TAP Talent! Trade Association Partnerships Employment Program began as the BEST Interns program. Affordable and accessible financial products and strong customer service are important priorities for individuals with disabilities and their families. Financial institutions have not traditionally focused on the needs and opportunities of the disability market. With support of the Kessler Foundation, NDI, in collaboration with the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions and Allies, Inc. piloted Building EconomicStrength Together (BEST) Interns, an employment program to train and place individuals with disabilities as customer service representatives in select credit unions in New Jersey. In 2013, NDI will repliacte the project in New York.

BEST Interns enjoyed great success and has the potential to become a replicable and sustainable model that not only creates new career pathways for individuals with disabilities but also helps shape the responsiveness of the financial service industry to people with disabilities and their families.

Each selected participant received both classroom and on-the-job training that culminates in a six-week paid internship.

For more information on TAP Talent! And BEST Interns, please contact Elizabeth Jennings at ejennings@ndi-inc.org

New Jersey Credit Unions Celebrate Cycle VI of the BEST Internship Program (11/8/11)

Cycle IV Interns Kick Off Year Two of BEST Internship Program(3/25/11)

New Jersey BEST program gains speed (2/24/11)

BEST Interns Program Seeking New Participants for 8-Week Paid Internship (9/29/10)

NDI's BEST pilot project in New Jersey finishes first cycle (6/28/10)

Kessler Foundation

National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions

Allies, Inc.