Last Updated: 1/2022

The Administration for Community Living is an operating division of U.S. Department of 

Health and Human Services. Visit ACL.gov.

The Urgent Need to Vaccinate and 

Support Older Adults and People with 

Disabilities

COVID-19 has disproportionately affected people with 

disabilities and older adults. All people who receive longterm services and supports (LTSS) in the community, 

regardless of age or type of disability, face a higher risk of 

COVID-19 infection. Those risks are even greater for older 

adults and people of color with disabilities.

The Administration for Community Living’s (ACL) aging and 

disability networks are collaborating with state, local, and 

federal partners to support the need for vaccination of highrisk populations, and to support older adults and people 

with disabilities in need of community living services and 

supports. ACL programs are highly engaged with states 

and other partners working to ensure vaccine access for 

people with disabilities and older adults, and to provide and 

improve access to services and supports that address their

functional needs so they can remain in their homes and 

communities.

This document is a summary of ACL’s programs with 

examples of activities and partnerships that can support 

access to vaccines and critical services and supports at the 

community level. ACL has also created a webpage with 

vaccination and booster resources for the aging and 

disability networks. 

Major Components of ACL’s

Disability and Aging Network

Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs)

» Serve older adults (age 60+) and family caregivers. A

majority of AAAs also serve people with disabilities

through other funding sources.

» There are 622 AAAs across the nation, which are

public or nonprofit organizations designated by State

Units on Aging to address the service and support

needs of older adults at regional and local levels.

» The specific names of AAAs vary. To find a local AAA, go

to Eldercare.acl.gov or call 800-677-1116.

» AAAs contract with 20,000+ local providers nationwide to

provide services and programs that may include

congregate and home-delivered meals, information and

assistance, evidence-based chronic disease prevention

programs, caregiver respite, case management,

transportation, homemaker support, and personal care.

» Vaccine-related activities include identifying and

reaching out to underserved older adults, including

people who are homebound, live in rural areas, or have

limited English proficiency; assisting LTSS clients and

their caregivers to register for vaccines and boosters;

facilitating transportation to and from vaccine

appointments; providing second-dose reminder calls and

booster outreach; collaborating to combine vaccine

delivery with existing home-delivered food services; and

organizing and implementing targeted vaccination clinics.

Centers for Independent Living (CILs)

» Serve individuals with significant disabilities of all types.

» There are 354 CILs in communities in every U.S. state

and territory. CILs offer the following core services (at a

minimum): information and referral, independent living

skills training, peer counseling, individual and systems

advocacy, transition and diversion from nursing homes

and other institutional settings back into the community,

and transition of youth to postsecondary life.

Find a local CIL.

» Vaccine-related activities include coordination of

accessible transportation services; assessing needs and

status of clients; coordinating services; addressing

inaccessible vaccine sites; locating and/or providing

mobility equipment, personal care attendant services, or

ASL interpreters; educating communities about

reasonable accommodations; and providing outreach and

education about vaccines and boosters, including

addressing hesitancy.
How ACL’s Disability and Aging Network is Advancing Vaccination Efforts ACL.gov

Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

Advocates for people living in nursing homes, boardand-care homes, assisted living facilities, and similar

facilities to resolve their individual problems and to 

bring about changes that improve their care, quality 

of life, and rights. Find a local LTC ombudsman 

program. 

» Vaccine-related activities include providing

information and assistance on how to obtain

vaccines and boosters for residents and staff

including addressing vaccine hesitancy.

Native American Grantees

» Serve native elders (age determined by each tribe).

» There are 282 Native American Grantees serving

over 400 tribes.

» Provide supportive services, nutrition services, and

caregiver support to native elders and their families.

» Vaccine-related activities include reaching out to

and educating individuals who have not been

vaccinated or boosted, partnering to organize

transportation to vaccination clinics, and offering

case management.

Protection and Advocacy Systems (P&As) 

» Serve individuals with all types of disabilities.

» There are 57 P&As. P&As are in every state and

territory. There is also one P&A that serves the

Navajo and Hopi Nations in New Mexico, Arizona,

and Utah.

» P&As are a nationwide network of congressionally

mandated agencies that provide a range of legal

advocacy services to protect the rights of individuals

with disabilities (e.g., those denied access to a

service or an opportunity to take part in an activity).

P&As address allegations of neglect or abuse and

conduct monitoring and investigations of facilities.

Find a local P&A.

» Vaccine-related activities include contacting

people with disabilities to assess status and needs,

ensuring vaccination sites are accessible, ensuring

access to services, and providing legal expertise to

state and federal agencies.

State Councils on Developmental Disabilities (DD 

Councils)

» Governor-appointed councils of individuals with

developmental disabilities, their families, and other key

groups.

» There are 56 DD Councils. DD Councils are in every state

and territory. They identify gaps in services and implement

strategies to address needed system-level changes.

Find a local DD Council.

» Vaccine-related activities include creating plain language

materials; hosting Q&As about vaccines and boosters with

local and state agencies, developing vaccine site

accessibility checklists, reaching out to and educating

individuals with disabilities, and providing information and

referral services.

State Grants for Assistive Technology (AT) Programs 

» Serve individuals with disabilities of all ages and their

families.

» AT programs in every state and territory help make AT

devices/equipment and services available. Their efforts

range from “low tech” (e.g., built-up handle on spoon to

improve ability to grasp) to “high tech” (e.g., computers

controlled with eye movement). Other examples of supports

are home automation solutions and services to obtain and

use devices. AT support can also include assessment,

customization, repair, and training.

Find a local AT program.

» Vaccine-related activities include assisting with

accessibility of vaccination sites, registration processes,

websites, and outreach materials; supporting vaccination

hotlines for people with disabilities; and providing subject

matter expertise and technical assistance related to

accessibility and AT.

State Units on Aging (SUAs)

» Serve older adults (age 60+) and family caregivers.

» Governor-designated state government agencies that

advocate for and assist older adults, their families, and, in

many states, adults with physical disabilities. Located in

each state and territory. To find an SUA, visit

Eldercare.acl.gov or call 800-677-1116.

» Provide funding to AAAs to provide home and communitybased services and programs including meal programs,

case management, transportation, home care, and

caregiver respite.
How ACL’s Disability and Aging Network is Advancing Vaccination Efforts ACL.gov

» Vaccine-related activities include collaborating with

state emergency response agencies to identify high-risk

communities and support targeted vaccination and

booster efforts; working with paratransit agencies,

nursing groups, and other partners to identify

individuals who might benefit from mobile vaccination

clinics; coordinating with state emergency management

agencies; providing situational awareness to ACL;

identifying gaps and coordinating information; and

coordinating with AAAs to restore and limit service

disruptions.

University Centers for Excellence in Developmental

Disabilities (UCEDDs)

» Serve individuals with developmental disabilities and their

families.

» There are 68 UCEDDs nationwide that conduct

interdisciplinary training, community services, research, and

knowledge translation in a range of areas, including

emergency management. Find a local UCEDD.

» Vaccine-related activities include scheduling vaccine

appointments for individuals with intellectual and

developmental disabilities; working with state Medicaid

agencies to support Medicaid-funded transportation to

vaccine appointments at non-medical locations, hosting town

halls on vaccines for people with disabilities, developing

drive-thru vaccination sites, hosting targeted vaccine clinics,

and providing vaccinations to group home residents through

mobile clinics.

National Hotlines to Support Vaccine Access

ACL, in partnership with the CDC, is funding two national hotlines to connect older adults and people with disabilities to local 

aging and disability organizations that can assist with vaccine registration, provide services and supports necessary to get the 

vaccine, and provide access to services and supports that address other community living needs. In addition to English-speaking 

specialists, both vaccine lines have Spanish-speaking specialists, utilize a language interpretation service for any callers who 

speak other languages, and provide Video-Relay Service (VRS) for deaf people and people who are hard of hearing.

Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL)

» DIAL helps people with disabilities find vaccination

locations in their communities make vaccination

appointments and connect to local services – such as

accessible transportation – to overcome barriers to

vaccination.

» DIAL also can provide information and resources to

answer questions and address concerns about the

vaccines and can connect callers to information and

services that promote independent living and address

fundamental needs, such as food, housing, and

transportation.

» The hotline is available from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM

eastern time at 888-677-1199.

» Deaf people and those who are hard of hearing can

reach DIAL using the 711/Video Relay Service (VRS).

To use this free service, simply dial 711 and you will

be connected with a communications assistant with

whom you can text.

» More information is available at ACL.gov/DIAL.

Eldercare Locator

» The capacity of the Eldercare Locator has been expanded

in response to the pandemic to connect older adults,

including those who are unable to leave their homes and

those who live in underserved communities, to local

COVID-19 vaccination resources.

» The Eldercare Locator helps older adults find vaccination

locations in their communities, make vaccination

appointments and connect them to local services to

overcome barriers to vaccination.

» The Eldercare Locator also continues to connect older

adults and their caregivers with local aging organizations

in their communities for critical supports and services such

as home-delivered meals and other nutrition services,

transportation, personal care, homemaker support, and

respite for caregivers.

» The hotline is available from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM eastern

time at 888-677-1116.

» More information is available at Eldercare.acl.gov.