Olivia and her twin sister, Adrianna, were born five weeks early, each weighing a little more than five pounds and no indication of disability. It wasn’t until Olivia was four months old that her parents, Tara and Jason, realized something wasn’t right.
The prognosis continued to be unclear until she was 18 months old and was formally diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
While Olivia has faced challenges over the years, now at the age of 21, she is a vibrant and passionate young woman. “She is almost always smiling,” said her mother, Tara. She loves music, planning her schedule, cooking with family – and most importantly, theater.
In 2017, the family learned about ABLE United from an organization called Let’s Cure CP.
“As I researched this amazing savings plan, I knew that it was an opportunity to invest for Olivia’s future life expenses,” explained Tara.
Today, Tara helps Olivia manage her finances and she deposits a portion of her monthly SSI income into her ABLE United account. They primarily use her account for saving for the future but have withdrawn money for items such as furniture for her apartment, as well as therapy.
“I opened her account on her behalf, so that she is able to save and invest, simply and cost effectively, with little maintenance or fees,” shared Tara, who recently became an ABLE United Brand Ambassador.
Her mother also shared, “My hope is that this account will continue to grow over the years, as well as give her flexibility and peace of mind as she lives her best life!”
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