Administration Announces Steps To Promote Community Living For People With Disabilities

March 26, 2002

WASHINGTON (HHS) -- HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson yesterday presented President Bush with reports from nine federal agencies outlining more than 400 specific solutions that the agencies can implement to support community living for the nearly 54 million Americans living with disabilities. The reports stem from the first comprehensive federal review of barriers preventing people with disabilities from living in their communities instead of in institutions.

Secretary Thompson also announced that the department will provide another $55 million to the "Systems Change Grants for Community Living" program to enable states to improve their community long-term care systems for people with disabilities and long-term illnesses.

"These reports represent the first time that so many federal agencies have worked together to create a comprehensive blueprint toward achieving community living for people with disabilities," said Secretary Thompson. "It's been a remarkable effort that truly demonstrates this administration's commitment to providing people with disabilities with the tools they need to participate fully in community life."

President Bush called for the federal review last June as part of his New Freedom Initiative, aimed at helping people with disabilities live in the community instead of in institutional facilities. The President asked Secretary Thompson to lead the government-wide effort.

The reports look at barriers to community living in areas such as: health care structuring and financing; the shortage of accessible, affordable housing; problems attracting and retaining dedicated personal assistance workers; the shortage of support, including respite services, for caregivers and family members; the need for available, accessible transportation options; multiple barriers to employment; barriers to transitioning from school to post-secondary education; and limited access to technology such as assistive devices.

The new "Systems Change Grants for Community Living" funding announced today by Secretary Thompson builds on the goals in the New Freedom Initiative for increasing community integration for people with disabilities. HHS awarded nearly $70 million for this program in fiscal year 2001. The $55 million in new funding will enable the department to offer additional grants to help states improve their community-based services. The program includes the following:

?       Real Choice Systems grants: $36 million to help states design and implement enduring improvements in community long-term support systems to enable people with disabilities or long-term illnesses to live and participate in community life.

?       Community-integrated Personal Assistance Services and Supports grants: $6 million to support states' efforts to improve personal assistance services that are consumer-directed.

?       Nursing Facility Transition grants: $9 million to help states transition eligible individuals from nursing facilities to the community.

?       National Technical Assistance Exchange for Community Living grants: $4 million to provide technical assistance, training, and information to states, consumers, families, and other agencies and organizations.

"All of the partners in this review process - the federal and state representatives, people with disabilities, providers and advocates -- came to it with a list of problems that must be overcome," said Secretary Thompson. "Today, we come away with actual solutions to make a real difference in the lives of people of all ages with disabilities." 

President Bush issued Executive Order 13217 last June, directing federal agencies to assist states to help ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to live more independently and to participate in community life. Secretary Thompson coordinated the federal review through the creation of the Interagency Council on Community Living, which included members from the departments of Justice, Education, Labor, Housing and Urban Development and the Social Security Administration, in addition to HHS. Though not named in the Executive Order, the departments of Transportation and Veterans Affairs and the Office of Personnel Management also volunteered to participate in the federal review. 

The input of people with disabilities, caregivers and family members, providers, and state and local governments played a critical role in compiling the reports. The federal agencies sponsored a national listening session in Washington, D.C., and a toll-free teleconference to hear testimony from members of the public. This, combined with a Federal Register notice soliciting written input, generated comments from more than 800 individuals and organizations on steps the federal government can take to improve community integration.