Building Confidence and Independence With Money.
Education at Take Charge Lab offers instructor-led financial education designed specifically for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our lessons focus on practical, real-life money skills and are taught in a supportive, accessible online environment. Each class is built to strengthen confidence, increase financial safety, and support greater independence over time.
About Take Charge Lab
Our engaging, accessible curriculum helps participants build skills to handle everyday financial situations. The curriculum was created in collaboration with disability education specialists, occupational therapists, and behavioral experts—and tested with members of the IDD community.
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
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 the Program Works
A clear, supportive experience that helps learners build money skills with confidence—step by step.
Short lessons that feel approachable
Bite-sized topics with simple explanations, real-life examples, and supportive pacing.
Practice that builds confidence
Activities reinforce concepts with clear steps—so learners can repeat, learn, and improve over time.
Designed for support teams
Works alongside caregivers and staff—making it easy to guide learners without replacing existing services.
Real-world safety and awareness
Helps learners recognize safer choices, build independence, and practice healthy financial habits.
From the Blog
Explore practical, bite-sized guidance to help you build confidence with money.
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
Frequently Asked Questions
The FAQs below provide a quick overview of how Take Charge Lab works, who it serves, and what participants can expect from the program. They highlight how TCL supports individuals with IDD through instructor‑led online lessons, engaging activities, and accessible teaching strategies. You’ll also learn how participants join classes, what technology is needed, how TCL coins reinforce learning, and how organizations can partner with TCL to offer financial education.
Take Charge Lab is an instructor-led online training program that teaches individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) how to navigate everyday financial situations. Through engaging lessons and real-world examples, participants build practical skills that help them make safe, confident financial decisions.
Take Charge Lab is designed for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), as well as the organizations and caregivers who support them. This includes DTA organizations, direct support professionals (DSPs) and caregivers who help participants apply what they learn in everyday life.
Participants can join Take Charge Lab through a partner organization or by registering individually. Many attend through a DTA organization, which registers participants and supports them during the class. Individuals and families can also sign up directly with the support of a caregiver.
A trained instructor with experience in special education leads each online lesson. Participants engage in interactive activities, quizzes, and guided discussions designed to make financial concepts practical and easy to understand. Along the way, participants can earn coins for participating and answering questions.
TCL coins are rewards participants earn during lessons for participating, answering questions, and engaging with material. Coins can be used to purchase items in the TCL store, adding a fun incentive while reinforcing learning and participation.
Participants need access to a device with internet connection, such as a computer, tablet, or mobile device. A participant or supporting caregiver should be able to interact with the screen to join the lesson, answer questions, participate in activities.
Lessons use clear language, visuals, repetition, and interactive participation to support a range of learning styles and abilities.
Organizations can partner with Take Charge Lab to offer financial literacy training to the individuals they support. TCL provides the instruction, curriculum, and online platform, making it easy for organizations to implement engaging financial education without needing to build or teach the program themselves.
TCL lessons are designed to be short, engaging, and easy to follow. Each session typically lasts long enough to cover key financial concepts through activities, discussions, and practice, while keeping participants focused and comfortable.
Caregivers and staff don’t need formal training to support learners. TCL instructors lead the lessons, while caregivers simply help participants join sessions, stay engaged, and practice the skills in everyday situations.
Contact
Whether you're an organization, caregiver, or individual, we’re here to answer your questions and help you get started.