NCIL, APRIL, and NASILC Full Joint Statement

Written By Linnea Westerlind

We want to share this important information from our partners at NCIL, APRIL and NASILC that could severely affect the disability community:

The National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL) and the National Association of Statewide Independent Living Councils (NASILC) have reviewed the recently leaked internal budget document from the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

That document proposed cuts to specific programs, amounting to a cut of about 30% of the Health and Human Services (HHS) discretionary budget. While this document does not represent a formal or final proposal from the White House, it does give us a peek into what OMB and HHS may propose to Congress.

 Specifically, the document proposes eliminating / reducing funds (to zero) for many ACL programs, including but not limited to: 

  • Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs

  • State Councils on Developmental Disabilities

  • Developmental Disabilities Protection & Advocacy (the protection and advocacy grants focused on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and people with mental illness)

  • University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities

  • Limb Loss Resource Center

  • Paralysis Resource Center

  • National Institute on Disability

  • National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research

  • Voting Access for People with Disabilities

  • Aging & Disability Resource Centers

  • Some substance abuse and mental health programs

 This list is only a brief list of cuts and eliminations throughout the budget.

 The leaked budget has a total line item of $453.183 million for the Independent Living Program. Funding is level-funded for Centers for Independent Living (Part C) and an increase of $325 million for Part B. Page 48 of the document states that this money will go to state grants and the grants are intended to provide flexibility to states to use the funding to provide services and supports provided by the disability programs the budget eliminates. It is also alarming that the document asks HHS to work with OMB to determine whether additional flexibility or authorities are needed to carry out the intended budget policy.

Read more on NCIL’s blog: ncil.org/news/announcements/full-joint-statement-on-proposed-budget

Linnea Westerlind
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