Hello, my name is Rachael Stout. I have had seizures since I was six, and on SSI since I was 25. I have spent the last five years working on gaining my education so that I could work with my disability instead of against it. 

During my journey to reentering the workforce I have found time and time again the frustration of dealing with financials while disabled. Pass plans, able accounts, SSI, SSDI, waiver, college funding, trusts, ticket to work, IRWE, income reporting- it all sounds like a foreign language. In talking to many families I have seen that many people suffer from the same issues I have. They either don’t know about the resources or they get so frustrated applying for them they give up, missing out on valuable resources. My goal in the next six months is to create a central resource for these issues with step by step instructions on how to complete it. I also intend to interview experts and make them available online so that everyone can work through their financial needs at their own pace. 

It is my intent to use Engage Labs to get direction, feedback, and to connect with other disability ministers so I can help this important tool get into the right hands. I appreciate your help as I look to raise funds to participate in Engage Labs.