Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released an updated joint-policy statement on supporting the inclusion of children with disabilities in early childhood programs. The statement reiterates expectations for inclusive early childhood settings and updates recommendations for state and local agencies that implement Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) programs, Head Start, child care, home visiting, preschool, and public schools to increase inclusive early learning opportunities for all children.

Join SAGE, one of the ACL-funded national Minority Aging Technical Assistance and Resource Centers, for their webinar, “Planning for Lifelong Care for Transgender & Non-binary People.” During this webinar, you will learn about a new decision-making tool with guiding questions that any gender-diverse person can use to identify their values and goals concerning dementia, gender identity, and gender expression, which can then be used in an advance directive.

Under a contract with ACL’s Administration on Disabilities (AoD), the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) is leading the development of a model for providing peer-to-peer support to help people with disabilities find — and, most importantly, learn to use — augmentative and alternative communication tools.

Nominations are due by January 16, 2024. People with multidisciplinary experience supporting and caring for those affected by Long COVID are encouraged to apply. HHS is specifically interested in receiving nominations of people who have had Long COVID and other disability stakeholders.

AmeriCorps Seniors invites organizations to submit applications for the FY 2024 Senior Companion and Foster Grandparent programs. These funding opportunities specifically help AmeriCorps Seniors focus Senior Companion and Foster Grandparent projects on issues that are critical to communities and help expand the programs to more geographies.

Performing the duties of ACL Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging Each year, more than 53 million Americans provide a broad range of assistance to support the health, quality of life, and independence of an older adult or person with a disability. Another 2.7 million grandparents ­— and an unknown number of other kinship caregivers — open their arms and homes each year to children who cannot remain with their parents.

As the population of older adults and people with disabilities continues to grow, the availability of services and supports that help many remain independent at home and in their communities will be increasingly important. To be effective, those services and supports must address health-related social needs (HSRNs) — the social and economic needs, such as housing instability, food insecurity, and lack of transportation, that impact an individual’s ability to maintain their health and well-being. This month, the U.S.

The University of Kansas Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies — funded by ACL's National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) — is seeking adults with disabilities to complete the 2023 National Survey on Health and Disability (NSHD). 

ACL is pleased to announce the award of a new grant designed to increase the availability of innovative models of dementia-specific respite care in communities across the nation. The Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Disorders Association, Inc. (Alzheimer’s Association) has received a five-year cooperative agreement award for over $4.9 million per year for Supporting State and Community Innovations in Dementia-Specific Respite Programs and Services. The grant also has a match component, which brings the total funding to over $6.5 million per year.

Yesterday, HHS released our new language access plan, which includes critical actions to improve access to HHS programs and services for people with disabilities and/or limited English proficiency. With provisions that specifically address the effective communication and accessibility requirements found in sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the HHS Language Access Plan is the latest in a series of important actions taken by ACL and our partners across federal government over the last several years to uphold the rights of people with disabilities.