Document Type

Article

Date

January 2010

Keywords

Poverty, Asset accumulation, Individual development accounts, People with disabilities

Disciplines

Community Psychology | Health Psychology

Description/Abstract

Adults with disabilities disproportionally experience poverty. We examine one novel strategy to promote economic well-being among adults with disabilities living in or near poverty, namely Individual Development Accounts (IDAs). IDAs are designed to help individuals save money and subsequently accumulate assets. Although adults with disabilities account for the majority of IDA participants, scant attention has been paid to their IDA saving performance. We describe the significance of accumulating assets, particularly as it relates to adults with disabilities. We then map the nature of IDA programs and analyze barriers to participation in IDAs and asset accumulation related to conflicting federal policies and a lack of sensitivity to disability- specific needs. We conclude by offering policy recommendations from our analysis, including the need to eliminate the means-tests used in welfare policies, de-linking participation in IDAs from employment status, and involving people with disabilities in designing and evaluating asset accumulation policies and programs.

Additional Information

Copyright 2010 American Journal of Community Psychology. This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and American Journal of Community Psychology. The article may be found at http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10464-010-9355-4

Download

Share

COinS