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By disability attorney Lawrence Disparti, who is barred and practices in the state of Florida, with the Disparti Law Group.

As the unfair stigma that so often followed people with disabilities begins to slowly fade, companies are recognizing that not only is this a new clientele, but that they have an opportunity to provide access to services that will allow individuals with disabilities to be much more involved in their own day-to-day responsibilities.

Voya Financial, the banking and investment firm that was once AIG, has begun focusing on these individuals by encouraging them to apply for other services such as SSI and SSDI based on their answers to certain questions.

In addition, Voya will provide access to databases that have information on myriad governmental programs and their standards for qualification.

“Changes like these are incredibly important,” said Lawrence Disparti, a Florida Disability Attorney with the Disparti Law Group. “Individuals that become disabled later in life or are born with a disability deserve every opportunity to live fulfilling, independent lives. Providing them with financial services geared to their needs, just like every other financial service, ensures the opportunity to do just that.”

One of the most important changes has been the passage of the ABLE Act. ABLE, which stands for “Achieving a Better Life Experience” is a change in the law as it relates to the ability of individuals with disabilities who receive needs-tested government assistance to accumulate assets.

The ABLE Act allows individuals to establish qualifying accounts that can accumulate balances more than many of the means-tested program limits with disqualifying these individuals for the services they need to continue living independently.

ABLE accounts have limits in terms of total accumulation amounts — an individual’s account cannot exceed $100,000.00. However, when combined with additional estate planning, such as Special Needs Trusts, individuals with disabilities can live independently and possibly in a self-supporting manner.

“The ability to accumulate assets and have regular access to those assets enables these individuals to live independently and achieve life goals,” said Disparti. “Giving them access to regular investment services and guidance will ensure that the assets that do accumulate grow and are available for the long-term.”

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“So what do you do?”

In a city that puts so much emphasis on careers, it feels pretty terrible when you don’t love yours.

According to Gallup’s “State of the America Workforce” report, two-thirds of Americans are feeling disengaged at work. But for us working adults, there aren’t a lot of resources to help us make the necessary career change, and the whole process feels unclear and lonely.

At Mission Collaborative, we believe that there’s a better way to make career changes.

We’re a new organization here in D.C. that provides a framework and community to help you build a career you love. We host workshops and programs for career changers from all sorts of backgrounds to help them figure out exactly what they want to do next with their careers, then make it happen.

In the past year we’ve helped over 600 D.C. professionals start building careers they love. The in-person community we create gives participants motivation and accountability, while the career design process we teach provides a far better framework for determining your ideal next step. And we don’t just have people think about what they might like to do, we help them actually test out their potential career paths before making the shift.

Interested in learning more? Check out our free Career Change 101 workshops or join us for one of our immersive career change programs!

This column is written and sponsored by D.C. real estate agent and Edgewood resident Jessica Evans. Email her questions at  [email protected].

We’ve been flying through the homebuying process and we’re finally on the final step — settlement! If you’ve made it this far, you’re on the fast track to homeownership.

To some buyers, I think that settlement seems like it is going to be more of a grand finale than it usually ends up to be, spoiler alert — there are no balloons or confetti. In exchange for what is likely the largest check you’ve ever written, you uneventfully get a few sets of keys and to sign your name hundreds of times.

But what actually happens at settlement? How should a buyer prepare? Let’s look at the final steps of the homebuying process in detail:

Preparing for settlement: Most importantly, a buyer’s #1 priority is making sure that the funds necessary to complete the transaction are received by the settlement date. This includes the loan (which is sent directly to the title company by the mortgage provider) and any funds that the buyer is responsible for (including down payment and closing costs).

It is important to note that most title companies do not accept cash or personal checks — it is recommended that a buyer work on getting their funds to the title company no later than the day before settlement to ensure no delays or issues.

Other things that you will want to have completed include setting up utilities, scheduling a move (in a condo building) and preparing any last minute questions for the seller.

The pre-settlement walkthrough: This is typically the last visit to the property before taking ownership, the purpose is to either ensure that any agreed upon property condition requirements are completed (ie. home inspection repairs) or that there have been no changes to the condition of the home. It’s your final opportunity as a buyer to see that the basement has not flooded, a tree branch hasn’t fallen through the roof and that what you are about to buy is in fact what you are expecting. (more…)

Local residential real estate tech company remodelmate is making it easier for people in the Washington metropolitan area to buy and sell remodeling services.

Their online marketplace allows homeowners and contractors to find and offer services for renovating bathrooms, kitchens, windows, doors, roofs, floors and even your man (or woman) cave.

The DC-based company was founded on the idea of re-establishing trust in an industry that has been historically unpredictable. And they are growing quickly.

Customers benefit from fair, upfront pricing, clear project timelines, and, for an additional fee, a dedicated project manager to help see your masterpiece through to completion. And for contractors, the jobs come to you without having to scour the marketplace.

It all works through a simple process: customers answer a few questions about their project and share what they’d like to accomplish; then they receive a no-commitment quote and in-person project consultation. From there, customers pick a date for the job to begin and pay seamlessly and securely through remodelmate — BOOM, done.

Rest assured, every “remodelmate” is licensed, bonded, insured, and thoroughly screened, including background, quality and identity checks.

For a limited time, PoPville readers can get $500 off their next remodelmate order so you can start that renovation project you’ve been putting off.

By property damage attorney Gary Burger, who is barred and practices in the state of Missouri, with Burger Law.

A Federal Court found that the US Army Corps of Engineers’ management of the Missouri River since 2004 caused flooding that damaged the properties of landowners along the river and that the management and resulting damage was effectively an unconstitutional taking of the property of those landowners.

So, what is a taking? “A Taking is a Constitutional claim that arises under the Fifth Amendment and requires showing that the actions of the government resulted in an individual being deprived of their property unjustly and without compensation,” said Gary Burger, a property damage attorney with Burger Law in St. Louis, MO.

Takings happen all the time, more commonly at the state level. One of the most common forms of “taking” is when a landowner is forced to sell or hand over property for a new highway”, said Burger. Those types of takings are allowed, provided that the landowner is fairly compensated and the request is reasonable.

However, as evidenced here, takings can occur even when the property taken is not taken for use by the government. It can also occur when a landowner’s use and enjoyment of the property is eliminated due to the actions of the government or its agency.

In this lawsuit, the plaintiffs claimed that the management style employed by the Corps of Engineers — which favored environmental protection over flood avoidance — resulted in the flooding of their properties that reduced or eliminated their ability to use and enjoy those properties.

The Agency argued that it was impossible to show that its actions were the cause of the flooding and that any connection between the steps taken by the agency and the flooding suffered by the plaintiffs was too remote, if it existed at all.

In this case, the court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, finding that previous rulings supported the possibility that even remote actions could set off a chain of events that led to the taking in question. Here, the court found that the agency’s focus on encouraging environmental protection over flood avoidance led to the flooding of the properties in question and that such flooding was a reasonably foreseeable result of the agency’s steps.

Takings claims are incredibly complex and require a thorough analysis of the actions of the government and the damage claimed. If your property is subject to a partial or full takings action, you should have it reviewed by an attorney well-versed in these matters.

On May 1, 2018, “Postmen of the Skies” opens at the National Postal Museum.

This exhibition commemorates the 100th anniversary of the first regularly scheduled airmail flights. In partnership with the United States Postal Service and the American Philatelic Society, the museum will host a variety of onsite programs celebrating opening day. These programs are free and open to the public.

Beginning on May 15, 1918, a small group of army pilots carried mail along a new route linking Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York. Well before the rise of commercial aviation, these brave men risked their lives in order to expedite the postal system.

“Postmen of the Skies” uses authentic apparel, maps, log books, photographs, video footage and pop culture memorabilia to tell the exciting stories of these pilots.

At 11 a.m., USPS will conduct a First-Day-of-Issue Ceremony for the airmail centennial commemorative stamp. The stamp mimics in design and style the stamps released in 1918 also celebrating those first flights. Witness this special dedication ceremony and be among the first to obtain these postage stamps.

At 12 p.m., the museum welcomes Kellen Diamanti and Deborah Fisher for the release of “Stamp of the Century.” This publication chronicles the fascinating history of the notoriously erroneous and sought-after “Inverted Jenny” postage stamps. The authors will be on hand to talk with visitors and sign copies of their book, which is available for sale in the museum shop.

The museum will also offer a self-guided scavenger hunt of airmail artifacts throughout the museum, including an original de Havilland DH-4 airplane flown by one of the pilots featured in the exhibition. Additionally, a gallery activity allows visitors to experience vintage games illustrating the impact of airmail on American culture in the early 20th century.

Visit the National Postal Museum on May 1 to take part in the festivities! “Postmen of the Skies” is on view May 1, 2018 through May 27, 2019.