Gov. Steve Sisolak Praised for Launching First-in-the-Nation Program for Children with Disabilities

This week, Gov. Steve Sisolak and Treasurer Zach Conine launched the Transforming Opportunities for Toddlers and Students (TOTS) Grant Program — a first-in-nation grant program to help children with disabilities and their families using funds from the American Rescue Plan.

TOTS is Nevada’s first statewide grant program to be launched using American Rescue Plan Act funding and the largest investment into ABLE accounts in the United States.

Here’s what folks are saying about the transformational program:

• News 3 Las Vegas: “Nevada is the first state in the nation to launch a new program benefiting children with disabilities and their families.”

• The Center Square: “Gov. Steve Sisolak and Treasurer Zach Conine unveiled a new grant program on Monday that will support children with disabilities as part of Nevada’s economic recovery from COVID-19.”

• Associated Press: “The Transforming Opportunities for Toddlers and Students program, or TOTS, aims to help youngsters recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and provide ‘opportunities to save for a brighter future.’”

• Las Vegas Review-Journal: “No other program in the country puts grant money directly into such accounts, said Erik Jimenez, chief policy deputy for the treasurer’s office. Other states are now looking to follow Nevada’s lead and create similar programs.”

• This is Reno: “Nevada this week became the first state to launch a grant program using American Rescue Plan Act funding … The program represents the largest investment into ABLE accounts in the nation.”

“Gov. Steve Sisolak’s leadership is helping Nevada emerge from the pandemic even stronger than before,” said DGA Senior Communications Advisor Christina Amestoy. “Nevada’s children with disabilities were hit hard by the pandemic, and this first-in-the-nation program will change countless lives.”

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