OILP Monthly Newsletter, May 2023

Dear Colleagues,  

Welcome to the OILP Monthly Newsletter! We are pleased to share recent updates from ACL, COVID/TA Resources, funding opportunities and other IL resources below.

To improve user friendliness, we have included a Table of Contents with links to each section. 

***Table of Contents***

**Reporting and Guidance**

**Conferences, Trainings and Technical Assistance**

**Funding Opportunities**

**Opportunities for Engagement**

**Transition Services**

**Sharing Your Stories**

**Resources**************

**Reporting and Guidance**

· ***CARES Act, CDC, and Public Health Workforce Funding Programmatic Performance Reports (PPRs)***: Reports were due on 3/31/2023 for Cares Act, CDC, and Public Health Workforce Funding. All PPR instruments and instructions are found under the Program Performance Reporting tab located at https://acl.gov/programs/aging-and-disability-networks/centers-independent-living#.

No PPRs are to be submitted in Grant Solutions. We ask that if you receive these funds directly, and that you submit the required reporting as soon as possible if you have not already done so. For those who have submitted, thank you! The Program Officers will follow up if they have any questions. We will finish reviewing all PPRs by the end of May.  

· ***SPIL Instrument and Instructions Posted on Website:***The updated SPIL instrument and instructions are now available on our website here under the heading of Submitting State Plans for Independent Living.

· ***April Quarterly Connection Call:***Thank you to those in attendance at the next Quarterly Connection Call on April 12th from 3:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. Eastern Time. The recording, text transcript, and chat transcript are now posted on the ILRU website at https://www.ilru.org/training/quarterly-connection.

***Audit Confirmation Requests:*** Many Centers for Independent Living have reached out to request verifications for their independent fiscal audits. Please be advised that audit confirmation requests should be sent to pmsoigaudit@psc.hhs.gov. Please cc Nicole Dunning at Nicole.Dunning@psc.hhs.gov.

· ***Indirect Cost Rates:***For questions regarding indirect cost rates, contact information can be found at https://www.hhs.gov/about/agencies/asa/psc/indirect-cost-negotiations/index.html.

· ***Allowable Expenses:***OILP has recently received questions from our grantees regarding allowable costs. For additional guidance, please consult 45 CFR 75.403 and contact the fiscal officer listed in your notice of award.

· ***CDC Vaccine Funding:***CDC Vaccine Funding guidance is available here under Independent Living Programs. 

·  ***Public Health Workforce Funding:***The Public Health Workforce funding was released for both CIL and ILS Programs in March 2022.  The guidance is available here under Guidance for ACL Programs, subheading of Public Health Workforce Grants.  

· ***FY2024 SPIL Extension Reminder:***OILP disseminated guidance in October 2022 about the FY2024 SPIL extension.  As a reminder, SPIL amendments are due to your Program Officer by ***June 30th***. If you are making substantive amendments, you should already be getting ready to receive, or are in the process of receiving public comments. Please see the guidance available on our webpage at https://acl.gov/programs/aging-and-disability-networks/statewide-independent-living-councils.  

· ***The End of the Public Health Emergency****:* The end of the Public Health Emergency is May 11, 2023, and states have started up their redetermination process for Medicaid that was on pause during the pandemic. CILs are asked to connect with consumers to ensure that their contact information with their Medicaid state agency is up to date. Additional guidance can be located here. For additional information on Medicaid unwinding, please visit ACL unwinding page. 

**Conferences, Trainings and Technical Assistance**

· ***SAR-TAC Webinar Series on Accessibility and Plain Language:***SAR-TAC, the self-advocacy resource and technical assistance center funded by ACL and managed by Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE) is announcing a new webinar series on accessibility and writing in plain language. Presenters from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network will share information about how to write policy in easy-to-understand language. The next topic in the series is “Plain Language”. The link to register for the webinar is below. 

***May 8, 2023 | 4:00 P.M. — 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time***Plain Language

Register for the webinarA webinar for government and nonprofits. Plain language writing makes your work better and it's more accessible for people with disabilities and English language learners. Learn the ins and outs of plain language in this webinar.

· ***DETAC Webinar on Assistive Technology Solutions for Brain Injury and Employment:***Please, join the Disability Employment Technical Assistance Center (DETAC) on ***May 9, 2023 from 3:00 P.M.— 4:00 P.M. Eastern Time***as participants learn how assistive technology (AT) programs assess specific sensory, physical, social, emotional, and cognitive challenges. The process for analyzing, determining, and providing support to individuals, employment staff and businesses will be shared. In addition, case examples where AT was successfully applied, resources and program information will be highlighted. 

To register, please visit this link. 

· ***ILRU IL-NET Training and Technical Assistance Center for Independent Living Invites You to a Round Table Discussion***

***Peer-to-Peer - Let’s Talk About Strategies for this New Disability Innovation Fund (DIF): Pathways to Partnerships with Sandra Breitengross Bitter and Paula McElwee, ILRU***

Please join us on ***May 11, 2023 from 3:00 - 4:00 PM Eastern Time*** for the peer discussion. This will be an open conversation addressing the big pot of money available to the Department of Education or Department of Rehabilitation in your state, where CILs are required as partners for youth transition activities in schools. The new grants are for five years and funding - all five years - is up front. These are demonstration projects, so recipients are expected to be creative and break the current mold. 

Are there centers in your state interested and how can you get one of those two departments to apply? 

Is it possible that your center can write the grant for those two departments and then you will assure them you will do the work? 

Bring your ideas and questions to this round table discussion and see how to make this work for centers in your state.

This discussion is free-of-charge. **Online registration is required**. 

· ***Turning Resources into Action: Increasing Integrated Housing Options for People with I/DD***: On ***May 11, 2023 from 4:00 P.M.—5:30 P.M. Eastern Time,***please join the second of three webinars on community-based housing options for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Speakers from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will provide an overview of HUD and CMS programs that advance community living for people with I/DD. The webinar will feature how one state has made good use of these resources to create more community-based housing options, and a self-advocate will offer their success story of getting housing in the community.

To register, please visit this link. 

· ***Webinar: USAging Resources for the Paralysis Community:***The National Paralysis Resource Center (operated by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation) is hosting a webinar on ***May 12, 2023 at 2:00 P.M. Eastern Time*** entitled “USAging Resources for the Paralysis Community.” Join USAging’s Sara Tribe Clark for a webinar on two national call centers, the Eldercare Locator and Disability Information and Access Line, and find out how to connect with local aging, disability, and caregiver resources anywhere in the United States.

**Register for the webinar**

· ***Webinar: How Did the COVID-19 Recession Impact People with Disabilities in Rural America?***As part of their Lunch & Learn webinar series, the Interagency Committee on Disability Research (ICDR) is hosting "How did the COVID-19 Recession Impact People with Disabilities in Rural America?" on ***May 17, 2023 from 12:00 P.M.—1:00 P.M. Eastern Time.***Register now to reserve your spot and to receive instructions for joining the webinar. Registration closes ***May 12th*** . An opportunity to request disability-related accommodations will be provided on the registration form. If you have difficulties registering, please email events@1sourceevents.com. 

· ***ADA Legal Webinar Series:***Please join the Great Lakes ADA Center for their ADA Legal Webinar Series on ***May 17, 2023 from 2:00 P.M.— 3:30 P.M. Eastern Time.***For more information and to register for the webinar, please click the link below.

******Update on Service Animals in public accommodations, employment, transportation and housing**

· ***HCBS Webinar: Getting the Services You Need from the Waiver – Participant Rights:***ACL invites you to a webinar in our "Strengthening Advocacy in the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Settings Rule" series,*"*Getting the Services You Need from the Waiver – Participant Rights,"**on ***May 17, 2023 from 2:00-3:30 PM Eastern Time.***The webinar will review Appendix F – Participant Rights in the HCBS waiver application and the safeguards this appendix provides for participants. The presentation will cover the part of the waiver application where the state outlines its required fair hearing process and whether it will include a dispute resolution process and a grievance system. The webinar will also cover how stakeholders can have an impact on the application and why these protections are important. 

To register, please visit this link. A video replay and transcript will be made available following the event on ACL's HCBS Settings Rule webpage.

· ***2023 National ADA Virtual Symposium:***The NIDILRR-funded******Great Plains ADA Regional Center and the ADA National Network will host the 2023 National ADA Virtual Symposium,***June 12 – 14, 2023 from 10:30 am – 6:30 pm Eastern Time***. The three-day virtual training event offers 36 sessions covering all areas of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) presented by nationally recognized experts. The program includes sessions on accessible design education; diversity, equity, and inclusion; access in education and healthcare; and much more. Registration is required by ***June 4th*** for individual days or the full symposium and there are related fees.

· ***Materials from HSRC’s recent webinar,******"The Role of Transportation in Cross-Sector Collaborations Designed to Improve Housing Stability,"******are now available:***

· ***Video***

· ***Slides***

· ***Transcript***

· ***Links mentioned in the webinar***

· ***Mountain Line and Flagstaff Services Partnership Handout***

· ***2023 Rural Conversation Series: 3rd Wednesday of the Month at 1:00 p.m. Eastern***

The Rural Conversation Community series is provided by ILRU's IL-NET National Training and Technical Assistance Center for Independent Living and facilitated by APRIL, the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living. There are no presenters or designated speakers in these conversations; they are an informal time and space to gather with your peers and share about current events and ask your peers questions. Captioning and ASL are provided. Bring your questions for your peers and updates on your CIL’s creative solutions and activities to share.Click this link for more information.

· ***Youth Coordinator Connect Meetings: 1st Tuesday of the Month at 2:00 p.m. Eastern***

Join us to begin building a community of peer support and sharing for Youth Program Coordinators. Come share your experiences and tips and tricks and problem solve barriers to growing and implementing youth programs in your Center for Independent Living. Meet and learn from your colleagues throughout the country who are working towards the common goal of improving services for youth with disabilities.

Each month we will discuss a topic as it relates to youth programs and services.  These topics are chosen as a group.  We will also brainstorm solutions for barriers that may come up in your programs.Click Here for more information.

· ***Advocacy Committee Meetings: 1st Wednesday of the Month at 4:00 p.m. Eastern***

APRIL is a national membership organization dedicated to advancing the rights and responsibilities of people with disabilities in rural America.

APRIL is committed to an aggressive and culturally appropriate advocacy strategy tied to its Vision statement: “APRIL is the unified voice of independent living in rural America.” In furtherance of that Vision, APRIL has engaged hundreds of members and dedicated many hours aimed at developing a mission-focused system-change agenda to further the civil rights of all people with disabilities regardless of age, disability, income, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, or nationality.

Equally important to us, is ensuring that young people with disabilities are integrated into all facets of program development and delivery. We are truly committed to the mantra “Nothing About Us, Without Us.”  The advocacy committee works to address APRIL’s advocacy priorities.Click Here for more information.

· ***Emergency Prep Committee: 2nd Monday of the Month at 3:00 p.m. Eastern***

APRIL began this committee to support CILs and SILCs in their efforts on emergency preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery. 

We are in a constant climate crisis. Disasters and emergencies are increasing in intensity and frequency. Persons with disabilities are 26% of the US population. Disabled people are disproportionately impacted by disasters and emergencies. We are 2-to-4 times more likely to die or be injured during a disaster. 

We are all first responders when disasters strike in our localities. Let’s get together to share good practices and strategies, information and resources, and peer support before, during, and after disasters and emergencies. 

Click Here for more information.

**Funding Opportunities**

· ***Education Department Inviting Applications for Improving Pre-Employment Transition Services for Youth with Disabilities:***The U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration is pleased to announce a notice inviting applications for the Disability Innovation Fund, Pathways to Partnerships Innovative Model Demonstration Project (Pathways to Partnerships), Assistance Listing Number 84.421E. The application deadline is ***June 5, 2023.***

The Pathways to Partnership program is the largest discretionary grant administered by RSA, with an estimated $224 million available to fund multiple innovative model demonstration projects administered through partnerships among state vocational rehabilitation agencies, state or local education agencies, and centers for independent living focused on the creation of systemic approaches to improve access to pre-employment transition services for children and youth with disabilities.

As children and youth with disabilities move through the school system, many do not have exposure to self-advocacy training, careers, and independent living opportunities. This historical funding opportunity advances a key goal of the Biden-Harris Administration to pave a clear and robust path to independent living and competitive integrated employment as children and youth with disabilities transition from high school to postsecondary endeavors.

The Notice Inviting Applications and additional information, including the Application Package, can be found at the following resources:

**RSA.ED.GOV**(link to the Federal Register Notice and additional information)https://rsa.ed.gov/about/programs/disability-innovation-fund-pathways-to-partnerships

****Please continue to check https://ncrtm.ed.gov/grant-info for more information.

**GRANTS.GOV**https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=347303

For questions, please contact Cassandra P. Shoffler, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 5065A, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202–2800. Telephone: (202) 245–7827. Email: 84.421E@ed.gov.

If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7–1–1.

· ***Funding Available to Promote Vaccination Access for Older Adults, People with Disabilities:***On December 19th, ACL awarded a total of $125 million in grants to USAging and the National Council on Aging to rapidly increase the number of older adults and people with disabilities who have received the updated COVID-19 vaccine and annual flu vaccine. 

With this funding, NCOA and the Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative led by USAging are now awarding grants to communities across the country to support vaccine clinics, in-home vaccinations, transportation to vaccination sites, outreach, and education, and more. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis from organizations that serve persons with disabilities and older adults including Centers for Independent Living and Aging and Disability Resource Centers. For more information and to apply, please visit:

USAging’s Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative information page and application portal

National Council on Aging information page and application portal

· ***Several Disability Research Funding Opportunities Open:***These funding opportunities are open ***until May 22, 2023.*** More information is available here. 

**Opportunities for Engagement**

· ***Input Needed: CMS Proposes Rule to Improve Access to and Quality of Medicaid Services:*** The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a proposed rule, *Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services (Access Rule)* to improve access to — and quality of — Medicaid services and promote health equity across the Medicaid program.The proposed rule applies to all Medicaid services, including the home and community-based services (HCBS) that are vital to people with disabilities and older adults. This means that input from ACL’s network is critical. **Comments******must be received by ***July 3, 2023***.******More information is available here. 

· ***Transit Planning 4 All Program Hosting Virtual Town Halls on May 9th:***The purpose is******to identify unmet and emergent transportation accessibility barriers, obstacles, and needs for people with disabilities and older adults across the nation. Two sessions will be held on May 9, 2023. For more information, please visit this link.

· ***FEMA Seeking Qualified Individuals for Agency's National Advisory Council:***FEMA is accepting applications for seven discipline-specific positions and up to two Administrator-selected positions. Discipline-specific positions include a specialty in any one of the following fields: disabilities, access, and functional needs; elected tribal government official; emergency management; emergency response provider; non-elected tribal government official; health scientist; and standards setting and accrediting. For a description of each position, please go to the Charter.If you are interested in applying to serve on FEMA’s National Advisory Council, please follow these instructions for submitting an application package ***no later than May 21, 2023***, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.

· ***FEMA to Host "National Resilience" Listening Sessions:***Please join FEMA as they host a series of 60-minute listening sessions ***through June 2023***on a range of topics including: 

· Chronic community stressors and their impacts on community readiness.

· Actions and partnerships needed to increase national resilience.

· The roles and responsibilities of community stakeholders.

· Innovative approaches for successful resilience planning.

· The resources needed to help the whole community understand and execute their roles.

For more information and to register for a session, please visit listening sessions. 

· ***Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973:***This year, 2023, marks the 35th anniversary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s publication of its implementing regulation for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (“Section 504”). Section 504 prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in any program or activity that receives Federal funds from HUD.

Members of the public can submit comments and comments must be submitted by***July 24, 2023***. For more information, please visit https://www.hud.gov/504 and  https://twitter.com/HUDgov/status/1654145654900269061?s=20.

To leave an electronic comment, please visit the Federal Register website here.

· ***Ongoing Recruitment of CILs and SILCs for COVID Test Distribution:*** CILs and SILCs are encouraged to participate in the Administration for Community Living and the HHS Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) which provides COVID 19 tests to be distributed freely in your communities. For more information, please contact Ed Ahern.   

· ***Seeking your Public Health Work Force funding ideas!***The Office of Independent Living Programs (OILP) is working to compile information on how Public Health Workforce funding is being utilized as a resource in developing programs for Centers and we would love to hear from you! 

If interested, please contact Ed Ahern with your experience on new programs, promising practices, obstacles, or other issues related to using this funding. 

**Transition Services**

· ***Study Offers Insights to Barriers to Paid Employment Facing Youth with Severe Disabilities:***In a recent issue of Research In Focus, researchers looked at some of the challenges young people with severe disabilities can face when accessing paid work, and how comprehensive, collaborative solutions might address barriers to employment. 

· ***CIL Data Briefs and Maps:*** To assist Centers for Independent Living (CILs) in more effectively serving out-of-school youth with disabilities from minority backgrounds, Mathematica has mapped data on youth with disabilities across each county in the United States. You can access these data through an interactive map or downloadable Excel file with the data, and downloadable CIL-specific data briefs. 

These are available at https://mathematica.org/features/my-cil-reports.

The briefs summarize information about the education, employment, race, and ethnicity of transition-age youth who live in a specific CIL’s service delivery area. They also compare the information to characteristics of CIL customers of all ages, as reported to ACL though annual performance reports. The goal of these briefs is to help CIL staff understand how the youth they serve compare to out-of-school youth from minority backgrounds in their service areas. The website and accompanying practice brief identify ways that CILs might use these data to help inform new outreach efforts, cultural changes to CIL programs, or grant applications to expand services to minority populations they might not be serving.

For more detailed data or support, please contact MY-CIL for customized technical assistance at support@minorityyouthcil.org. The team is available to further analyze the data on youth in your service delivery area or help identify resources that may help you to adapt your programs, so they best meet the needs of youth and families in your area.

**Sharing Your Stories**

· ***OILP is Seeking Disability Advocacy and Coalition-Building Stories:***We are approaching the 50th anniversary of the Rehab Act, and it is time to celebrate. We are looking for stories of collective action, coalition-building and disability advocacy over the years to highlight, reflect and appreciate. If you know of any stories or are interested in sharing one or several, please contact Erica McFadden at erica.mcfadden@acl.hhs.gov. We hope to collect these stories by July.

· ***OILP is Seeking Success Stories:***The Office of Independent Living Programs wants to highlight examples of the amazing work of our CIL and ILS colleagues! Therefore, we are asking you, our colleagues, to help us share your stories by copying your Program Officer on any press releases that are distributed. Please visit our website at https://acl.gov/programs/aging-and-disability-networks/centers-independent-living# to view the contact list for the Office of Independent Living Programs. We appreciate your support!

· ***CILs and the Caregiving Community:***We want to hear about the roles CILs are playing in the caregiving community and how you might be helping to integrate Independent Living philosophy into caregiving. If you have any resources or previous experience, please reach out to Ed Ahern.  

**Resources**

· ***Older Americans Month:***The 2023 theme is Aging Unbound. Visit our website at acl.gov/oam for materials and activity ideas to help you celebrate! You can find sample content for social media and your newsletter along with logos, posters, and other graphics.

· ***OILP Program Officers:***The Office of Independent Living Programs has recently undergone a realignment of our regions due to addition of staff. To verify the current name and contact information for your Program Officer, please visit our website at https://acl.gov/programs/aging-and-disability-networks/centers-independent-living.

· ***Center on Youth Voice Youth Choice:***The Center on Youth Voice Youth Choice recently published *What Do You Need to Know About Guardianship?* The publication is available here. In addition, we invite you to read Jordan's story which demonstrates the impact of supported decision making. 

· ***Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL):***For more information on DIAL, watch this short informational video.

· ***Disability, Diversity, and Intersectionality in CILs:***For research, training, and technical assistance resources, please visit ILRU’s website at https://www.ilru.org/projects/cil-diversity. 

As always, please feel free to contact our office if you have questions.