Dear Friends of ACL: Today is my last day at the Administration for Community Living. Saying goodbye seems both necessary and unnecessary. Although I will leave my positions as Assistant Secretary for Aging and Administrator, I will not disappear, and our paths may well cross again. As I leave ACL, and with it, government service, I am mindful of all that has transpired for me these past 25 years.

Home and community-based services (HCBS) provide opportunities for individuals with disabilities and older adults to receive services in their own home or community. On January 16, 2014, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services published a final rule that sets forth new requirements for states using Medicaid funds to pay for HCBS, supports enhanced quality in HCBS programs, and adds protections for individuals receiving these services.

All of us at ACL are celebrating a historic milestone for Americans with disabilities and older Americans: the 26th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA made clear that people with disabilities of all ages should experience equal opportunity, independent living, economic self-sufficiency, and full participation in all aspects of society. From curb cuts and accessible buses to the integration of people with disabilities in schools, workplaces, businesses, and neighborhoods, the ADA has made our communities more accessible and more inclusive.

July 26, 2016, San Diego, Calif., Remarks as prepared Good morning. It’s great to be with you again this morning. I have been looking forward to today for many reasons. The n4a conference and my remarks have always felt to me like my own personal “State of the Union.” When I see you again, it means we’ve made “one more trip around the sun,” to quote Jimmy Buffet.

Learn more about ACL’s nutrition programs and research Nutrition Services for Older Americans General Information Find Nutrition Services Near You Dietary Guidelines for Older Americans National Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging

Today we join communities around the world in observing the International Day of Older Persons. October 1 was designated by the United Nations in 1990 to recognize the vital contributions of older people to the global community and to encourage member nations to thoughtfully address the aging of the population.

July 14, 2016 "The Older Americans Act clearly affirms our nation's sense of responsibility toward the well-being of all of our older citizens. But even more, the results of this act will help us to expand our opportunities for enriching the lives of all of our citizens in this country, now and in the years to come."

The Administration for Independent Living (ACL), Independent Living Administration (ILA) recognizes there is a need to develop capacity building within existing Centers for Independent Living (CIL) for serving individuals with disabilities in Indian Country. Through a new funding opportunity ACL intends to:

ACL recently announced grant awards totaling over $1.2 million to help older adults gain access to quality legal services.  These awards are designed to help improve the quality of life of elders at risk of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation in their communities.

A message from Kathy Greenlee to our colleagues in the aging and disability networks Dear colleagues, Earlier today, I shared the news with my staff that I will be leaving ACL at the end of July. Edwin Walker, who currently serves as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aging, will assume the roles of Acting Administrator of ACL and Acting Assistant Secretary for Aging.