On March 27th, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) unveiled a proposed restructuring of the agency, which includes the closure of the Administration for Community Living (ACL). This department provides critical funding for independent living centers, which are a major support for disability and aging communities. The restructuring fails to outline a plan for reorganizing ACL, and proposed cuts would likely lead to increased institutionalization for people with disabilities.
AAHD has serious concerns about the HHS reorganization and elimination of ACL. Without the support that ACL provides to advance critical disability research and disability programs and services, we are losing valuable infrastructure that makes our essential mission harder to achieve. Even if the programs that ACL oversees are moved to other departments, they will not share the same philosophy which ACL did that people with disabilities and older adults thrive more when they are able to live freely and independently or interdependently in the community. That is why we have joined with other disability and aging organizations in opposing this dramatic shift. The list of statements to which AAHD has joined opposing this change are as follows:
- American Association of People with Disabilities
- Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities
- Disability and Aging Collaborative
- Disability and Rehabilitation Research Coalition
We also want to highlight statements made by other disability and public health organizations outlining the many challenges that this proposed restructuring would have on our communities:
- AARP
- Access Living
- ADA Watch
- Alliance for Aging Research
- Alliance for Retired Americans
- American Society on Aging
- ANCOR
- Association of University Centers on Developmental Disabilities
- California Association of Area Agencies on Aging
- Center for Medicare Advocacy
- Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation
- Communications First
- Community Catalyst
- Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund
- Elder Justice Coalition
- Justice in Aging
- Leadership Council of Aging Organizations
- LiveOn New York and New York Aging Leaders
- Medicare Rights Center
- MomsRising
- National Alliance for Caregiving
- National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities
- National Center for Independent Living
- National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-term Care
- National Council on Aging
- National Down Syndrome Society
- National Hispanic Council on Aging
- National Down Syndrome Congress
- National Health Law Program
- PHI
- SEIU
- South Carolina Disability Organizations
- TASH
- Wisconsin Disability and Aging Organizations