With Equity and Assets for All (WEAFA)
Working Group on Economic
Independence for People with Disabilities
Despite strong evidence linking poverty and disability,
advocacy organizations and public policy makers who focus on economic
independence tend to bypass issues of disability in their reports
and policy agenda. Consequently, there is a bifurcation in public
policy, segregating people with disabilities from the mainstream.
As a result, people with disabilities receive supports and services
mostly from disability-specific programs and organizations, which
do not emphasize financial literacy and asset development. Furthermore,
with high unemployment rates and out of pocket medical expenses,
long or short term savings strategies have not materialized for
Americans with disabilities.
With Equity and Assets for All (WEAFA) will bring
together the asset development and disability communities through
an informal working group which hopes to raise expectations for
persons with disabilities regarding starting their own businesses,
owning homes, purchasing needed technology or transportation,
and continuing education and training; exchange learnings; and
identify opportunities for collaboration at the national, state,
and local level.
PURPOSE: WEAFA will bring together individuals and
organizations interested in uniting these frequently disparate
communities, programs and services to create a common platform
for economic independence by persons with disabilities. Economic
independence strategies include financial education, obtaining
credit, and asset building.
VISION: WEAFA’s vision is that participation
by persons with disabilities in all aspects of society will be
the norm of social and economic equity programs and policies.
MISSION: WEAFA’s mission is to improve the
economic status of people with disabilities by an expanded emphasis
on asset development through change to public policy, public education
and outreach, and participation in savings and asset building
programs.
WE VALUE…
ACTIVITIES
Monthly Meetings: The NCB Development
Corporation in Washington, D.C will facilitate monthly meetings
to develop strategies, nurture partnerships, and to share information.
Briefings: WEAFA conducts educational
sessions for policymakers.
Information Dissemination: WEAFA members post research
and information through member networks.
JOIN OUR EFFORTS
If you are interested in joining WEAFA, contact
Michael Morris at the National
Disability Institute, mmorris@ncbdc.org or 202-521-2930 for more
information.
Founding organizations of WEFA include World Institute
on Disability, NCB Development Corporation’s National Disability
Institute, Financial Links for Low-Income People, National Federation
of Community Development Credit Unions, New America Foundation,
Center for Social Development – Washington University, School
of Community Economic Development-Southern New Hampshire University/NH-UCED,
and the Corporation for Enterprise Development.
