In 1999 Congress passed groundbreaking legislation which broke down barriers to employment for people with disabilities. In addition to providing Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI) beneficiaries with a range of new and improved options related to…

This post also appears on the HHS Blog. During National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), we celebrate the contributions of workers with disabilities and the value of a workforce that includes their skills and talents. Inclusive workplaces—where people with diverse talents,…

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…

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…

On Saturday, we will 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…

As National Preparedness Month comes to a close, we are reminded of the importance of making emergency planning efforts inclusive of people of all ages and abilities as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act. ACL interviewed two disability community leaders…

Senior Malnutrition in our country is an epidemic hiding in plain sight. It is estimated that almost 50 percent of older Americans are malnourished. During Malnutrition Awareness week let’s commit to ending this problem. Many inter-related factors can contribute to malnutrition. Some…

The original Rehabilitation Act became law just before the First World War and little change was made to it over the next five decades. In contrast, the landmark legislation that passed in 1973 altered the course of history in fundamental ways. When the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 became law, I was…

Each year in September we pause to honor our nation’s senior centers. The 2016 National Senior Center Month theme, Find Balance at Your Center!, highlights how senior centers are providing programs that focus on the whole person allowing seniors to live healthier lives and stay…