Since 1789, American service members have sworn an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. In the years since, they have served around the world to protect and uphold democracy. Today’s veterans may have served in harm’s way to keep danger far from home, provided humanitarian assistance, supported disaster response — and many have done all three and more.

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.

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.

Every October, we celebrate Residents’ Rights Month to affirm the rights of people living in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other long-term care (LTC) settings, and to raise awareness about the need for quality care and safety protections in these facilities.

Each October, during National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), ACL celebrates the value and talent workers with disabilities add to America’s workplaces and economy. During NDEAM, we also celebrate the work being done across our agency and the disability networks to expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

The purpose of the federal 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 purpose of the FIPs program is to generate new knowledge through research or to develop methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technologies to maximize the full inclusion and integration into society, employment, independent living, family/caregiver support, and economic and self-sufficiency of people with disabilities, especially people with the greatest support needs.

ARRT grants are intended to increase the number of high-quality disability and rehabilitation researchers. Grants are made to institutions of higher education to provide research training to individuals with doctorates or similar advanced degrees. The researcher trained by these grants will improve the community living and participation, employment, and health and function outcomes for people with disabilities.

This grant has been awarded to the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, which is partnering with the Institute on Disability and Human Development at the University of Illinois-Chicago; the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University; The Arc; and USAging, the national association representing and supporting the network of area agencies on aging (AAAs) and Title VI Native American aging programs.

In this Policy Round-Up: