Office of Independent Living Programs (OILP) March Monthly Newsletter

OILP Monthly Newsletter includes recent updates from ACL, TA Resources and other IL Resources can be found below:

Reporting and Guidance

  • PPR Reviews: Program Officers have been reviewing PPRs and several PPRs have been returned to grantees for revisions. Please remember to check the portal for a status update at https://portal.q90.com/external/login.php.
  • IL Network Contact Updates:  As a reminder, if there are any contact information changes for CIL Executive Directors, SILC Executive Directors, SILC Chairs or DSE’s, please let your Program Officer know. To verify the current name and contact information for your Program Officer, please view the OILP staff list on ACL’s website. For guidance on changes in Executive Directors, please visit this link under Frequently Asked Questions.
  • OILP Monthly Newsletters: Beginning in April 2024, the newsletters and other communications will be distributed from OILP@acl.hhs.gov. Please add this e-mail address to your Safe Senders list.

The OILP newsletters from May 2023—present are available on our website here under the heading of Office of Independent Living Programs Monthly Newsletters.

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Public Health Workforce Funding:  As we are now in 2024, please keep in mind that all Public Health Workforce (PHWF) grant funds must be spent by September 30, 2024. If you are having difficulty spending these funds or require guidance, please reach out to your Program Officer.

As a reminder, 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.

Conferences, Training, and Technical Assistance

  • Upcoming NCDEI Webinar: What CILs Should Know About Intersectionality: The National Center for Disability, Equity and Intersectionality (NCDEI) invites you to join a webinar entitled, “What Centers for Independent Living Should Know About Intersectionality” on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 from 4:00 P.M. -5:30 P.M. Eastern Time. To register, please visit this link.
  • End Subminimum Wage Webinar: Despite decades of progress for disability employment protections and civil rights, it is still legal to pay people with disabilities less than minimum wage. Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act has allowed employers to pay disabled workers subminimum wage for close to 90 years. Recent data has shown that disabled employees working under a 14(c) certificate earned an average of $3.34 per hour with many workers making even less than this.

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), and the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) are hosting a webinar on March 14, 2024, from 1:00 PM-2:00 PM Eastern Time to discuss and educate the public on why advocacy is necessary to end this harmful practice and the actions you can take to support this important policy change.  Zoom Registration can be found at https://bit.ly/3P12PjD or reach out to jessica@ncil.org for more information.

  • Understanding the Role of the Independent Living (IL) Network Before, During and After a Disaster: Please join us on March 27, 2024 from 3:00 P.M.-4:30 P.M. Eastern Time for a lively discussion with OILP staff, SILC/CIL directors and our colleagues from the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies (Partnership) as we discuss this resource tool and dive into a discussion about CIL and SILC involvement before, during and after disaster including development of SPIL goals around disaster and emergency management.
  • ILRU IL-NET National Training and Technical Assistance (T&TA) Center: Management 101: A Guide for New CIL Executive Directors: Are you a New Center for Independent Living (CIL) Executive Director, or planning to become an Executive Director in the future.

This course will focus your attention on important aspects of the job that you need to know about early on and that might get lost in the daily conflicting demands for attention. Concrete action steps are provided in easy-to-use checklists, bullet points, dos and don’ts, and general knowledge to support newly hired Executive Directors of Centers for Independent Living.

  • 2024 Rural Conversation Series: 3rd Wednesday of the Month at 1:00 p.m. Eastern

The Core 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. To register, please visit https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZItd-GtrDkpHdNejRIeh4Yyk8iAfpETKbak#/registration.  

  • 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. 

Opportunities for Engagement 

  • Secretary Buttigieg Announces Proposed Rule to Ensure Passengers Who Use Wheelchairs Can Fly with Dignity: Please read this press release
  • DETAC Announces Results and Innovation in Systems Excellence (RISE) e-Learning Community: Peer Support for Centers for Independent Living (CILs) Building Employment Services: The Disability Employment Technical Assistance Center (DETAC) is pleased to accept rolling applications to participate in the Results and Innovation in Systems Excellence (RISE) e-Learning Community, Peer Support for Centers for Independent Living (CILs) Building Employment Services.

This is a peer-to-peer discussion-based community and our expert facilitators from the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL).  will guide conversation and share resources as applicable, but there won’t be formal presentations. There will be virtual sessions for 1 hour that will be facilitated monthly, on the 3rd Thursday of each month from 2:00-3:00 PM Eastern Time

  • Session Two: March 21, 2024 (applications due 3/15/24)
  • Session Three: April 18, 2024 (applications due 4/11/24)
  • Session Four: May 16, 2024 (applications due 5/10/24)
  • Session Five: June 20, 2024 (applications due 6/14/24)
  • Session Six: July 18, 2024 (applications due 7/12/24)
  • Session Seven: August 15, 2024 (applications due 8/9/24)

For more information or to apply, please visit https://forms.gle/s9GRNfoXtuRMHeQR8.

  • Meeting of the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities: The President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID) will host a virtual meeting on March 21, 2024 from 12:00-5:00 PM Eastern Time for its members to address issues surrounding home and community-based services (HCBS) to be examined in the Committee’s Report to the President. All the PCPID meetings, in any format, are open to the public. This virtual meeting will be conducted in a discussion format with committee members addressing the issues and recommendations identified by PCPID workgroups proposing to be incorporated in the PCPID Report to the President. View more details published in the Federal Register notice.

To register, please visit here. For further information, please email David.Jones@acl.hhs.gov.

  • Recruitment of CILs and SILCs for COVID Test Distribution by April 1, 2024: 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 see the attached letter and feel free to reach out to Cedric.Myers@acl.hhs.gov with any questions.   
  • Disaster & Emergency Query: ACL is seeking feedback from any CILs/SILCs that have engaged in any contracts with their state/county emergency management agencies and provision of services before, during or after disaster. We’re looking for CILs/SILCs that have developed innovative models which could be replicated by other CILs or SILCs. For more information or to share your story, please e-mail Ed Ahern.
  • Seeking Partnerships around Disasters in Mid-West States: We are looking for CILs in mid-west states who are engaging in collaborative partnerships (aging, emergency management, housing, public health and health) around disaster and other emergency management issues.  ACL and FEMA will be working together throughout 2024 to raise awareness to issues important to people with disabilities and older adults during disaster.

As we plan these activities, we’re looking to ensure our grantee work is spotlighted. Our first event topic will be ‘preparing for mid-west disasters’ (tornados, flood, heat, e.g.). For more information or to share your story, please e-mail Ed Ahern.

Employment Opportunities

  • Exciting Opportunity: Olmstead and Community Integration Senior Manager in the HHS Office for Civil Rights: The HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is recruiting for an Olmstead and Community Integration Senior Manager to lead OCR’s efforts in this area.  If interested, you are encouraged to apply by clicking on the link provided below for public applicants below. The position is being advertised under both Merit Promotion (Government-Wide) and Delegated Examining Unit (Public). Applications for this announcement close on Thursday, March 21, 2024.

Announcement Number:  HHS-OCR-DE-24-12317964 

Position Title: Olmstead and Community Integration Senior Manager

Pay Plan-Series-Grade:  GS-0301-15

Area of Consideration: All U.S. Citizens - Public

Open Date:  March 7, 2024

Close Date:  March 21, 2024

Application Limit:  N/A

Funding Opportunities

  • New Research Funding Opportunities for Health and Function Disability Research: For more information and to apply, please visit this link. Proposals due April 8, 2024.
  • Streamlined Requirements for Tribal Applicants for FY24 Buses and Bus Facilities and Low- or No-Emission Programs: FTA’s FY24 Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Low-or No Emission (Low-No) and Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities programs introduces streamlined application requirements for tribes requesting less than $1 million, making it easier for tribes with relatively small requests to apply.

FTA has released a new resource to help tribes navigate the streamlined requirements.

The resource reviews:

What the streamlined requirements are and how to access them in the application form;

What to do if requesting $1 million or more; and

Whether tribes can split requests across multiple applications.

Tribal applicants are encouraged to apply before the application deadline on Thursday, April 25, 2024.

  • Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants: EPA’s new Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants program (Community Change Grants) has announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity for approximately $2 billion dollars in Inflation Reduction Act funds in environmental and climate justice activities to benefit disadvantaged communities through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity to address environmental and climate justice challenges

EPA is accepting applications on a rolling basis for $2 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funding available to support community-driven projects that build capacity for communities to tackle environmental and climate justice challenges, strengthen their climate resilience, and advance clean energy.

To apply for this opportunity, view the RFA on Grants.gov.  Applications packages must be submitted on or before November 21, 2024 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.

For more information, please visit this link or contact CCGP@epa.gov.

Sharing Your Stories

  • Announcing Disability Next Door SC: The South Carolina Statewide Independent Living Council, in partnership with the three Centers for Independent Living in South Carolina, Able South Carolina, AccessAbility, and Walton Options, is proud to announce the launch of their groundbreaking initiative, Disability Next Door SC.

Learn more about Disability Next Door SC on their website: www.disabilitynextdoor.org. 

Connect with the community and join the conversation on the campaign’s social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, and X (previously known as Twitter).

Explore the website and social media platforms for interactive content, photos, and stories of real people with disabilities in South Carolina. Engage weekly to discover new insights about disability directly from disabled individuals.

Disability Next Door SC encourages all residents of South Carolina to participate actively, fostering a deeper understanding of disability and promoting a more inclusive society.

  • 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 to view the contact list for the Office of Independent Living Programs. We appreciate your support!

Resources

  • A World of Opportunities: Creating Inclusive Communities: Please see this blog post by Alison Barkoff, Performing the duties of ACL Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging.
  • ACL’s DCW Strategies Center Launches Multi-Pronged Effort to Strengthen Direct Care Workforce - New Technical Assistance Opportunities and Resources To Address the Dire Shortage of Direct Care Professionals: For more information, please visit here.
  • Biden-Harris Administration Partners With States To Address Homelessness: For more information, please visit here.
  • National Center for Diversity, Equity, and Intersectionality: The National Center for Disability, Equity, and Intersectionality is a coalition of professionals, individuals with disabilities, and family members of individuals with disabilities; this coalition aims to identify and reduce life-limiting inequities in healthcare, community living, and justice for people with disabilities. More information and resources are available for CILs, SILCs and DSEs at https://thinkequitable.com/ and https://thinkequitable.com/what-we-do/. Questions may be e-mailed to Peter Nye.
  • U.S. Department of Transportation FAQ: The U.S. Department of Transportation provides answers to Frequently Asked Questions on Incorporating Accessibility in Transportation Projects to help grant applicants understand accessibility-related requirements and best practices throughout the transportation project planning process. The FAQ provides insight on how DOT initiatives such as ADA Transition Maps, the Department’s Disability Policy Priorities, and the Promising Practices for Meaningful Public Involvement in Transportation Decision-Making guide can be used to advance accessibility in the many projects funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and beyond. By making information on accessibility more available, DOT aims to ensure that new investments in transportation are designed for all.
  • Best of 2023: Top Veteran Resources of the Year: Please visit this link for resources.
  • HHS Provides Additional Tools to Strengthen Access to Quality Home and Community-Based Services: For more information, please visit here.
  • Voting Accessibility Resources from ACL: To view ACL’s updated voting resource page, please visit here.
  • Disability Vaccine Access Opportunities Center Resource Hub Launched: Resources and toolkits are available to serve people with disabilities before, during and after public health emergencies at this link.
  • ACL Expands DIAL to include self-service features: ACL’s Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) launched in September a new tool to help people with disabilities find local services and resources to support community living. Through DIAL’s enhanced website and its searchable database, users can now find the information they need, at any time of day, every day of the year. We encourage you to provide any contact information updates for your CIL through the DIAL website.
  • 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