We would like to include youth with disabilities in our financial literacy classes, are there specific curriculum that you would recommend?

Despite the abundance of financial literacy curriculum available, none have specifically been adapted to serve the needs of youth with disabilities. There are a number of excellent curricula that have been developed for children and others that meet many of the needs of adults with disabilities. Unfortunately, there is not one perfect fit that may meet all of your student's needs. The following are a selected list of financial literacy curriculum for youth and an excellent resource for adults with disabilities. Our Access to Assets project at the World Institute on Disability would be happy to advise you on adapting curriculum or choosing the best existing option.

Contact:
Megan O'Neil
megan@wid.org
1-866-723-1201

Youth Financial Literacy Options

National Endowment for Financial Education
NEFE's Educational Programs were created to provide Americans with practical money-management skills and an introduction to financial planning through course work that covers the fundamentals of money management.

Although not restricted to a particular age group, the Education Programs area has focused largely on increasing financial literacy among the nation's youth. This focus is exemplified by the organization's longest-standing public service effort: NEFE's High School Campus

The Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy
This site provides a wealth of material for the classroom, including lesson plans and ideas, a speaker's directory, and relevant news.

Allowance Net
This site is the first online application created for young people to explore personal money management and business skills in a fun, hands-on environment. Kids work with their parents on the site and receive their allowance as if they were running their own small business. Allowance Net can be adapted to mirror different family types, parenting methods and values.

Cash University
This site helps parents teach children how to manage their money, set goals and finish household chores. It also has some money-related links and answers to children's money questions.

Moneyopolis
This site is very useful for kids in grades six through eight. Money management and financial skills training is accompanied by a mathematical theme. Jobs, banking, shopping, and financial planning are all discussed.

As highlighted in the TAX Facts web cast "Financial Education for Persons with Disabilities" on April 20, 2005. No Place Like Home Communities has developed a financial curriculum for adults with intellectual disabilities called "This Is Mine!" Emily Fuerste, Executive Director of No Place Like Home, has this to say about "This is Mine!"; "No Place Like Home" worked to develop the strengths and assets of this vulnerable yet resourceful group of Minnesotans. The self-advocates have been involved in every level of the organization's design and operations. We seldom go into meetings without the advice of somebody who is living and breathing our work, and advising us on how we can do it better.

Chuck Donkersgoed is a resident of the No Place Like Home apartment community, and he is a paid consultant on the development team for our new financial literacy curriculum, which we call "This Is Mine!". And we always include the exclamation point, because we feel it that way. This is mine! As in, this is my life, this is my house, this is my money, this is my future. Contact Emily for more information about "This Is Mine!"

Emily Fuerste - No Place Like Home Communities

4101A WEST BROADWAY
ROBBINSDALE, MINNESOTA 55422
T: 763-537.0170
F: 763-537.0171
E: info@nplhc.org