Last week, I joined colleagues from the Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development as part of the U.S. Delegation to the 70th United Nations General Assembly.

For many older adults and people with disabilities, the key to remaining independent can be something as simple as a home-delivered meal, a ramp for their homes, or a few hours of respite for a family caregiver. Unfortunately, an often disjointed maze of eligibility criteria, forms, programs, and agencies can prevent even the most determined individuals from obtaining these critical supports.

In 2011, a beloved actor who spent 80 years telling others' stories shared a heartbreaking tale from his own life. "I felt trapped, scared, used and frustrated," Mickey Rooney told a hearing room full of members of Congress, with cameras rolling. He described abuse and financial exploitation committed by his own family members and had a powerful message for other older adults experiencing abuse: "You're not alone … and you have nothing—nothing, ladies and gentlemen—to be ashamed of."

This week AIDD, a part of ACL, awarded National Training Initiative grants to 14 University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs) to support a one-year diversity fellowship at each UCEDD. The fellows will work to: Improve the recruitment and employment of under-represented groups, including people with disabilities, within the UCEDD and in the workforce Increase the diversity of leadership, staff, and governing bodies across the DD network

Our brains change as we grow older. Studies show that older adults fear mental decline or memory loss as much as—or more than—other physical ailments, including heart disease and stroke. In a recent Roper survey, 71 percent of adults said they "worry most" about not being alert and experiencing memory loss as they get older. With more than 40 million Americans over the age of 65 nationwide, helping people understand normal aging, learn to recognize signs for concern, and take steps to optimize their brain health as they age is more important than ever.

Editor's note: This week the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services released a policy statement highlighting the importance of making sure that all young children with disabilities have access to inclusive high-quality early childhood programs.

This week, the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services released a policy statement highlighting the importance of making sure that all young children with disabilities have access to inclusive high-quality early childhood programs. The policy statement sets a vision for states, local educational agencies, schools, and public and private early childhood programs to strengthen and increase the number of inclusive high-quality early childhood programs nationwide.

Transition is coming to the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) program, which is moving from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to the Administration for Community Living (ACL).

Suicide takes a tremendous toll on older adults, particularly men over the age of 65. Yet the number of older adults in the United States is growing. Nearly 10,000 Americans turn 65 every day. The good news is that there are more than 11,000 senior centers that offer a wide range of services and supports to help older adults stay mentally and physically healthy and live independently in their communities.