Steven J. Tingus, director of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services at the U.S. Department of Education, circulated the following important message about the newly issued final report and recommendations from the recently held Mini-Conference on Disability and Aging, Disability and Aging: Seeking Solutions to Improve Health, Productivity and Community Living.

Disability is one of the leading issues in aging. Today, more than 54 million Americans live with one or more disabilities, and the reality is that the likelihood of developing a chronic disabling condition only increases with age. In response to this, the White House Conference on Aging (WHCoA) sanctioned the Mini-Conference on Disability and Aging, inviting key stakeholders from the aging and disability community to help formulate specific recommendations bearing on this critical topic to the Policy Committee of the WHCoA.
NIDRR is pleased to make available the final report and recommendations from the Mini-Conference on Disability and Aging, Disability and Aging: Seeking Solutions to Improve Health, Productivity and Community Living. This report summarizes the deliberations of the event and presents the high-priority, agreed-upon recommendations across five policy arenas: social engagement and productivity; healthy long-term living; economic security; assistive technology and universal design; and positive messaging. These recommendations will be considered for inclusion in the final WHCoA Policy Committee recommendations that will be advanced to the president and Congress as developed at the White House Conference on Aging in December 2005.

A copy of the final report and recommendations can be obtained at http://www.whcoa.gov/about/policy/meetings/mini_conf/FINAL%20REPORT_07_21_05.pdf or by clicking the "Read More" link below.
This link will direct you to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. This information is provided for the reader's convenience. The U.S. Department of Education is not responsible for controlling or guaranteeing the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this information. Further, the inclusion of information or addresses, or Web sites for particular items, does not reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed, or products or services offered. A text version of the report can be found at http://www.edpubs.org/lyris/2005111801WHCoA-Finalreport.doc .