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April 2026
Building Financial Independence: What to Know About ABLE
Every eligible American with a disability should have an ABLE account. If you’re not familiar with this tax-advantaged savings account, join us on Tuesday, April 14, at 3:00 p.m. ET, for our webinar, “Building Financial Independence: The ABLE Age Adjustment Act and Tools to Support Financial Empowerment.” The session will cover recent updates to ABLE’s age and contribution limits, which allow millions more Americans with disabilities to earn and save without losing the benefits they need. Webinar participants will also hear from ABLE users who leveraged their accounts to become financially independent.
How AI Can Improve Workplace Accommodations
Artificial intelligence is helping power workplace accommodations, expanding access to jobs that may have been out of reach for many workers with disabilities. AI tools can translate small physical gestures like nodding or blinking into digital commands, for example, helping workers with limited fine motor control. AI-powered voice models allow people without speech to express themselves in real time. AI systems can also tailor training or learning experiences, adapting the pace of learning and modifying how material is presented, to help people with cognitive limitations acquire skills more effectively and independently. To learn more, check out the ODEP-funded Job Accommodation Network’s (JAN) new primer on emerging technology and workplace accommodations.
Supporting Veteran Mental Health at Work
Each year, more than 200,000 service members transition from the military to civilian employment, bringing to their workplaces mission-driven strengths like integrity, adaptability, and commitment. Organizations benefit by understanding the veteran experience and learning how best to support their workers. Join the ODEP-funded Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability (EARN) on Wednesday, April 15, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET, for the webinar, “Leading Veterans: Practical Strategies for Supporting Mental Health at Work.” Gain practical strategies and actionable guidance for navigating common transition challenges, strengthening management practices, and creating a veteran-ready workplace while meeting key compliance considerations.
Leveraging WIOA Funding to Support Youth with Disabilities
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is landmark legislation designed to strengthen and improve our nation’s public workforce system and help Americans, including youth with disabilities and others with significant barriers to employment, obtain high-quality jobs and careers. Join us on Tuesday, April 28, from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. ET, for the webinar “Unlocking the Potential of WIOA Title I to Help America’s Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities Access Jobs” to learn how states are using WIOA Title I programs to support American youth and young adults with disabilities in their pursuit of jobs and economic self-sufficiency. A live Q&A will follow the presentation.
Congratulations to the New NEON “Core States”!
ODEP is celebrating the selection of Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, New York, Tennessee, and the District of Columbia as “core states” in our National Expansion of Employment Opportunities Network (NEON) initiative. NEON aims to improve job opportunities and support financial health for Americans with disabilities, including people with mental health conditions and co-occurring disabilities. Core states will receive ongoing technical assistance to strengthen collaboration among agencies that serve individuals with disabilities, implement more effective employment policies, and promote data-driven practices.