Sept. 25th, NISH Pacific West and the NISH Institute for Economic Development hosted an Asset Development Conference (ADC) with the National Disability Institute (NDI) in San Francisco.

Left to Right: NISH Pacific West Executive Director Dave Dubinsky, Toolworks VP Kristy Feck, Bay Area Coalition for Employment Development Co-Chair Daniel Michael and Community Vocational Enterprises (CVE) CEO Lorna Jones were panelists at the event.

The ADC conference brought together community based nonprofits that serve people with disabilities, members of local government, officials from several banks, as well as representatives from the IRS and the California Department of Rehabilitation.  This event was part one of a two part seminar series designed to educate individuals with disabilities on the many strategies available to them to maximize their earnings, benefits and achieve economic self-sufficiency.  Part two will be a follow up seminar designed specifically for individuals with disabilities.   NISH was represented by Kaitlin Woolf from the NISH Institute, as well as Catherine Chase, Isleen Gimenez Wilson and David Dubinsky from the Pacific West Regional team.  Breakfast and lunch were provided by Hayes Valley BakeWorks, a social enterprise of Toolworks, Inc. in San Francisco, which is staffed by clients with disabilities.  Many thanks go to Senior Administrative Assistant Catherine Chase for coordinating all aspects of this meeting!

Kaitlin Woolf from the NISH Institute facilitated a small group discussion on ways to increase participation in asset development services for people with disabilities.