ACL Post: A World of Opportunities: Promoting Augmentative and Alternative Communication

By Jennifer Johnson, Deputy Commissioner, Administration on Disabilities As we continue to celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (DDAM), we are highlighting some of the many ways that ACL is working to break down barriers to create more inclusive communities so that all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) can do well and succeed. We…

Alabama: An Invitation to the White House

By Catherine Citta, JPKF Public Policy Fellow    The Biden-Harris Administration hosts state, local, Tribal and community leaders to the White House “Communities in Action” events to demonstrate how the administration is delivering results for the American people. In September 2023, Darryle Powell, Executive Director for the Alabama Council on Developmental Disabilities (ACDD) was invited…

On Super Tuesday & in Honor of the Late John Lewis, Durbin Calls on his Colleagues to Protect the Right to Vote

On Super Tuesday, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today called on his Republican colleagues to support critical voting rights legislation that was introduced in the Senate last week.  The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would update and restore critical safeguards of the original Voting Rights…

ACL’s DCW Strategies Center Launches Multi-Pronged Effort to Strengthen Direct Care Workforce

New TA Opportunities and Resources To Address the Dire Shortage of Direct Care Professionals Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced several new initiatives and resources from ACL’s Direct Care Workforce Strategies Center to address the dire shortage of professionals who provide the services many older adults and people with disabilities…

A World of Opportunities: Creating Inclusive Communities

By Alison Barkoff, Performing the duties of ACL Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging   Every March, ACL joins the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) and its partners to observe Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (DDAM). This year’s theme, “A World of Opportunities,” focuses on ACL and NACDD’s shared goal of removing obstacles…

NACDD Celebrates Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month

The National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) commemorates Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM). JDAIM represents a collaborative initiative involving Jewish and disability organizations globally, aimed at raising awareness and promoting acceptance and inclusion for individuals with disabilities, mental health conditions, and their supportive communities.   Established in 2009 by the…

NACDD Celebrates Black History Month

During Black History Month, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) commemorates and pays tribute to the accomplishments and rich history of both Black Americans and Black Americans with Disabilities.   This month serves as a moment to envision the potential opportunities that lie ahead. It’s an occasion to acknowledge the remarkable contributions…

2022 Voting and Registration Data Now Available

Voter turnout for the 2022 U.S. congressional elections was the second highest for a nonpresidential election year since 2000, with 52.2% of the citizen voting-age population participating. And registration rates were the highest for a midterm election since 2000, with 69.1% of the citizen voting-age population registered to vote, up 2.2 percentage points from 66.9%…

Build Back Better: Educational Equity in the Disability Community

By Morgan Davis, NACDD Intern Educational goals within the Build Back Better Plan: The Build Back Better Plan, a piece of legislation proposed by the Biden Administration, is a plan that would help revitalize the economy, by creating jobs, funding healthcare programs, and allocating money for multi-level educational institutions. These institutional investments range from investments…

NACDD Celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month

As we mark the halfway point of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), NACDD celebrates NDEAM as it brings people with disabilities into the forefront of the workforce conversation, ensuring that their voices are heard. The theme for NDEAM 2021, “America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion,” reflects the value in ensuring that people with disabilities have…