in supporting individuals and families with self-advocacy?
As Service Coordinators and Supports Planners, we often advocate on behalf of others to different entities to ensure our participant’s service needs are being met. We can also support our participants by ensuring they have as much information about their current situation as possible and connecting them to related resources. We should also encourage participants to practice self-advocacy in their day-to-day life, whether that be during medical appointments, so that they can get treatment that works for them, or during collaborative meetings with their Service Coordinator/Supports Planner, to ensure their service needs are being met. It is important for us to keep our participants informed, educated, and connected to resources so that they effectively support themselves. 

Join Megan Bazzett on March 19, 2024, at Noon, for a special webinar on Finding a Voice Through Self-Advocacy. Click HERE to register to attend. This webinar is part of The Coordinating Center’s new Community Enrichment Series – engaging workshops supporting individuals and families to achieve their aspirations for a meaningful life! 

Megan Bazzett has 24 years of experience in the human services field and has been with The Coordinating Center for just under two years. As Director, Community First Programs at The Coordinating Center, Megan is responsible for oversight of the Supports Planning services provided to approximately 3,000 Maryland residents. Supports Planning services help eligible older adults and individuals living with disabilities to access home and community-based services. While eligibility requirements vary by program, the range of service and support options include personal assistance services, nurse monitoring, assistive technology, home modifications, home delivered meals, and more.