Earlier today, Alison Barkoff testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee about the Older Americans Act, the critical importance of its programs and the aging services network that implements its programs, and ACL’s work to strengthen and support both. The OAA was last reauthorized in 2020 and will expire on September 30, 2024.

The RERC on Technologies to Enhance Independence and Community Living Among People with Cognitive Disabilities will conduct research, development, and related activities focused on technologies that support the community living and participation of adults with cognitive disabilities.

Join ACL’s Office of Nutrition and Health Promotion Programs (ONHPP) to celebrate the 52nd anniversary of the national Senior Nutrition Program, which is funded by the Older Americans Act. This virtual event will recognize the national program's impact and the importance of connectedness in the everyday work of local programs to support the health and well-being of older adults.

Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced several new initiatives and resources from ACL’s Direct Care Workforce Strategies Center to address the dire shortage of professionals who provide the services many older adults and people with disabilities need to live in the community.

The purpose of the RERC program is to improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act by conducting advanced engineering research and development of innovative technologies designed to solve particular rehabilitation problems or remove environmental barriers.

The Disability Grant Program brings together disability organizations and victim service providers to work in a collaborative manner at the intersection of disability and domestic and sexual violence. Grants are awarded to facilitate permanent organizational changes to create more accessible, safe, and effective services for survivors with disabilities and Deaf survivors.

ACL has awarded $3 million in new funding to the University of Southern California, Leonard Davis School of Gerontology (USC) to support implementation of recommendations for addressing Goal 4 (financial and workplace security) in the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers (the Strategy).

The purpose of the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) program is to plan and conduct research, demonstration projects, trainings, and related activities, including international activities. These endeavors aim to develop methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technology that maximize the full inclusion and integration into society, employment, independent living, family support, and economic and social self-sufficiency of individuals with disabilities.

Each year, ACL brings partners and interested parties together to discuss important issues around TBI services, supports, and systems and to learn from other partners, brain injury survivors, family members, support networks, and state and federal representatives.

On November 1, HHS and HUD solicited applications for the Housing and Services Partnership Accelerator, which will support states in developing or expanding innovative housing-related supports and services for Medicaid-eligible people with disabilities and older adults who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. As the name suggests, the Accelerator will focus on helping states improve collaboration and coordination between organizations and systems that provide services and resources that help people find — and keep — stable housing in the community.