Building Economic Futures for Americans with Disabilities
Real Economic Impact Tour
Jacksonville, Florida
Contact Information:
If you, your business, or organization are interested in becoming a part of the Disability Initiative Workgroup, please contact Kaye Schmitz at kayedschmitz@bellsouth.net.
If you are already a member of the Disability Initiative Workgroup and have questions regarding the IRS participation, then please contact Tax Specialist Mark Browne at Mark.Browne@irs.gov.
Disability Initiative Workgroup Members
Independent Living
Jacksonville ILRC distributed information on Earned Income Tax Credit and free tax preparation in the Center’s newsletter. ILRC also accepted a large number of the IRS publication 3966 (Living and Working with Disabilities) for distribution to the Center’s consumers. The local ILRC recently held its first Financial Literacy Class for persons with disabilities using FDIC’s Money Smart program. And they have extended their services to providing financial counseling on a limited basis. Their involvement in free tax return preparation had been limited to one day during the annual open house. 2007 is the first year of filing season long free tax return preparation where the focus is on individuals with disabilities. A partnership with The Real$ense Prosperity Campaign resulted in a televised event to prepare the first tax return for a person with a disability on the opening day of the tax site. The Executive Director was on hand to witness the presentation of a modest check to the Real$ense Prosperity Campaign from the National Disability Institute during the kickoff to the filing season. The $2,000 grant is to allow greater focus on asset development for persons with disabilities. Real$ense and ILRC partnered once again during the ADA celebration parade. The Marketing staff of Real$ense helped designed a press release and an article for the ILRC newsletter as part of a plan to recruit VITA volunteers.
United Way
United Way of Northeast Florida is the lead community organization in the local Real$ense Prosperity Campaign. They provide administrative oversight and grant management (nearing $100,000). UWA provides in-kind donation of office space, parking space, telephone, computers, office supplies and administrative staff assistance. UWA offers use of their 211 service for identifying tax sites convenient to taxpayers. UWA partnership allows access to top accounts for Real$ense staff recruiting and fund raising efforts. UWA also provides oversight of Challenge Grant (IDA partner Fresh Ministries). The partnership allows outreach in the community by virtually all UWA employees.
Mayors Office - Office on Disability
The Mayor’s Office has partnered with Real$ense/IRS to participate in the Mayoral Disability Summit recently held in New York City. The city representative to the Summit sits on the board of the Mayor’s Disability Council and has recently joined the Steering Committee of the Real$ense Prosperity Campaign. The Mayor’s office worked jointly to welcome the Real Economic Impact Tour as the national partner. A National Disability Institute staff person visited the kickoff to the 2006 tax filing season. The Division Chief of the city’s Disabled Services Division has been a tremendous help in a consultative role for Real$ense as the coalition formulated its disability strategy.