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  4. AUCD Applauds Federal Grants to Assist People with Disabilities

AUCD Applauds Federal Grants to Assist People with Disabilities

October 8, 2004


Margaret A. Nygren, EdD
Associate Executive Director for Program Development
301-588-8252
[email protected]

SILVER SPRING, MD (October 8, 2004)- On October 5, 2004 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced awards of $31 million in grants to states and others under its FY04 Real Choice Systems Change grant program. The Real Choice Systems Change grants are designed be a catalyst for effective and enduring improvements in community-based long-term support systems for people of all ages with a disability or long-term illness. "The Real Choice Systems Change Grants (RCSC) have been among the most effective of President Bush's New Freedom Initiative (the Bush Administration's agenda to help remove barriers to community living for people with disabilities)," stated AUCD President David Johnson. The University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) continue to have a strong presence in developing strategies to assist people with disabilities to live and work in the community and to rebalance the long term care system consistent with the goals of the RCSC Grants. As a result, several the awardees are members of the AUCD network:

  • The University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability was awarded a LIFE Account Feasibility and Demonstration ($99,000) and an Integrating Long Term Supports with Affordable Housing ($899,954) grant.
  • The Virginia Commonwealth University's Partnership for People with Disabilities was awarded a $300,000 Rebalancing grant.
  • University of Massachusetts Medical School's Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center was awarded a $499,226 Quality Assurance & Quality Improvement in HCBS grant.
  • Northern Arizona University's Institute for Human Development is the primary subcontractor and will implement the Quality Assurance & Quality Improvement in HCBS grant ($500,000) that was awarded to Arizona's Department of Human Services.
  • University of Alaska Anchorage's Center for Human Development will perform the evaluation piece of the Quality Assurance & Quality Improvement in HCBS grant ($417,849) that was awarded to Alaska's Department of Human & Social Services.
  • University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey's Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities is a subcontractor on the Quality Assurance & Quality Improvement in HCBS grant ($417,849) that was awarded to New Jersey's Department of Human Services.
  • University of Vermont's Center on Disability and Community Inclusion will perform the evaluation piece of the Quality Assurance & Quality Improvement in HCBS grant ($449,709) that was awarded to Vermont's Department of Aging Services.
  • New York Medical College's Westchester Institute for Human Development will assist Parent to Parent of New York, Inc. with their Family to Family Health Care Information & Education Center grant ($150,000).
  • Utah State University's Center for Persons with Disabilities will assist the Utah Parent Center in the project evaluation of their Family to Family Health Care Information & Education Center grant ($150,000).
  • In addition, the Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU), which was solely awarded the National State to State Technical Assistance grant, includes the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability, Utah State University's Center for Persons with Disabilities, and AUCD among its subcontractors.

Twenty-three members (23) of our network are now either direct grantees or major partners of agencies awarded grants under CMS's FY01-04 Real Choice Systems Change, MIG, and Ticket to Work grant programs.

The National Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), located in Silver Spring, MD, is a non-profit organization that promotes and supports the national network of interdisciplinary centers advancing policy and practices through research, education and services for and with individuals with developmental and other disabilities, their families, and communities.


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