COVID-19 Updates from ACL

Here's what's new on our COVID-19 resource page:

Guidance for Grantees: ACL continues to release guidance for our many grantee networks. We recently posted guidance for NIDILRR grantees implementing flexibilities authorized by the Office of Management and Budget.

We also have posted the following guidance for Older Americans Act programs (including ADRCs):

• Letter to State Unit on Aging Directors: Presumptive Approval of Waivers Permitting Extension of Existing State Plans
• Fiscal FAQ: Major Disaster Declaration
• Fiscal FAQ: OAA Funding, FFCRA, CARES Act, and OAA Reauthorization
• Guidance: Expediting expenditures at the state level in responding to the COVID-19 Emergency
• Q&A: From ACL call with State Unit on Aging Directors on April 1, 2020
• A recording, transcript, and updated Q&A from ACL's recent call on emergency CARES Act funding for ADRCs.

AUCD webinar series: The Association of University Centers on Disability (AUCD) which is hosting a webinar series on public health and COVID-19. The first webinar in the series is this Wednesday, April 15, at 4:00 p.m. ET and will offer advice from medical providers.

The Growing Threat of Scams: We are continuing to hear about new scams that seek to take advantage of the coronavirus pandemic, including fraudsters who are impersonating state and federal officials. We've added additional tips on avoiding scams from the Federal Trade Commission and a helpful flyer with resources from the Department of Justice's Elder Justice Initiative.

The latest from NIDILRR grantees: The community of grantees funded by ACL's National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic with new research, presentations, and resources. We've added a link to a regularly updated list of these resources collected by the National Rehabilitation Information Center. We also have added NIDILRR resources on navigating health care for people who use augmented and alternative communication and for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf/blind. 

From our federal partners: Agencies from across the federal government are responding to the coronavirus. Here a few resources we've added from federal partners who are working to keep the public informed:

• Six new ASL videos covering topics including when to get medical care, social distancing, and managing stress and anxiety from the CDC.
• Resources for veterans from the VA.
• A Paycheck Protection Program Q&A for small businesses (including non-profit organizations) from the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
• Financial resources including online and mobile banking tips for new users from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
• Answers to common questions schools may have about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act from the U.S. Department of Education.

Social Isolation: The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the well-documented dangers of social isolation for older adults. We have posted a guide from ADvancing States with information on social isolation and ways to combat it while physically distancing.