National Disability Institute

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National Disability Institute

NDI is dedicated to building a better financial future for people with disabilities and their families

National Disability Institute is the first national nonprofit organization dedicated to building a better economic future for people with disabilities.

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at National Disability Institute!

We’re grateful for the opportunity to partner with individuals and organizations across the country who share our commitment to building a better financial future for people with disabilities.

NDI will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 27, and Friday, Nov. 28. We’ll resume normal business hours on Monday, Dec. 1.

Wishing you and your loved ones a safe and joyful holiday.

Image description: A teal graphic with white text that reads, “Happy Thanksgiving.” Leaf illustrations are scattered around the edges. The National Disability Institute logo appears at the bottom.

11/26/2025

NDI was glad to participate in the New Jersey Supportive Housing Association’s annual conference. Laurie Schaller, NDI’s Manager of Financial Empowerment, presented Pathways to Homeownership and Lasting Financial Security to an engaged group of housing and disability professionals.

In this session, Laurie discussed strategies and tools that help people with disabilities build financial security, navigate affordable homeownership options and access long-term supports.

Pictured here is Laurie with Kate Kelly, LSW, Executive Director of the Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey.

Thank you to SHA for hosting this important convening and for your ongoing commitment to expanding housing and financial opportunity.

Image description: A photo shows two women standing side by side in a conference hallway. On the left is a woman wearing a dark blue winter coat and carrying a tan crossbody bag. On the right is a woman wearing a dark dress, light-colored heels and a conference name badge with a purple “Staff” ribbon. Both are smiling at the camera. Behind them is a white wall with a subtle tree-branch design and a sign that reads “Lecture Suite.” A large circular chandelier hangs above them, and conference bags and a purse are visible on the floor nearby.

The Supportive Housing Association of NJ

11/25/2025

Meet Kareena! Kareena is NDI’s Marketing and Communications Intern, helping strengthen NDI’s digital strategy, branding and internal communications.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Maryland and brings creativity and enthusiasm to every project she works on. Originally from Chicago, Kareena now calls Florida home. She loves to crochet, sew, bake and run — and fun fact, she has a twin sister!

Image description: A smiling woman with long brown hair stands in front of a watercolor blue background. Text reads: “I’m Kareena. NDI Marketing & Communications Intern. Has a twin sister. B.S. in Marketing from the University of Maryland. Loves to crochet, sew, bake and run. Raised in Chicago, now calls Florida home.” Illustrations include flowers, a sewing machine, a sun and a palm tree.

11/21/2025

That’s a wrap on the NDI Marketing and Communications Team Retreat!

Our team spent two inspiring days in Washington, D.C., aligning strategy, creativity and purpose for the year ahead. From strengthening NDI’s brand and planning 2026 campaigns to collaborating across programs and diving into accessibility, we left with fresh ideas and renewed energy.

Big thanks to our presenters, partners and teammates who joined us in person and virtually — and to everyone who made this retreat a success. Here’s to a strong finish to 2025 and exciting things ahead in 2026!

Image description: Photo of the Marketing Communications team standing in a conference room in front of a television screen showing members of the team joining virtually via Zoom. From left to right: LaShawn Douglas, Al Milioto, Nick Patrone, Susan Albrecht and Laine Hodges. On screen are Hope Price and Kareena Agni.

11/20/2025

Did You Know? It's never too late to switch to a financial institution. Paper checks for Social Security ended in September 2025 — act now to keep your benefits on time!

Encourage the people in your community to sign up for direct deposit or the Direct Express® card to keep receiving their benefits without delay.

Learn more at https://www.nationaldisabilityinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/ndi-ssa2025plainlanguageguide.pdf?utm_source=Social_Media_Facebook&utm_medium=Downloads&utm_campaign=SSA_DirectDeposit&utm_id=SSA

Image description: Smiling older woman with short gray hair wearing a denim shirt holds up a green Direct Express® prepaid debit card and points to it. Text above reads: “It’s not too late! Enroll in a Direct Express® prepaid debit card today.” The background is teal with a faint image of the Statue of Liberty and U.S. Treasury check design.

11/19/2025

Did You Know? If you don’t yet have a bank...no problem!
If you have not yet opened a bank account to receive Social Security benefits.
You can sign up for the Direct Express® prepaid debit card — It’s safe, easy and free to enroll.

Learn more: https://www.nationaldisabilityinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/ndi-ssa2025plainlanguageguide.pdf?utm_source=Social_Media_Facebook&utm_medium=Downloads&utm_campaign=SSA_DirectDeposit&utm_id=SSA

Image description: Graphic with teal background showing a green Direct Express® prepaid debit card. Text above reads: “Enroll in a Direct Express® prepaid debit card for SSA payments.” The card displays the Direct Express logo, a MasterCard logo, and the name Comerica Bank.

11/18/2025

NDI was proud to host two Financial Wellness for People with Disabilities trainings in Illinois this October. Our first three-day training took place in Carlinville at Blackburn College, followed by a second three-day session in Chicago at Heartland Human Care Services.

Participants including service providers, direct support professionals, advocates, self-advocates, health care providers and others, completed the program to become NDI-trained financial wellness educators. This new cohort is now ready to deliver financial wellness education to people with disabilities and their supporters across the state.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for these sessions and for your commitment to disability financial equity. For more information, email ask@ndi-inc.org.

Image descriptions: Photo 1 – Chicago smaller group. Three participants stand in front of a screen showing “Module 2: Financial Capability and Access to Financial Services.” They are smiling and wearing name tags. A table in the foreground holds training materials, pens and a binder.

Photo 2 – Chicago group. A large group of approximately 20 participants stand together in a classroom at Heartland Human Care Services in Chicago. Behind them, a screen displays the title “Financial Wellness for People with Disabilities.” Tables in the foreground are covered with training materials, notebooks and bags.

Photo 3 – Blackburn College group. A group of about a dozen people pose together in a classroom at Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois. A presentation screen behind them displays “Thank you” along with the Blackburn College and Coleman logos. A table in the foreground holds handouts, papers and a laptop.

11/17/2025

Join us for a live webinar with Experian on what’s new and what hasn’t changed in identity theft and scam prevention.

Michael Bruemmer, vice president of the Data Breach Resolution Group and Consumer Protection at Experian, will share the latest trends and steps you can take to protect yourself and your community.

Register now: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Hl1a1zJLQiyKkFAK7dmzmQ #/registration

Image description: A teal promotional graphic for an upcoming webinar featuring the logos of Experian and NDI Financial Resilience Center at the top. A red “Live Webinar” label appears on the left. The title reads, “Identity Theft and Scam Prevention: What’s Changed, What Hasn’t.” A smaller text box says, “With Michael Bruemmer, Vice President, Data Breach Resolution Group and Consumer Protection at Experian.” On the right is a round photo of Michael Bruemmer smiling, wearing glasses, a suit, and a light blue tie. The date and time read, “December 4, 2025 | 1:00 PM ET.”

11/14/2025

What an incredible day!

NDI staff came together for our Virtual Staff Retreat, themed “NDI's Next Chapter: A Day of Storytelling and Strategy.”

As we celebrate 20 years of impact, this retreat allowed us to reflect on how far we’ve come and look ahead to the future of financial inclusion, innovation and disability leadership.

Through shared stories, strategy sessions and collaboration across teams, we strengthened our commitment to building a better financial future for people with disabilities and their families.

Here’s to our next chapter — and the continued work that moves our mission forward every day. 💙

Image description: Two graphics with two separate images of screenshots of a Zoom gallery view showing 50 NDI staff members attending the NDI 2025 Virtual All Staff Retreat. Employees are smiling in individual video tiles, many using branded NDI virtual backgrounds. A teal banner with the NDI “20 Years of Impact” anniversary logo appears at the top. At the bottom, white text reads “NDI 2025 Virtual All Staff Retreat.”

11/13/2025

Did You Know?

Social Security paper checks ended on September 30, 2025.

Providers can make a big difference by helping clients:

Set up direct deposit to a bank account
Ensure they update their "my Social Security" account with their new bank account information
Enroll in the Direct Express® prepaid debit card
Find low-cost banking options

Download the Technical Assistance Guide: https://www.nationaldisabilityinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/ndi-ssa2025plainlanguageguide.pdf?utm_source=Social_Media_Facebook&utm_medium=Downloads&utm_campaign=SSA_DirectDeposit&utm_id=SSA

Image description: Informational graphic with teal background. Title reads “Did You Know?” followed by the text: “Social Security paper checks ended on September 30, 2025.” Below, bold text says: “Providers can make a big difference by helping individuals with disabilities:” A bulleted list includes: (1) Set up direct deposit to a bank account, (2) Ensure they update their my Social Security account with new bank account information, (3) Enroll in the Direct Express prepaid debit card, and (4) Find low-cost banking options. Each item is accompanied by an emoji—bank, thumbs up, credit card, and handshake.

11/12/2025

That’s a wrap!

Thank you to everyone who joined NDI’s Disability Owned Small Business Convening, hosted by the NDI Small Business Hub.

Nearly 600 participants came together across 2 days, 30 speakers and 13 sessions to share insights, resources and inspiration for advancing disability-owned entrepreneurship.

We’re grateful to our speakers, partners and attendees for helping us strengthen the ecosystem that supports small business owners with disabilities.

Learn more and register to access the 2025 Convening Recordings: https://www.disabilityownedconvening.com/

Graphic reads: “NDI Small Business Hub — Disability Owned Small Business Convening Recap. 2 days, 1,100 registrants, 600 attendees, 30 speakers, 13 sessions.” Background shows a laptop screen with a virtual meeting of diverse participants.

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Washington D.C., DC

Telephone

+12022962040

Website

https://www.nationaldisabilityinstitute.org/

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