CalABLE Ambassadors

Allen

Allen is a disabled veteran. Allen opened his CalABLE account because it is a tax-advantaged investment account for people with disabilities with eight targeted investment options. Allen is focused on building principal in his CalABLE account. He is saving for vacations, retirement, and emergency spending.

Allen receives health care at the San Francisco VA. Allen wants to set an example and encourage fellow veterans to open CalABLE accounts and save for the future.

Brenda

Brenda is a Mexican disability advocate and Spanish Healthcare Interpreter from Santa Cruz, California. Brenda is Co-Chair of the Santa Cruz County Commission on Disabilities, volunteers for the Santa Cruz Playground Project, serves on the Board of Directors for Shared Adventures, and works with County Park Friends. Brenda was born with Juvenile Hyaline Fibromatosis, a rare genetic condition that affects her joints, skin, and connective tissues. Despite the physical challenges it presents, Brenda’s journey has been defined by resilience, advocacy, and an unwavering commitment to inclusion and equity.

Since 2018, Brenda has been a proud CalABLE account holder. She opened her account to save her wages while maintaining her benefits, allowing her to plan for future emergencies and long-term needs with confidence. Through her CalABLE ambassadorship, Brenda hopes to raise awareness about the program’s life-changing benefits and inspire others with disabilities to pursue independence, financial stability, and self-empowerment. Brenda’s journey is a reflection of strength, culture, and purpose, honoring her Mexican roots while helping build a world where every person, regardless of disability or language, has the opportunity to thrive.

Brooke

Brooke is a single mother from El Dorado County to two boys with disabilities. Both have Autism and ADHD. Brooke’s oldest son has a rare epilepsy called Landau-Kleffner Syndrome, also known as DEE-SWAS. Both children have difficulty with communication and emotional regulation. Brooke’s oldest will most likely require assistance his entire life, while she is hopeful her younger son may outgrow the need for extra assistance.

Brooke’s sons have CalABLE accounts to assist with saving for vacations and for unexpected medical needs that may arise. Both children have a desire to travel and experience new things. They are hands-on learners and CalABLE helps Brooke provide experiences to help them grow.

Cassandra

Cassandra is a single mom from Sacramento County to three kids. Cassandra opened a CalABLE account for her son Diallo who is autistic after they were penalized by SSI. The CalABLE account provides a safe place for Cassandra to save for Diallo’s expenses. They have used the gifting feature and are currently saving for a car down payment.

Clayton

Clayton and his family of five live in beautiful Carlsbad, San Diego. Clayton is a financial Advisor & Insurance Broker who helps clients obtain financial security so they can live their best life. This financial planning extends to his own family and specifically his 9-year-old daughter Isla.

Isla was born with a rare genetic disorder, KCNQ2, which can cause seizures and overall developmental disabilities. Isla’s now 9 years old and unable to perform basic activities of daily living such as walking, talking, or feeding herself. She requires total care. Despite her special needs, Isla is a beautiful, happy girl who softens the hearts of all those she encounters. She is a true blessing to the world!

It is Clayton’s mission to ensure Isla’s financial security so she can have the things she needs to thrive. Isla is going to need a lot of equipment and care throughout her life. Costs will add up…. a wheelchair van, ADA home modification such as a roll in shower, etc.

Clayton is grateful for CalABLE and the ability it provides to invest for Isla’s future. CalABLE has amazing benefits such as the ability for money to be invested to grow AND be spent tax free. Even more importantly Isla won’t lose access to critical state and federal programs because of her CalABLE investing (when staying under the $100K limit).

Esteban

Esteban is proud to be both a Special Olympics athlete and leader ambassador for Northern California. Esteban opened his CalABLE account because he wanted to take a proactive step toward financial independence while managing his medical and personal needs responsibly. Living with a disability comes with unique challenges and expenses, but it has also given Esteban the drive to make thoughtful financial choices. With his CalABLE savings, Esteban is able to purchase the essential medical supplies he needs without stress or uncertainty.

Esteban also uses his CalABLE account to help him stay mobile and independent. Esteban’s bike is his main form of transportation, and it’s more than just a way to get from one place to another—it represents freedom, discipline, and self-reliance. Esteban uses his CalABLE funds to maintain his bike, make small repairs, and ensure it’s always ready to take him to practices, meetings, or community events.

Beyond these essentials, Esteban’s CalABLE account also supports his personal needs, from clothing to hygiene items and other basic necessities that help him live independently and with dignity. Every purchase is made thoughtfully, knowing that CalABLE helps him save safely and spend responsibly without affecting his eligibility for important programs or benefits. That sense of security means everything—it allows Esteban to dream bigger and plan for a future where he continues to grow as both an athlete and a leader.

CalABLE has become a bridge between financial stability and personal empowerment, helping Esteban manage his responsibilities while also reminding him that he is capable of handling his future with strength and purpose. In every way, CalABLE helps Esteban take control of his life and invest in himself – his health, transportation, personal well-being, and dreams.

Howard

Howard (Howi) was born and raised in San Diego. After graduating high school, he enlisted in the US Army for six years and received an honorable discharge. He is now retired after many years in the aerospace industry. He currently volunteers as a leader of the gardening ministry at his local church and he is a regular volunteer at the food bank.

Howi has been raising his son Tu since he was 10. Howi soon realized that Tu had significant learning disabilities both cognitive and what was thought to be ADHD. Tu eventually was (correctly) diagnosed in his mid-30s with autism (Aspergers). Tu is doing much better today with proper medications. Tu now lives in a group home and works part time.

Howi learned about CalABLE in the newspaper and started an account for Tu. As Tu has significant impulsivity, Howi uses the CalABLE account to help Tu manage and slowly start saving money for future expenses like dental care and emergencies. Tu is provided an “allowance” thru his CalABLE cash card. CalABLE is also used to pay Tu’s monthly rent.

Kathy

Kathy started the CalABLE account for her daughter Kiara. Kiara has a rare mitochondrial genetic disorder that is the cause of her intellectual disability, autism, speech apraxia and global dyspraxia. They went years without a diagnosis for Kiara’s disabilities, but with the help of the Undiagnosed Disease Network through Stanford, they were able to have a clear diagnosis.

Kiara is currently a scholar at the Redwoods SEEDs college program through UC Davis. She is in her fourth year and preparing to receive her certificate of completion in June 2026. CalABLE has allowed their family to save money for her schooling and for future needs. It is uncertain how her genetic disorder will unfold; the doctors are still learning about it. CalABLE gives Kathy and Kiara a chance to prepare funds for an uncertain future.

Melodi

Melodi resides in Ventura, CA. Melodi enjoys drumming, photography, gardening, cooking, comedy, writing, Sudoku puzzles, the ocean, and her rescue dogs. She finds great reward in advocating for disabled, underserved, and vulnerable people. She's a 21-year, late-stage breast cancer survivor and survivor of complex trauma.

Melodi diagnosis' include Asperger’s Syndrome, ADHD, C-PTSD, and multiple orthopedic issues that are both traumatic injury and genetic- related. She completed a few years of EMDR Therapy (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) and DBT Skills Therapies. At age 50, with the assistance of her medical team, and service dogs, she began her journey knowing her core self, learning to "function independently", and experiencing joy daily no matter what.

Melodi learned about the CalABLE account from her Special Needs Trust / Estate Planning Attorney, which was needed after receiving a small family inheritance. This enabled her to avoid interference of her SSI, medical and housing benefits and improve her quality of life remarkably so that she could go from surviving to thriving!

She mainly uses her CalABLE account for out-of-pocket medical expenses, transportation, handyman services, and food. Her goal is to save up money for mobility equipment and modifications to her car and home that will improve her daily quality of life greatly.

Her favorite features of her CalABLE Account are exploring the tutorials and help search engine to learn about all the features and opportunities available including financial literacy, saving and investing. Her prepaid card comes in handy for gas, food and other point-of-sale, qualifying essentials. She's extremely grateful for the CalABLE Program, how easy it was to get started, and looking forward to encouraging others to get started and explore the program features for themselves.

Travis

Travis is a software engineer with a passion for technology and problem-solving. Travis’s career journey has been shaped not only by his love of coding but also by personal resilience. Travis has navigated the challenges of a mental health condition that once led him to rely on SSDI. Despite this, Travis made the decision to leave permanent disability behind to fully pursue his professional aspirations, embracing the opportunities and responsibilities of a career in software engineering.

This transition required determination, adaptability, and a commitment to both personal and professional growth. Along the way, Travis developed expertise in designing, developing, and maintaining software solutions, while continually learning new technologies to stay at the forefront of the industry.

With a growing disposable income from his career, Travis is focused on smart financial planning to secure his future. Programs like CalABLE provide valuable tax-advantaged opportunities for individuals like him, allowing Travis to save and invest while maintaining eligibility for essential benefits. Travis’s story reflects a blend of technical skill, personal perseverance, and strategic planning—demonstrating that with the right support and determination, it is possible to thrive both professionally and personally.

Xinxin

Xinxin is a financial advisor based in Contra Costa County, where she lives with her husband and two daughters. Her elder daughter, Nanxi, was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome at the age of two – an experience that has deepened Xinxin’s understanding of the financial challenges and long-term care needs faced by families with special needs.

As both a parent and a professional, Xinxin is passionate about helping working families plan for a secure future. She guides clients through strategies for retirement, education funding, long-term care, and estate planning. Drawing from her own family’s journey, Xinxin actively promotes awareness of the importance of early financial planning and the valuable benefits that the CalABLE program offers to individuals with disabilities and their caregivers.

Xinxin also appreciates that CalABLE provides multilingual resources. Encouraged by the program’s outreach team, she shares its benefits in her native language, helping more families in the Chinese-speaking community learn about and access the opportunities CalABLE provides.

Julienne (ABLE Age)

Julienne has been very active in the disability community since she woke up one morning paralyzed, nearly 30 years ago. At the time that the auto-immune disease paralyzed her, she had 2 babies that she would soon have to support alone. When her husband left, Julienne applied to a charity to get an adapted van and soon had a job selling adapted vehicles. After 15 years of knowing the disability world from that angle, she took a job as the first person with a disability to help run the Abilities Expos. She has been on the board of many non-profits and counts her reign as Ms. Wheelchair California 2024 as some of the best work she has ever done to get people to work together.

Ligia (ABLE Age)

Ligia is committed to providing access to individuals with disabilities around education, civic engagement and disability justice. Ligia acquired a spinal cord injury in 2009. She became the executive director of the Center for Independence of individuals with disabilities in August of 2024 after spending 11 years on the board of directors. Ligia co-founded the Bay Area Sexuality and Disability Network in 2018 and is also a local elected official while also serving on many different boards and commissions in her county. She currently chairs the California State Living Council. Ligia is an active Peer Supporter through Santa Clara Valley Medical Center Peer Support Program, and serves on the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center Northern California Spinal Cord Injury Model System of Care Advisory. Ligia has two adult sons, and resides with her partner and their two cats, Simon and Garfunkel.

Adrienne G

Adrienne resides in Centennial, Colorado and is the loving sister of Allison, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 10. Allison currently lives in a group home in Zachary, Louisiana and enjoys watching movies, listening to music and shopping.

Adrienne learned about CalABLE from her parents’ accountant when settling their estate as a way to distribute Allison’s portion of the estate without messing up her SSI benefits. Allison mainly uses her CalABLE account for transportation since she lives independently but does not drive.

Charles B

Charles is from Placer County. His grandson, Henri, is an individual with autism. Charles is a graduate of Sac State and retired in 2015 from a career in the tech industry. Charles enjoys volunteering in the community and playing golf with his wife Debra.

They are using Henri’s CalABLE account to save money for his current and future needs that improve his quality of life.

Curtis G

Curtis is from Los Angeles County. He loves gardening, drawing, and taking pictures. Curtis also participates in Special Olympics.

Curtis has Tourette's and ADHD. He went to biofeedback as a kid to help it. Curtis now works at Albertson’s and saves his money in his CalABLE account. His goals are to save for retirement, long-term care, and emergencies. He currently uses his CalABLE account for groceries, trips, and personal needs.

Curtis’ favorite feature of CalABLE is e-gifting. “You can have friends and family members send you money, for your birthday and holidays. They can add funds to the e-gift card to your CalABLE account.”

Miguel C

Miguel Casillas is born and raised in Los Angeles County. He is legally blind due to a rare retinal condition called Choroideremia. He is the proud son of immigrants from Jalisco, Mexico. Miguel is a practicing attorney and is opening his own law firm to assist blind people with their legal needs. Miguel is a graduate of UCLA and the UC Berkeley School of Law.

Miguel uses his CalABLE account to save for his own home and to learn to manage his own investment portfolio. "The CalABLE program has been a helpful introduction to investing and building a portfolio for my future."

He enjoys traveling, attending live music concerts, and sports events. Miguel uses his CalABLE account to save and pay for these expenses. He uses CalABLE to pay for transportation and assistive equipment for work and school. Miguel takes classes at El Camino College and uses his Cal ABLE account for his education expenses. "My CalABLE account allows me to plan for and lead the life I want. It's simple, flexible, and it works for me.”

Otto L

Otto Lana is a high school senior and lives in San Diego. He is an award winning poet, writer, consultant, an accomplished film maker, actor, lyricist, and has been lending his voice as a self advocate championing the rights of those with communication challenges since 2018.

He was a Youth Delegate for the Department of Rehab in 2021 and was awarded the Harry Servidio Memorial Leadership Award for his work in advocacy and inclusion. He was the recipient of the first inaugural Heumann-Armstrong Award for Excellence in 2021 for overcoming ableism in academia and presented with Judy Heumann herself. He was recently appointed to the Office of Administrative Hearings Advisory Committee for the Department of Developmental Services.

April 12, 2023 was proclaimed Otto Lana Day in San Diego by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors for his service, leadership and championing the right to communicate. He is the co-founder of the Autism Tree Project Foundation Book Club where award winning authors visit and share their stories. He is a California State Youth Ambassador for the Center on Youth Voice Youth Choice, a resource center for youth with disabilities informing youth about alternatives to conservatorship. He was recently appointed to the Youth Adult Advisory Board for the Center for Applied Special Technology which is a non profit research organization that created the Universal Design for Learning.

As an Ambassador for CalABLE, he hopes to inform California’s disabled community and their allies about ways to create wealth and a stable financial future. Disability should not equate to poverty. He is a member of the Disability Voices United Self Advocacy Speakers Bureau advocating for funding for access and support to communication. He is an entrepreneur, designing and selling waterproof letterboards and apparel on his website www.ottosmottos.com. Instagram is a great way to get the word out too @otto_types.

He is doing all this while taking honors classes at Fusion Academy. He loves the outdoors. Whether it's hiking trails or swimming in the ocean, the beach is definitely his happy place.

Oh and he has Autism and Apraxia by the way. He says these are diagnoses that describe him but do not define him. His goal is to change the face of Autism and Apraxia. He has a great life and a bright future and wishes to lead by example giving parents and disabled individuals hope to fuel their own moonshots.

Raymond J

Raymond is a service oriented, driven 26 years old, living in the Bay Area. Since his car accident when he was 21 and became paralyzed from the chest down, with no hand function and blind in one eye, he has returned to college, earned an AS degree in CAD, a Bachelors in Business Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and entered a master’s program in Information Systems. He has also returned to driving with the support of the Department of Rehabilitation and a modified van, continues to volunteer in the 4-H Youth Development program, serves on the Board of Directors of the San Mateo Events Center, and on a town of Atherton Transportation Committee.

Most recently, he has added manager of the Menlo College Innovation Center to his community service focused engagements. Alongside Raymond’s professional development, Raymond enjoys visiting his two LaMancha dairy goats as well as designing and making things with his 3D printer and laser engraver. To stay fit, Raymond uses an indoor rowing machine from his power chair and spends time on the water with friends and family in a kayak specially fitted with a core supporting chair back and an AngleOar.

Evidenced by Raymond’s educational journey and work experience, his goal is to someday be gainfully employed such that he no longer is in need of disability assistance and can afford to live independently with quality caregiving, keep livestock, and pursue his maker’s hobbies. It was learning of the CalABLE account that lit his vision with hope. He saw a way to save a nest egg and reduce his anxiety about his future. He saw a way to save for things not covered by medical insurance. The first thing he bought was a rowing machine for experiencing a full body workout. Now, he is saving with plans for purchasing a special purpose wheelchair to transport himself on farmland to be closer to his animals.

Steven D

Steven has had a CalABLE account for his autistic son almost since the program started in 2019. As they are in the early years, they are focused on long-term growth which has been solidly successful.

Ever since Steve heard about CalABLE, he has been an avid promoter of the program to everyone he meets. He is very excited to work to help get the word out on this important program to the 8 million eligible disabled people across the US.

Tianni J

Tianni is 28 years old quadriplegic. Tianni is a sophomore in college majoring in communications. She aspires to become a police dispatcher as well as a traveler to speak at events raising awareness on young adults with disabilities.

Tianni recently used the CALABLE Account to purchase a power manual chair for easier convenient transportation. Tianni continues to use her CALABLE account to fund her trips and mobility equipment as she needs.

Ashley Mannheim

Ashley, the mother of Dylan, a nine-year-old boy with autism and rare chromosome duplications, is from Butte County. Dylan also has joint hypermobility and other medical issues.

Ashley is passionate about advocating for people with disabilities so that they can have the accommodations they need to be a part of their community. “Because of CalABLE, we were able to save for and buy a bigger car that fits my son’s new wheelchair!”

Brenda Pascual

Brenda is from Los Angeles and is the mother of Gael, a 10-year-old boy who was diagnosed with intractable epilepsy at the age of five.

As a single parent and full-time caregiver, she found out about CalABLE from her Social Security Administration (SSA) office. She is saving for her son’s future and is excited about the program and what CalABLE can provide long term.

Patty Wong

Patty is from Alameda County. Her son, Alex, is an individual with autism. Alex is pursuing a BA Degree in Art with a concentration in video and animation at Cal State East Bay and works part-time.

After Alex’s old laptop suddenly froze, he recently used his CalABLE account to purchase a new laptop so that he could complete and submit his homework assignment in a timely manner. Alex continues to be able to enjoy the benefits of having a CalABLE account for the different needs throughout his life.

Stephen Bell

Stephen is from Shasta County and the father of Bradley, his 22-year-old son who has autism. Bradley enjoys playing the game Candy Crush, swimming, and going for long walks.

“Having a CalABLE account helps Bradley live his best life and pursue his goal of Independence. His goal is to buy a house and a car.”

Dominika Bednarska

Dominika, who is 41 years old, is from Alameda County and works for a local government office. An immigrant from Poland, she has been disabled with a mobility impairment since birth.

Recently, Dominika used her CALABLE account to help fund her first home purchase and create an emergency fund for unexpected expenses. She also has a PhD in English and Disability Studies and is a writer and performer.

Jennifer Obakhume

Jennifer is 33 years old and from Los Angeles County. She has multiple health conditions that result from what she describes as a “body built of pieces from a generic parts junkyard and old carpenter's glue.”

Jennifer became a CalABLE account holder as a result of an unfortunate experience that presented her with excess funds. Jennifer wants to make sure she can help others in similar situations. Trained in radio journalism in high school by an amazing non-profit, she loves food, music, dancing, animals, history, game shows from the Goodson-Todman library—and travel to wonderful places that makes life thrilling. If she has Minnie Riperton, ABBA, Marvin Gaye, or Ethel Merman on her record player, don't even knock—come back in 6 days!

Héctor Manuel Ramírez

Héctor is Apache and Mexican from Los Angeles County and resides in Yaanga, Tongva on the unceded ancestral lands of the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians.

Héctor is an individual with autism, a psychiatric disability and is hard of hearing. Also, he is systems-impacted, formerly homeless, and a formerly institutionalized person.

Héctor uses his CalABLE account as a wellness and transformational tool in his life. The CalABLE account also helped him put a down payment on his house because of donations from friends and family for his birthday. When he is not working, Héctor co-parents alongside his sister for his niece and nephew, a time-consuming but rewarding responsibility.

Héctor is on the board of directors with Disability Rights California and the National Disability Rights Network where he provides oversight & accountability of the nation's only legally based advocacy organization established by Congress to protect the rights of all individuals with disabilities in every state and U.S. territory.

Ryan M Hoag

Ryan is from Siskiyou County. He has had several head surgeries as a result of being born prematurely.

Ryan enjoys riding his electric bike and hanging out with friends and family members. Ryan is self-employed and an avid photographer. He uses his prepaid card and is saving money for emergency items and future vacations.

Valerie Crisci

Valerie is 24 years old and from San Diego. She identifies as having numerous disabilities including being legally blind, a power wheelchair user, and lives with several chronic illnesses. Despite all of this, she continues to thrive!

Valerie is finishing up her general education at San Diego Mesa College and expects to transfer to CUNY School of Professional Studies to earn a BA in Disability Studies. She is a CalABLE account holder so that she can save money and makes a monthly contribution to her CalABLE account to afford the travel expenses for when she receives her next Service Dog. Related to her Service Dog, she is working on her own nonprofit “Respect the Vest”, which is another reason for saving money, in addition to the safety net of savings everyone should have.