Johnette Hartnett

Johnette T. Hartnett, Ed.D.

Director of Research

National Disability Institute

 

 

Dr. Hartnett is the Director of Research and Strategic Partnership Development for the National Disability Institute (NDI). She is also a senior researcher with the Law, Health Policy, & disability Center (LHPDC) at the University of Iowa, College of Law. Dr. Hartnett provides national leadership in the development of traditional and non-traditional partnerships across Federal agencies, foundations, and the private and non-profit sector on a variety of public policy issues relative to the employment, asset development, and housing and long-term service and support needs of Americans with disabilities.

 

Dr. Hartnett is the lead for several of NDI’s strategic initiatives including the TaxFacts+ Campaign and Real Economic Impact Tour in 54 cities that is delivering free tax preparation assistance to over 17,000 low-income persons with disabilities in collaboration with the IRS Stakeholder, Partnership and Education and Communication Division; the Ford Foundation and National Cooperative Bank sponsored research in four pilot TaxFacts+ cities examining the tax filing and financial service needs of working individuals with disabilities; and the National Council on Disability research project to develop policy recommendations to improve current financial incentives available to benefit persons with disabilities and their families.

 

In addition, Dr. Hartnett is co-principal investigator of the Asset Development and Tax Policy Project (AATPP) for persons with disabilities, a National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research funded grant at the LHPDC.  AATP and its strategic partners, the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions, the World Institute on Disability, and Southern New Hampshire School of Community Economic Development are researching the barriers and facilitators of tax and other public policies to the advancement of economic independence, social empowerment, and community integration for individuals with disabilities.

 

Dr. Hartnett obtained her Ed.D. in Policy and Educational Leadership from the University of Vermont. She graduated Summa Cum Laude, from Trinity College, in Vermont, majoring in psychology and gerontology. Prior to her role at the National Disability Institute, Dr. Hartnett was Vice President of the NCB Development Corporation, and Assistant Research Professor, in the Department of Education and the Center on Disability and Community Inclusion, at the University of Vermont.  She was a Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Congressional Fellow in the 107^th Congress where she worked for Senator Rockefeller on behalf of low-income individuals with disabilities in the reauthorization of welfare.

 

Dr. Hartnett’s research and publications have been in the areas of special education finance, welfare reform, asset development and long-term services and supports for individuals with disabilities.  In addition, Dr. Hartnett has authored a series of books on coping with loss.  Dr. Hartnett is dedicated to working on policy and research issues that forward the quality of life and the economic well-being of Americans with disabilities.