October 31st marked 60 years since President John F. Kennedy signed the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act). The DD Act advanced a fundamentally different vision of what it means to live with a developmental disability. The law empowered people with developmental disabilities and their families to help shape policies that impact them, and it served as the blueprint for many subsequent laws that both protect the rights of people with disabilities and promote independence, integration, and inclusion throughout life.

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the launch of 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.

Join the ACL-funded National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) and the Los Angeles Caregiver Resource Center (LACRC) at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology for a discussion with an esteemed panel of journalists, caregivers, and practitioners to celebrate National Family Caregivers Month.

About the Observance Celebrated every November, National Family Caregivers Month (NFCM) is a time to recognize and honor family caregivers across the country. It offers an opportunity to raise awareness of caregiving issues, educate communities, and increase support for caregivers.

As National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) draws to a close, we reflect on the role that employment can play in community inclusion for people with disabilities. NDEAM is observed each October to celebrate the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities and to showcase supportive, inclusive employment policies and practices that benefit employers and employees. This year’s NDEAM theme, “Advancing Access and Equity,” speaks to the importance of breaking down barriers and creating opportunities that make employment inclusive of people with disabilities.

ACL’s Eldercare Locator and Disability Information & Access Line (DIAL) are trusted resources that help connect older adults and people with disabilities with resources in their community. In recent days, Eldercare Locator has noted a significant increase in people reporting they have been targeted by scam phone calls.

The Aging and Disability Business Institute is seeking participation in the latest Community-Based Organization and Health Care Contracting Survey. They hope to hear about your health care contracting experiences.

Each of the four webinars will focus on the foundational elements of serving as a community care hub. Webinars will showcase examples from leading community care hubs and describe resources available to support community-based organizations so they can form, launch, and operate a hub in their community. 

The purpose of the SBIR Program is to stimulate technological innovation in the private sector, strengthen the role of small business in meeting federal research or research and development needs, and improve the return on investment from federally-funded research for economic and social benefits to the nation.

The 7th Annual Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day (OAMHAD) symposium will be held virtually on Thursday, May 2, 2024. The free event is hosted by the National Council on Aging (NCOA), with funding provided by ACL, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).