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October 17, 2014 | Kathy Greenlee, Former Assistant Secretary for Aging and ACL Administrator
What people say when they greet each other can tell us about their culture as well as their community’s experience. One traditional Mandarin greeting translates into English as "Have you eaten?" Linguists believe this practice probably started when food was scarce and people were often hungry. A…
October 10, 2014 |
It's still hard to believe that Robin Williams – beloved comedian, actor, father, and friend – is no longer with us. To the public and even close friends, he appeared to be happy, upbeat and funny, and he was financially stable — all of those things that seem worth living for. But behind the public…
October 10, 2014 | Aaron Bishop, Former Commissioner, Administration on Disabilities
Every 48 seconds in the U.S., someone becomes paralyzed due to a spinal cord injury. The majority of these injuries are caused by auto accidents, on-the-job incidents, and sports.
In July of this year, the U.S. Senate designated September 2014 as National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month. The…
October 10, 2014 |
By Sharon Lewis, Principal Deputy, Administration for Community Living (ACL)
Among working-age adults, most of us would likely agree that employment is a critically important part of our lives. Employment gives us a sense of purpose that comes with contributing to something bigger, offers a sense…
October 10, 2014 | Sharon Lewis, Principal Deputy Administrator of ACL and Senior Advisor on Disability Policy, HHS
On June 6, 2014, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued important guidance on implementing Section 2402(a) of the Affordable Care Act. This provision of the law requires the Secretary to ensure all states develop systems for delivery of home and community-based services and…
October 10, 2014 | Wendy Spencer Kathy Greenlee, Former Assistant Secretary for Aging and ACL Administrator
Whether they’re designing new digital programs to tutor students in mathematics or organizing meal programs for elderly neighbors; whether they’re driving veterans to doctor appointments or visiting patients in nearby hospitals, older Americans are transforming lives and communities across the…
October 10, 2014 | Kathy Greenlee, Former Assistant Secretary for Aging and ACL Administrator
This Sunday, June 15, is Father’s Day, a day devoted to honoring our fathers—and our father figures—for the love and support they have given us over the course of our lives. Fittingly, it is also World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), a day devoted to raising awareness of a serious world health…
October 10, 2014 | Kathy Greenlee, Former Assistant Secretary for Aging and ACL Administrator
In recent years, the United States has experienced a number of significant natural disasters. Several of these events happened with little or no warning. One key lesson that we have learned from these unfortunate circumstances is to "be prepared," a message that is especially important for older…
October 10, 2014 | Kathy Greenlee, Former Assistant Secretary for Aging and ACL Administrator
I am delighted to welcome two important programs to ACL—the Paralysis Resource Center (PRC) and the State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs). These programs are moving to ACL as a result of the 2014 budget recently signed by President Obama.
ACL was formed in April 2012 to advance policy…
October 10, 2014 | Aaron Bishop, Former Commissioner, Administration on Disabilities
Twenty-four years ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law. The law’s passage signaled America’s commitment to achieving equality for all its citizens by providing long overdue protections for people with disabilities. We have made tremendous progress toward this goal, but…