The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Secretary has announced it is establishing two new committees to provide advise and recommendations to support and enhance public health preparedness, response, and recovery to meet the needs of older adults and people with disabilities.

ACL's Administration on Disabilities (AoD) seeks to fund one five-year grant to create a national, person-centered, culturally-competent healthcare transition resource center for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD).

The Jewish Federations of North America's (JFNA) Center on Aging and Trauma, a project of the Holocaust Survivor Initiative, seeks applications to expand person-centered, trauma-informed (PCTI) services

The Georgia Institute of Technology Center for Inclusive Tech Design & Innovation presents a new event in their webinar series on COVID-19 Accessible Materials for People with Disabilities.

As states across the country continue to reopen, organizations have a moment to look back, consider lessons learned, and think about changes moving forward with programs and services available to consumers.

COVID-19 has taken its toll on older adults and people with disabilities in many ways. In addition to increased risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19, many also faced the serious threat of being forced to move from their homes into institutions -- or were unable to return to the community from institutions -- as the pandemic outpaced the capacity of our nation’s system of long-term services and supports. 

After more than a year of social distancing to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, we are more aware than ever before of the strength we draw from the people in our lives. We’ve missed sharing meals and activities at the senior center, easy conversations with a friend who stops by for tea, and casual interaction with staff at a movie theater or grocery store. Study after study shows that this kind of connection is good for our mental and physical health, and we are worse off without it. 

ACL’s Office of Network Advancement is seeking reviewers for the upcoming No Wrong Door Community Infrastructure Grants: Scaling Network Lead Entities grant review. Reviewers should have documented expertise in some or all of the following areas: business acumen, community integrated health network development, network lead entity development and enhancement, and/or health care partnerships to align health care and social services.

By Alison Barkoff, Acting ACL Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging COVID-19 has been devastating for people living in congregate settings, with residents experiencing among the highest rates of infection and comprising nearly one-third of deaths. They have been isolated from friends and families throughout the pandemic, and many who wanted to transition to smaller, safer settings in the community have faced barriers due to COVID-19.

The Department of Health and Human Services announced yesterday that the Office for Civil Rights will interpret and enforce Section 1557 and Title IX’s prohibitions on discrimination based on sex to include discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and discrimination on the basis of gender identity.