Meet our Family Members of Account Owners ABLE NRC Ambassadors

Planning for the future for a child with a disability presents many challenges to a family. Explore these Ambassadors’ stories to hear directly from family members of ABLE account owners about their experience using ABLE accounts to plan for a family member’s future.

Larry Angeli head shot
Larry Angeli
Parent of ABLE Account Owner

Farmington Hills, MI
ABLE Program: MiABLE Program

Larry Angeli is saving for his son’s future living arrangements so that he can be as independent as possible.

Beverli Austin
Parent of ABLE Account Owner

Pittsburgh, PA
ABLE Program: Pennsylvania ABLE

Beverli is a new ABLE Ambassador for the ABLE National Resource Center, joining the team in March of 2023.

Regina Bradley head shot
Regina Bradley
Parent of ABLE Account Owner

Buffalo, MO
ABLE Program: Missouri’s MO ABLE Program

Regina Bradley is saving so that both of her children will be able to live a comfortable life in their own homes someday.

Jennifer Casselman Headshot
Jennifer Casselman
Jennifer is the parent of an ABLE account owner with Down syndrome.

Carson City, NV
ABLE Program: ABLE Nevada

Jennifer opened an ABLE account to help her elementary school-age daughter, Kenley, who has Down syndrome, save for an independent future without jeopardizing her benefits. Jennifer has spoken before Nevada’s legislature in support of ABLE as a tool to help loved ones today and plan for tomorrow.

Davinna Christian head shot
Davinna Christian
Parent of son who has quadriplegia and Sickle-Cell disease

Detroit, MI
ABLE Program: Michigan

Advocate for children and adults with sickle-cell disease. Son receives Social Security Disability Benefits. ABLE funds are being saved for a communications device, durable medical equipment and an accessible vehicle.

Lauren Hughes head shot
Lauren Hughes
Parent of ABLE Account Owner

Caldwell, ID
ABLE Program: Oregon's ABLE for ALL Program

Lauren Hughes is saving for an accessible van for her son.

Denise Gehringer head shot
Denise Gehringer
Parent of an ABLE account owner

Papillion, NE
ABLE Program: Nebraska

Since the pivotal moment when her fourth son entered the world with Down syndrome, Denise’s life's trajectory became dedicated to seeking opportunities for him and others facing similar challenges, empowering them to live life to the fullest. She worked on ENABLE program development and her son was the first ENABLE account owner in Nebraska. To date, Jacob has used his ABLE funds to purchase a modified bike, travel expenses, and for housing expenses he had when he moved into his own apartment in December 2023.

Teresa Price Headshot
Teresa Price
Teresa is the parent of an ABLE account owner with schizoaffective disorder.

Maine
ABLE Program: ABLE Tennessee

Teresa Price is a self-employed engineer serving on the Board of Directors of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Maine. She teaches Family to Family (F2F) classes for family members of people living with mental illness and she recently became a trainer for other F2F teachers. This work has been a driving passion for Teresa ever since her oldest son Logan, who is 27 years old, experienced his first psychotic break in 2010.

Amy Tessler head shot
Amy Tessler
Parent of son with autism

Oakland, CA
ABLE Program: California

Amy is mom to Scott, 29, who is a CalABLE account owner on the Autistic Spectrum. Scott lives with a roommate in a two-bedroom apartment at Sunflower Hill, a residential community for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Scott primarily uses his ABLE account funds to pay for meals at restaurants and social activities. It allows him to be financially responsible for his day-to-day needs.

Cheryl Walfall Flagg head shot
Cheryl Walfall-Flagg
Parent of ABLE Account Owner

Raleigh, NC
ABLE Program: North Carolina's NC ABLE Program

Cheryl Walfall-Flagg is saving for when she and her husband are no longer around. She is saving for her son's independence and ability to live and enjoy life to the fullest as an adult.

Michael Zybura
Michael Zybura
Michael is the parent of an ABLE account owner with Autism.

Clinton Township, MI
ABLE Program: MiABLE

Michael opened an ABLE account for his school-age son, Colin, so that he could maximize his independence and secure his financial future. Michael advocates for inclusion in his son’s school system, mentors other parents and advocates to employers on the benefits of ABLE.