Why Financial Education for Adults with IDD Matters
Financial education for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) has too often been out of reach. Traditional programs are usually built for the general population, not for learners who need information presented in a more accessible, engaging, and supportive way. That gap matters. It can leave individuals with IDD more vulnerable to financial exploitation, more dependent on others for everyday money decisions, and too often excluded from a part of life that directly affects their confidence, stability, and independence.
At Take Charge America, we believe financial education should be available to everyone. That belief is one of the reasons we created Take Charge Lab, a new online financial education program designed specifically to serve adults with IDD through a combination of interactive curriculum and instructor-led learning. As a nonprofit with a long-standing educational mission, we have undertaken this work as an important way for us to give back to the community by serving a population that is often overlooked, underserved, and misunderstood.
Meet Amy Ross, Take Charge Lab’s Online Financial Education Instructor
Helping lead that effort is Amy Ross, Take Charge Lab’s new Online Financial Education Instructor and Program Administrator.
Ross brings 13 years of experience and a master’s degree in special education to the role, along with a deep belief in the capabilities of the people she serves. Before joining Take Charge Lab, she spent years helping students build confidence, develop life skills, and recognize their own growth. That experience shaped the philosophy she now brings to Take Charge Lab: financial education should not be something adults with IDD are shut out of. It should be something they can access, understand, and use in their everyday lives. To support that goal, the program was developed in collaboration with disability education specialists, occupational therapists, and behavioral experts, with input from members of the IDD community itself.
“I’ve always loved working with individuals who need more support to have a meaningful learning experience,” Ross said. “I wanted to carry my special education experience into the adult population, specifically in an area like financial literacy where there aren’t a lot of accessible programs, and bridge that gap.”
Building Accessible Financial Education for Adults with IDD
That idea of bridging a gap is central to both Ross’s role and the broader mission of Take Charge Lab. Adults with IDD are often left out of financial education altogether, not because they are incapable of learning, but because the material is rarely designed with their needs in mind. Ross understands that distinction well. Her background in special education taught her how to take concepts meant for a general audience and adapt them for different learners by focusing on student strengths and real-world application.
“I can take a topic and make it something that the IDD community can relate to,” she said. “Real-world application is huge for any individual with a disability.”
Real-World Money Skills for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities
That practical mindset is exactly what TCL is built to support. The program focuses on real-world financial skills participants can use right away, with learning modules that include money basics, banking and saving, budgeting, credit and debt, consumer skills, and financial safety. It also includes interactive features such as gamification, where learners earn live coins that can be used to purchase sensory devices, swag, and other items from an online store. Users can also personalize their avatar on the platform to make learning more engaging and enjoyable.
Just as important, Ross brings a view of inclusion that goes beyond simply offering access. In her words, true inclusion means “meeting students where they are and building on what they know.” That perspective reflects the care behind Take Charge Lab. This program is not about checking boxes. It is about creating a learning environment where adults with IDD can participate meaningfully, feel respected, and build skills with the right support in place.
Support for Caregivers, Direct Support Professionals, and IDD Service Providers
Ross also knows that success in this space is rarely a solo effort. Families, caregivers, and service providers all play a vital role in helping adults with IDD grow and apply what they learn. That is why Take Charge Lab is designed to work as part of a broader support system, not apart from it. The program integrates flexibly into existing programs offered by IDD service providers, with easy enrollment, instructor guidance, and tools that can be used by clients themselves as well as caregivers and Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) supporting one or multiple clients.
Focusing on Strengths to Build Financial Confidence
Throughout her career, Ross has seen what can happen when people stop focusing on limitations and start building on strengths. She shared a story about a student whose parents had been told from an early age not to expect much independence from their daughter. But over time, Ross saw tremendous growth by focusing on the student’s abilities rather than what others assumed she could not do. For Ross, that kind of progress is more than encouraging. It is proof that people with disabilities are too often underestimated.
That belief carries into her vision for Take Charge Lab.
“Especially with IDD adults, I think a lot of people have it in their mind that financial decisions are not something they can make,” Ross said. “And they can. They’re very capable. When they’re given the right support, they’re able to do a lot of things that would surprise many people.”
Financial Independence for Adults with Disabilities Starts with Inclusion
At Take Charge America, we share that belief. Adults with IDD deserve more than awareness. They deserve access, support, and the dignity of being included in financial conversations that affect their lives. They deserve opportunities to build confidence with everyday financial tasks and to better understand the systems around them. They deserve to be seen for their strengths, not defined by assumptions.
That is what makes Take Charge Lab so important.
As Ross put it, “We are opening a door for the IDD community that hasn’t been opened for them before.” And for Take Charge America, that opportunity is both a responsibility and a privilege. It reflects our commitment to education, our care for the community, and our belief that financial knowledge should empower more people, not exclude them.
With Amy Ross helping lead the way, Take Charge Lab is taking a crucial step toward a more inclusive future for financial education.
For more information, visit the Take Charge Lab website, call us at 888-822-9188, or email us at info@takechargelab.org.
