October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of workers with disabilities and the value of a diverse workforce that includes the skills and talents they bring. Read an NDEAM message from Acting ACL Administrator Edwin Walker.

I am pleased to announce that today ACL’s final rule for Independent Living (IL) programs went on display in the Federal Register. This final rule clarifies the requirements of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) for Centers for Independent Living (CILs) and State Independent Living Councils (SILCs).

Throughout the past year, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) has shared profiles and promising practices from employment service providers working with people with disabilities across the country. Many of the providers described their experiences transitioning from a sheltered workshop to more integrated community-based models.

Today, the final rule for Independent Living (IL) programs went on display in the Federal Register. The rule was developed in close coordination with the independent living network and addresses the requirements of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Specifically, the final rule:

Recently, a variety of ACL disability programs have awarded funding to enhance the cultural and linguistic competency of the disability network and ensure that all people with disabilities can access ACL-funded programs and services.

Good oral health is critical for older adults and younger adults with disabilities. Poor oral health is largely preventable and linked to a person’s overall health and serious chronic diseases. Unfortunately, older adults and adults with disabilities are at high risk of having poor oral health due to inadequate access to services and certain disabilities that make oral hygiene tasks hard to complete and obtaining services even more difficult.

ACL is working with a contractor to remind Medicare beneficiaries about Medicare Open Enrollment and the availability of volunteers from State Health Information and Assistance Programs (SHIP) to help make the most of Medicare coverage options. The matte release is as follows:

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ACL’s National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) is seeking comments and will be hosting several listening sessions across the country to help inform future funding priorities and strategic direction. Mandated by Congress to develop a long-range plan every five years, NIDILRR is committed to incorporating input from key stakeholders—especially people with disabilities.

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) awarded a supplemental grant in the amount of $60,000 to the National Ombudsman Resource Center (NORC) to address a number of emerging issues. NORC provides significant training, technical assistance and program management expertise for state and local long-term care ombudsman (LTCO) programs.