Administration for Community Living (ACL)

Author: Secretary Sebelius
Published: 2012/07/31 - Updated: 2019/03/13
Category Topic: Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) - Academic Publications

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: The Administration for Community Living brings together the Administration on Aging the Office on Disability and the Administration on Developmental Disabilities in a single agency.

Introduction

A Statement from Secretary Sebelius on the Administration for Community Living, April 16, 2012

Main Content

All Americans, including people with disabilities and seniors, should be able to live at home with the supports they need, participating in communities that value their contributions - rather than in nursing homes or other institutions.

Administration for Community Living

On April 16, 2012, Health and Human Services (HHS), announced the creation of a new Administration for Community Living (ACL) within HHS.

The new United States agency includes the efforts and achievements of the Administration on Aging, the Office on Disability and the Administration on Developmental Disabilities in a single agency, with enhanced policy and program support for both cross-cutting initiatives and efforts focused on the unique needs of individual groups such as children with developmental disabilities, adults with physical disabilities, or seniors, including seniors with Alzheimer's.

"For too long, too many Americans have faced the impossible choice between moving to an institution or living at home without the long-term services and supports they need. The goal of the new Administration for Community Living will be to help people with disabilities and older Americans live productive, satisfying lives." - Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

The Obama administration and my department have long been committed to promoting community living and finding new mechanisms to help ensure that the supports people with disabilities and seniors need to live in the community are accessible.

With the creation of the new Administration for Community Living (ACL), we are reinforcing this commitment by bringing together key HHS organizations and offices dedicated to improving the lives of those with functional needs into one coordinated, focused and stronger entity.

The Administration for Community Living will bring together the Administration on Aging, the Office on Disability and the Administration on Developmental Disabilities into a single agency that supports both cross-cutting initiatives and efforts focused on the unique needs of individual groups, such as children with developmental disabilities or seniors with dementia.

This new agency will work on increasing access to community supports and achieving full community participation for people with disabilities and seniors.

The Administration on Community Living will seek to enhance and improve the broad range of supports that individuals may need to live with respect and dignity as full members of their communities.

These support needs go well beyond health care and include the availability of appropriate housing, employment, education, meaningful relationships and social participation.

Building on President Obama's Year of Community Living, the ACL will pursue improved opportunities for older Americans and people with disabilities to enjoy the fullest inclusion in the life of our nation.

Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Secretary Sebelius and published on 2012/07/31, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.