What Every Lawyer Should Know About ABLE Accounts: Supporting People with Disabilities, Families, and Caregivers (Presented by the Federal Bar Association Federal Career Service Division, Civil Rights Law Section, Diversity & Inclusion Committee)

G. Alisa Ferguson, Esq, Director | ABLEnow

Alisa Ferguson serves as the Director for Virginia’s Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) program, ABLEnow, administered by Commonwealth Savers. In that role, she manages all aspects of the ABLEnow program, giving individuals with disabilities the opportunity to save without impacting necessary benefits. She previously served as Associate General Counsel providing legal support to Commonwealth Savers’ Board of Directors, CEO, General Counsel and the staff for all Commonwealth Savers education and ABLE savings programs. She joined Commonwealth Savers in 2011.

Prior to joining Commonwealth Savers, Alisa worked in private practice for 3 years as a trusts and estate attorney. She focused her practice in the areas of estate planning, special needs planning, and estate and trust administration.

Alisa graduated with honors from the University of Richmond School of Law. Alisa received her B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice from James Madison University. She is a member of the Virginia State Bar, Virginia Bar Association, the Metro Richmond Women’s Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the Virginia Mountain Valley Lawyer’s Alliance. She serves as an Executive Board member of the ABLE Savings Plans Network (ASPN), Co-chair of the ASPN Strategic Planning Committee, and Co-chair of the ASPN Program Committee. Alisa is a member of the Women for Madison Executive Advisory Council for James Madison University and a past president of the Board of Directors for Medical Home Plus.

Alisa lives in Lexington, Virginia with her husband and four children.

Eric Ochmanek, Program Director | National Association of State Treasurers

Eric Ochmanek leads ABLE today at the National Association of State Treasurers (NAST) which advances financial empowerment for people with disabilities by increasing the awareness of ABLE accounts. ABLE today directly engages the disability community through national outreach, developing resources, and fostering partnerships for all ABLE programs.

Before joining NAST, Eric was a member of the Senior Staff in the Ohio Treasurer’s office, serving as Deputy Chief of Staff. In 2016, Eric worked to launch one of the first ABLE programs. He developed the in-state and national outreach for what would become one of the most utilized ABLE programs. He has traveled throughout the country to connect people with disabilities with ABLE accounts and built partnerships within the disability, financial, legal, and support service communities.

Previously, Eric worked for British Petroleum in the North America Gas division, the White House Office of Presidential Advance, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the Office of the Secretary. Eric is a graduate of Adrian College (Adrian, MI). He and his wife enjoy volunteering at their sons’ school and for their sports teams.

Charles J. “Chuck” Saia, Esq., Executive Director | NH Governor’s Commission on Disability

Charles J. “Chuck” Saia is the Executive Director of the New Hampshire Governor’s Commission on Disability (GCD), a crossdisability Executive Branch agency within the Governor’s Office. He also serves as the appointed co-administrator of New Hampshire’s ABLE plan, along with the State of New Hampshire’s State Treasurer, a role held since the launch of New Hampshire’s ABLE plan in 2017. Chuck works closely with the Governor’s Office, State agencies, the public and other stakeholders to improve accessibility for individuals with a disability in all facets throughout the State.

Chuck is licensed to practice law in NH and in years’ past, he has represented clients in various segments of the judicial process. Chuck received his B.A. from Boston College and J.D. from Suffolk University Law School.

I. ABLE Accounts | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

II. Eligibility and Account Management | 2:10pm – 2:20pm

III. Contributions, Using ABLE Funds, and Taxes | 2:20pm – 2:30pm

IV. Interactions with Public Benefits | 2:30pm – 2:40pm

V. ABLE and Special Needs Planning | 2:40pm – 2:50pm

VI. Resources and Q&A | 2:50pm – 3:00pm