On July 22, 2014, President Obama signed H.R. 803 the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, commonly referred to as WIOA. It provides comprehensive change to a number of employment and education-related programs, including services for people with physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities.
The WIOA transfers three programs to the Administration for Community Living (ACL) from the U.S. Department of Education:
The transition of these three important programs reflects their strong alignment with ACL’s current efforts and mission—to maximize the independence, well-being, and health of older adults and people with disabilities, and the families and caregivers of both. ACL already administers well known programs authorized in the Older Americans Act, the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, and the Lifespan Respite Act, among others. By uniting our teams and combining our efforts, we will be able to reach farther and be more effective in our mission to ensure that people with disabilities and older adults have the services and supports they need to live the lives they want, fully participating in the communities they choose.
ACL and the Department of Education are partnering on transition that ensures program continuity, while minimizing disruptions. Grants will continue to be managed by the current program staff, with ACL providing policy, legal, and programmatic direction. As the new programs are merged into ACL’s grant management and payment systems, we will provide training and technical assistance to help grantees navigate the processes.
If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions regarding WIOA implementation, please contact ACL directly at wioa@acl.hhs.gov.
To learn more about WIOA, read Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee’s blog, New Law Expands ACL’s Capacity to Serve Americans with Disabilities.
Technical Assistance on the Independent Living Programs and Informational Update regarding the Transition from the Department of Education to ACL
The Independent Living Research Utilization program website includes information about WIOA implementation as it specifically relates to the Independent Living Program.
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Last Modified: 2/10/2015