December 1 is the 26th annual World AIDS Day. While raising awareness of the prevalence of AIDS and HIV, we also need to raise awareness about who is at risk. Unsafe sex is the most common way people contract HIV worldwide. Unfortunately, many people mistakenly assume that older Americans and individuals with a disability are not sexually active and therefore not at risk for HIV infection.

Expect. Employ. Empower. Everyone deserves the opportunity to find and perform meaningful work. This includes older adults and people with even the most significant disabilities.

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) joins President Obama and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius as we recognize May as Mental Health Awareness Month, reaffirming our commitment to building our understanding of mental illness, increasing access to treatment, and ensuring those who are struggling to know they are not alone.

Residents' Rights Month is celebrated in October to honor those living in long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, assisted living, board and care, and retirement communities. It provides an opportunity for family members, ombudsmen, citizen advocates, facility staff, and others to focus awareness on the dignity, respect, and value of each individual resident. It also serves as a reminder to those living in a long-term care facility to learn about and exercise their rights.

"How is my child doing?": parents and other caregivers often ask themselves. Several federal projects are underway to support parents and professionals who work with young children in answering this universal question.

National Falls Prevention Awareness Day is September 23. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries to older adults. Falls result in more than 2.4 million injuries treated in emergency departments annually, including over 772,000 hospitalizations and more than 21,700 deaths. This year’s theme, Strong Today—Falls Free Tomorrow, highlights the important roles professionals, older adults, caregivers, and family members play in raising awareness and preventing falls in the older adult population.

National Hispanic Heritage Month is a month-long celebration of Hispanic culture, history, and contributions that lasts from September 15 until October 15. The theme for 2014 is, “Hispanics: A legacy of history, a present of action and a future of success.” Hispanics make up 17% of our nation’s total population.

Today marks the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people from 93 countries. On this day, we remember and mourn those who were lost. We honor the courage of the everyday heroes who helped others to safety and searched for survivors, often at the cost of their own lives. We recognize the work of those who have helped the nation heal.

In 1978, President Jimmy Carter designated the first Sunday after Labor Day, National Grandparents Day. This observance honors the ways grandparents improve the lives of others by sharing their wisdom and life experiences with younger generations. Even as they deal with advancing age, many grandparents continue to take an active role in providing for their family’s needs. In fact, according to the U.S. Census (PDF), more than 2.7 million adults are helping to raise their grandchildren.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month. Every year thousands of adults in the U.S. suffer serious health problems, are hospitalized, and even die from diseases that could be prevented by vaccines. For example, in 2012, there were approximately 32,000 cases of invasive pneumococcal disease, resulting in 3,300 deaths.