Coin-based participation system
Learners earn participation-based rewards that make progress visible and encourage ongoing engagement.
Building Confidence With Money.
Take Charge Lab is an online program to help adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) practice real-life money skills in a supportive environment.
About Take Charge Lab
Created by the team at Take Charge America, this engaging online program helps adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities handle everyday financial situations with greater confidence. It was developed by financial counselors and disability specialists and tested with members of the IDD community.
Designed specifically for individuals with IDD, Take Charge Lab focuses on real-life money skills and is built to increase confidence, safety, and independence.
Practical Financial Skills
Real-world topics, clear steps, supportive pacing.
Designed for support teams
Designed to complement agency, caregiver, and staff
support.
The Problem We’re Solving
People with IDD experience abuse, including financial abuse, 4x more than the general population.* Traditional financial literacy programs are often inaccessible for these individuals, leaving them vulnerable to financial exploitation and limiting their path to independence.
Footnote: *Ghaderi, G., & Cobigo, V. (2024). Exploring the complex cognitive, affective and behavioural processes of individuals with intellectual disabilities in financially abusive situations. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 37, e13196.
How Take Charge Lab Helps
Everyday money decisions can feel stressful and confusing. Take Charge Lab helps these individuals to:
Build Confidence
Participants gain confidence in managing everyday money situations.
Stay Safer
Reduce their risk of financial exploitation.
Grow Financial Independence
Participants build skills that help them feel more confident and independent when handling money.
Practice Real-World Skills
Develop practical money skills on topics like budgeting and credit.
Curriculum & Learning Path
Take Charge Lab focuses on practical financial skills participants can use in everyday life. The program builds confidence with common financial tasks and supports safer decision-making.
Money Basics
Currency, counting, and basic financial concepts.
Banking & Saving
Account types, deposits, withdrawals, and saving strategies.
Budgeting
Income, expenses, and creating a spending plan.
Credit & Debt
Credit cards, loans, and responsible borrowing.
Consumer Skills
Smart shopping, comparing prices, and avoiding scams.
Financial Safety
Protecting personal information and recognizing fraud.
Structured Learning Series
The curriculum is organized into guided series that build skills step by step.
Series 1
Understanding Your Money
Introduces income, official income documents, and the basics of needs vs. wants.
Participants will learn: How to identify types of income, read pay stubs or benefit letters, and begin a spending plan.
Series 2
Managing Your Spending
Focuses on daily spending habits, bill ranking, and noticing where money goes.
Participants will learn: How to track spending, sort needs vs. wants, rank bills, and recognize personal spending patterns.
Series 3
Fitting Your Budget
Teaches how to compare income and expenses and adjust spending so the budget fits.
Participants will learn: How to compare income to expenses, lower wants when needed, and create a monthly plan.
Series 4
Making a Bill List
Helps participants identify recurring bills and organize key payment details clearly.
Participants will learn: How to record due dates, amounts due, payment methods, and organize bills in an easy-to-follow format.
Series 5
Deciding What to Pay First
Covers prioritizing essential expenses and making decisions when money is limited.
Participants will learn: How to prioritize essentials, understand late-payment impact, and make safer choices when funds are tight.
Series 6
Paying Bills on Time
Builds routines for tracking due dates and using safe, reliable payment methods.
Participants will learn: How to use reminders, choose safe payment methods, and build habits that support on-time bill payment.
18 Total Lessons Designed for Progressive, Real-World Skill Development
Designed with Accessibility in Mind
Take Charge Lab is intentionally built for diverse learning needs:
Clear, simplified language that supports comprehension
Visual and scenario-based learning grounded in real-world finances
Multiple engagement formats for different learning preferences
Scaffolded progression that builds confidence over time
The content is designed to feel practical and relatable, focusing on situations people with IDD encounter in everyday life.
Take Charge Lab Emphasizes Flexibility
The platform can be used as:
- A standalone learning tool
- A supplement to existing life skills or transition programs
- A structured resource for group or individual instruction
How Learning Actually Works
A simple, engaging platform designed to make financial learning approachable and interactive.
Guided lesson series
Lessons are organized into a structured learning path so participants can build skills one step at a time.
Practice that builds confidence
Each lesson includes opportunities to practice decisions, reinforce concepts, and build understanding over time.
After-class activities and support
Learners can continue practicing with accessible activities that help reinforce real-world financial skills.
Personalized and engaging experience
Features like avatar building help create a learning environment that feels approachable, motivating, and fun.
Built for connection and participation
The platform encourages participation through guided learning, progress, and a sense of community.
Why the experience works
Reinforces positive behavior
The platform encourages participation, practice, and successful repetition in a supportive environment.
Encourages consistency
Structured lessons and repeated practice help learners build routines and strengthen retention over time.
Makes learning motivating and approachable
Interactive design, clear pacing, and accessible activities help financial learning feel less overwhelming.
Participants don’t just learn concepts, they practice decisions step by step.
Real People. Real Progress.
Take Charge Lab supports learners, caregivers, and support teams together.
Partner With Take Charge Lab
Traditional financial literacy programs are often inaccessible for people with IDD, leaving them vulnerable to financial exploitation and limiting their path to independence. Take Charge Lab was created to help close that gap.
We provide the instructor, curriculum, and platform so your organization can offer accessible, practical financial education without having to build or teach it yourself.
Comprehensive curriculum
Research-aligned financial education without developing or teaching the curriculum yourself.
Progress tracking
Built-in assessment and progress tracking to support participant growth.
Promotes independence
Tools that support safer decision-making and reduce financial vulnerability.
Flexible integration
Works alongside existing programs, caregivers, and support teams.
What Your Organization Gains
✓ Increased confidence with common financial tasks
✓ Supporting safe decision-making and awareness
✓ Building foundational money skills
✓ Ongoing training and implementation support
Founding Member Benefit
One month of FREE access to instructor-led sessions and
online curriculum.
“Small steps, taken consistently, create life-changing progress.”
Contact
Reach out to learn more about Take Charge Lab and how we can work together.