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These initial $50,000 awards - available to all states and territories that request one - represent the first payment in a new $50 million grant program aimed at improving the home and community-based services available to children and adults living with disabilities. The program supports the New Freedom Initiative's goals of removing barriers to equality for the 54 million Americans living with disabilities.

Under the Real Choice Systems Change Grant Program, the start-up money will go to every state that completes a simple request form. No state matching funds are required. The funds will help pay for the development of public-private partnerships, including consumer task forces, in each state to advise on the use of future federal grants that will increase services and supports to people with disabilities.

"We are offering this streamlined grant to states so they can immediately begin the process to reach Americans with disabilities," Secretary Thompson said. "States and volunteer groups alike are our key partners in assuring that persons with disabilities have the fullest possible choices about their lives."

The grant program is the largest of several new grant programs announced by the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) in January. These programs will make a total of nearly $70 million available to states to enable people with disabilities to reside in their own homes and participate fully in their communities.

The real choice grants are designed to help states improve their health and long-term service delivery systems. The funds will enable states to work with their disability and aging communities to expand the supports and opportunities people with disabilities of all ages have to live in their own homes and communities. Grant funding may be directed towards improvements in quality assurance mechanisms, long-term service system reform and demonstration projects.

The New Freedom Initiative, announced by President Bush on Feb. 1, will expand research in and access to assistive and universally designed technologies, further integrate Americans with disabilities into the workforce and help remove barriers to participation in community life. Details of the initiative are available at www.whitehouse.gov/news/freedominitiative/freedominitiative.html.

Last editted on April 9, 2001