About Us
DISABILIFINANCE addresses disability finance issues for disabled people, their families, and their professional supporters in the community. Our online course offerings cover topics such as social programming, ABLE accounts, supplemental needs trusts and estate planning. Learn from some of the most well-versed experts across the fields of financial planning, law and self-advocacy.
Why Disability Finance Matters
America’s disabled population is growing. Here are just four reasons it’s important to include disability finance courses in your financial literacy education.
01.
Disability finance is not intuitive.
Assuming you know how a program, financial product or legal product works based on ‘common sense’ could lead to problems further down the line. Disability programs don’t always have logical rules. Educating yourself on disability finance allows you to better avoid negative outcomes.
02.
Increase in childhood diagnoses.
Diagnoses of childhood disabilities are up over the past decade, which means a growing portion of American families may need to be well-versed in disability finances as they plan for their child’s future.
03.
America is aging.
The share of the American population over the age of 65 is growing. Disability includes elderly populations, and that holds true in the financial world. Many of the programs and strategies covered by DISABILIFINANCE apply to us as we age, whether you personally adopt a disability identity or not.
04.
ABLE legislative changes.
In 2026, the eligible population for ABLE accounts almost doubles. If you were under age 46 at the onset of your disability, you’ll want to learn more about how these specialized 529 accounts may be able to help you as you manage your personal finances.
Speaker bios
Liz Yoder
Liz Yoder studied Speech Language Pathology and Audiology at Loyola College in Maryland. She moved soon after graduation into a supportive group home, where she was a live-in caregiver to four adults with Intellectual and Development Disabilities (IDD). Liz got introduced to the IDD advocate community and became determined to work for families and individuals who were often scared to save or earn too much to disqualify them for government benefits. Liz became a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional to advocate with them. In 2023, Liz founded Dependent Financial Planning. She serves clients across the country, many with high support needs and many with few. Liz knows that these families are often told what they can’t do. Liz works to find a path to what they can.
Courses: The Power of the ABLE Account
Sam Crane, Esq.
Sam Crane has over a decade of experience advocating for the rights of people with disabilities. She has served as Legal Director at the Autistic Self Advocacy Network and at Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities, which operates the National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making. In her roles, Sam has led trainings for a variety of stakeholders on supported decision-making and other alternatives to guardianship. Sam is a graduate of Harvard Law School, and currently runs Crane Advocacy.
Courses: Alternatives to Guardianship
Jillian Zacks, Esq.
Jillian Zacks, founder of Zacks Trust & Estate Law LLC, has spent more than a decade preparing personalized estate plans, with a concentration on estate planning and administration. Her philosophy focuses on person-centered life planning, with inclusion as a cornerstone of her work. Zacks is active in the community, providing educational seminars to families, professionals, and fellow attorneys on topics such as estate planning, special needs trusts, transition to adulthood and ABLE accounts.
Courses: Disability & Future Planning with SNTs and ABLE Accounts
Brynne Conroy
Coordinator
DISABILIFINANCE’s courses are coordinated by Brynne Conroy, who has worked in financial media for the past 14 years. From 2016 to 2019, she published the most comprehensive guide to state-by-state Medicaid waivers for Autistic minors on the internet, which was utilized by thousands of parents and researchers alike. Her debut book was an Amazon #1 New Release across three different categories, and included coverage of ABLE accounts, forced poverty in the disability community, and maternal income loss after childhood diagnosis.
Conroy is also the former co-host of the Mom Autism Money podcast, which won an industry award for Best Financial Content for Under-Served Communities in 2022. Her work has been referenced in academic texts, and she has spoken on issues like women’s finances and ABLE accounts at Vanderbilt University, the 529 Conference, and the Financial Planning Association. Conroy is a PEN America and American Society of Journalists & Authors grant recipient.
Today, she collaborates with top experts across the fields of financial planning, social programming, law, and self-advocacy to bring you in-depth trainings on disability finance issues.
Contact Us
General questions
info@disabilifinance.com
Partnership inquiries
partnerships@disabilifinance.com
Media contact
media@disabilifinance.com
DISABILIFINANCE is honored to be supported by The Plutus Foundation.