Congress Passes Bill to Promote Economic Self-Sufficiency for People with Disabilities

UMaine Alert

Posted: April 19, 2024 - 1:32 PM

At approximately 9:24 a.m. on Friday, April 19, a University of Maine graduate student was struck by a university vehicle on Long Road at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The student reports that they are at a local hospital with minor injuries.

Emergency services, including the Orono Fire Department, University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, University of Maine Police Department, Orono Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The university vehicle involved in the incident was a Chevrolet Express van. It was being operated by a university employee.

Counseling services and support are available for students, faculty or staff who may have been affected. The Counseling Center can be reached at 207-581-1392 and the Dean of Students Office can be reached at 207-581-1406.

The scene has been cleared and Long Road is now accessible. An investigation is being conducted by the University of Maine Police Department with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact Lt. Noel Santiago at noel.santiago@maine.edu.

December 19, 2014 CCIDS News

In a bipartisan vote, Congress passed the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2014, easing the financial burden for individuals with disabilities by creating tax-exempt, state-based accounts that can be used to save for disability-related expenses. In a news release, the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) lauded the passage of the legislation, “Currently, individuals with disabilities who depend on federal health or income benefits (such as Medicaid or Social Security) are not permitted to have more than $2,000 in cash savings or assets, which essentially forces individuals to remain poor and unable to save money for emergencies or investments in the future.” The ABLE accounts would be similar to [Section] 529 college savings plans and used for disability-related expenses including education; housing; transportation; employment support; health, prevention, and wellness costs; assistive technology and personal support services.