The University of Kansas Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies — funded by ACL's National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) — is seeking adults with disabilities to complete the 2023 National Survey on Health and Disability (NSHD). 

ACL is pleased to announce the award of a new grant designed to increase the availability of innovative models of dementia-specific respite care in communities across the nation. The Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Disorders Association, Inc. (Alzheimer’s Association) has received a five-year cooperative agreement award for over $4.9 million per year for Supporting State and Community Innovations in Dementia-Specific Respite Programs and Services. The grant also has a match component, which brings the total funding to over $6.5 million per year.

Yesterday, HHS released our new language access plan, which includes critical actions to improve access to HHS programs and services for people with disabilities and/or limited English proficiency. With provisions that specifically address the effective communication and accessibility requirements found in sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the HHS Language Access Plan is the latest in a series of important actions taken by ACL and our partners across federal government over the last several years to uphold the rights of people with disabilities.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is holding a two-day virtual public workshop to promote diversity in clinical trials on November 29 and 30. Of special interest during the workshop:

Join the Partnership to Align Social Care for "The Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Includes Codes to Address HRSNs...What Happens Next?"

On September 26, 2023, Acting Secretary Julie Su announced that the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is launching a comprehensive review of the Section 14(c) program, which authorizes employers, after receiving a certificate from the Wage and Hour Division, to pay subminimum wages to workers whose disabilities impact their productivity for the specific work performed. As part of this effort, the DOL has been holding a series of stakeholder engagement sessions to hear from members of the public, in particular workers with disabilities, about their experiences with the Section 14(c) program.

On Saturday, we join the nation in celebrating Veterans Day and the generations of American service members who swore an oath to the Constitution of the United States to support and defend the principles of liberty, equality, and justice and to preserve and protect our democracy. About six percent of Americans are veterans, and their numbers disproportionately include older adults and people with disabilities — nearly three-quarters are 55 or older, and about a third have a disability.

In this policy-round up: Input Needed for CMS Revised 1915(c) HCBS Waiver Application and Technical Guide (comments due 11/13), Assessing mental health parity and addiction equity compliance in Medicaid and CHIP (comments due 12/4), ACF proposed rule on services and protections for unaccompanied children in its care (comments due 12/4), Coverage of over-the-counter preventative services (comments due 12/4), Census Bureau changes to American Community Survey and Puerto Rico Community Survey (comments due 12/19),HHS 504 proposed rule, stakeholder call recording now available (comments due 11/13)

Join the Housing and Services Resource Center (HSRC) to explore how cross-sector partnerships can help to sustain services and programs that support accessible and stable housing for older adults and people with disabilities.

Join the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network: A National Technical Assistance Center for the webinar “Support Groups: Recruiting, Retention, and Everything in Between.” This webinar is part of a series provided by the ACL-funded Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network, which is led by Generations United.