Dignity

All the other rights are meaningless if I am not recognized as a person first. Legal capacity is about personhood -- it's about me.

Jane Akinyi

Disability Rights Fund Global Advisor and Self Advocate

Video

People with intellectual disabilities have rights.

Video

Self-Advocacy and Self-Determination

woman with disability in a pink floor length gown walking down the red carpet

Dreams

We build our lives based on what is important to us, what we like, what we dream of and what we are able to do.

We call these values, interests, goals and abilities.

Video

Never Say Never.

We also build our lives based on the world around us, the things we can see and the things we know about. When building a life, inclusion and equity are important words.

Inclusion

Respects and welcomes differences. It brings us together into the same safe and valued space.

Equity

Is fairness. It is getting what you need to succeed. It may include choosing a special activity designed for a person with a specific disability.

Different people and families may pick resources and services based on a balance of both equity and inclusion.

We hope to share ideas about resources for you to choose from, that will help you feel welcomed and successful in inclusive and specialized spaces.

Charting the LifeCourse

In Indiana, the Bureau of Disabilities Services (BDS) uses a great resource for life planning. It is called Charting the LifeCourse from LifeCourse Nexus.

LifeCourse is designed to be used for your own life, your family or in your work.

They have tools to help you organize ideas, dreams and goals.

There are also tools to help you solve problems, find things that you need and speak up for yourself!

Learn more about LifeCourse

man with intellectual disability in red vest and black pants walking down a red carpet holding female caregivers hand and leading

Our Favorite LifeCourse Tools:

Exploring Decision Making Supports
Exploring Life's Possibilities
Integrated Supports Star
Life Domain Vision Tool - Person Centered
Life Trajectory for Planning

Find the LifeCourse Tools here

Money

Money is need for life.

You need to buy food to eat, a place to live and clothes to wear.
You also use it to buy things you like.

Many people use a budget to help decide how to spend the money they have.

Ask for help from someone you trust.
Try the worksheets below to help with planning.

Many persons with disabilities receive Social Security payments. https://www.ssa.gov/

It is important to know how to take care of your funds.

Many persons with disabilities have a person help manage their money.

This person is called a representative payee. https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/text-repayee-ussi.htm

Make a Budget worksheet

Here is a worksheet to help you plan your budget.

Make a budget worksheet

Managing My Money worksheet

Try this worksheet to help with planning called "Managing My Money"

Managing My Money worksheet

person putting a coin in a pink piggy bank

Assets

Are accounts with money you own and save.

Social Security has rules about how much money you can save in your own bank account.

There are special types of accounts that you can use if you are a person with a disability.

Tap to flip the cards.

Special Needs Trusts

Special needs trusts hold money for a person with a disability to use for extra things you want.

The ARC Master Trust is one type https://www.thearctrust.org/
A private special needs trust is made by a private lawyer.

ABLE Accounts

ABLE accounts let you save for costs related to your disability.

The ABLE account program in Indiana is INVESTABLE

https://savewithable.com/in/home.html

Plan to Achieve Self Support account (PASS)

Plan to Achieve Self Support account (PASS) is a separate bank account for your work goals.

PASS accounts are for persons who receive Social Security and want to work.
Fact sheet: Using your PASS https://choosework.ssa.gov/library/fact-sheet-using-your-pass