On Tuesday, I had the privilege of chairing the fall 2019 meeting of the Elder Justice Coordinating Council.  The meeting featured an impressive panel of experts offering insights from the field, and the release of ACL's National Adult Maltreatment Reporting System (NAMRS) data report for 2018. Leaders from across the federal government also shared updates on their departments' efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

Two new funding opportunities from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) at ACL have been announced for the

ACL's Paralysis Resource Center (managed by the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation) has awarded four High Impact Innovative Assistive Technology (HIIAT) Quality of Life Grants, totaling $300,000. The Quality of Life Grants Program supports nonprofit organizations that empower individuals living with paralysis. Funding for this new cycle of grants was made possible through a cooperative agreement with the Administration for Community Living.

At this time of year, we stop to give thanks and spend time with our friends and loved ones to reflect on our many blessings. We spend time renewing the ties that connect families and sharing in the joys of the season. Because November is also National Family Caregivers Month, this is a time of year when we pause to think about the people whose support makes it possible for their loved ones to live independently in their homes and communities, as well as the increasing number of grandparents and other older relatives who take over raising children when their parents cannot.

The FY 2020 ACL Falls Prevention Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) are now available via Grants.gov. There are two distinct FOAs this year: 

Four new funding opportunities from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) at ACL have been announced for the

The FY 2020 Chronic Disease Self-Management Education (CDSME) Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) are now available via Grants.gov. There are two distinct FOAs this year:

The National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) at ACL has funded 64 new projects in fiscal year 2019, ranging from six-months long Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) projects building new technology to five-year centers conducting research and training in rehabilitation

Today is America Recycles Day. Recycling assistive technology is one way to help make community living possible for more people. Assistive technology (AT) and durable medical equipment (DME) encompass a broad range of devices including home hospital beds, hearing aids, communication devices, wheelchair ramps or lifts, and software. These devices play a critical role in helping many older adults and individuals with disabilities achieve educational and career goals, avoid social isolation, and stay out of nursing homes.