Continue reading for more, or take action NOW
South Carolina ACL-Funded Programs on the Proposed Dismantling of the Administration for Community Living (ACL)
On March 27, 2025, an announcement was made from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services about dismantling the Administration for Community Living (ACL). As South Carolina organizations committed to strengthening our communities, promoting personal responsibility, and supporting the independence of people with disabilities and older adults, we strongly oppose the proposed dismantling of the Administration for Community Living (ACL).
ACL plays a vital role in helping South Carolina residents—especially seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities—live independently, contribute to their communities, and avoid costly institutional care. The agency supports locally-driven, practical solutions that prioritize individual autonomy and reduce reliance on federal systems.
Through ACL, South Carolina receives critical funding for independent, community-based programs that uphold individual freedoms and empower people with disabilities and older adults. These programs include:
- South Carolina Developmental Disabilities Council
- University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
- Centers for Independent Living:
- Able South Carolina
- AccessAbility
- Walton Options for Independent Living
- Able South Carolina
- South Carolina Assistive Technology Program
- South Carolina Department of Aging
- South Carolina Long Term Care Ombudsman Program
- Disability Rights South Carolina
- Brain Injury Association of South Carolina
These programs serve 1 in 3 disabled and 1 in 5 aging South Carolinians, benefiting a significant portion of our population. They reflect our values of individual liberty, strong families, and the right to self-determination. ACL’s support allows people to remain in their homes and communities, helping them avoid institutionalization and saving taxpayers money.
ACL was created in 2012 to consolidate multiple agencies into one, ensuring a more efficient and coordinated approach to supporting people with disabilities and older adults. By streamlining services, ACL was designed to provide community-based, consumer-directed solutions that help individuals live independently and make choices about their lives, without relying on large, bureaucratic systems. The agency recognized the need for localized solutions that truly meet the diverse needs of our communities.
ACL focuses on consumer-directed services for people with disabilities and older adults and is the home for the only federally funded disability-led programs built on accountability, lived experience, and results-driven leadership. Eliminating ACL would be a step backward not only for the disability and aging communities but also for anyone who believes in local control, limited government, and the right to live independently.
South Carolina knows what works for South Carolina. ACL gives us the tools and flexibility to keep doing just that.
Signed,
Able South Carolina, AccessAbility, Brain Injury Association of South Carolina, Disability Rights South Carolina, South Carolina Statewide Independent Living Council, and Walton Options for Independent LivingÂ
Call to Action:
We urge all South Carolinians to stand up and protect the Administration for Community Living (ACL). The dismantling of this agency would directly impact critical services that help people with disabilities and older adults live independently, stay out of institutions, and contribute to their communities.
Here’s how you can help:
- Contact your representatives: Call or email your local and federal representatives to express your opposition to the dismantling of ACL and encourage them to STOP this from happening.
- Share your story: If you or a loved one benefits from ACL-funded programs, share your experience with policymakers to demonstrate the real-life impact of these services.
- Spread the word: Share this message with friends, family, and social networks to raise awareness about the importance of ACL for South Carolina.
Your voice is essential in ensuring that ACL continues to support our communities. Stand/sit with us—stand/sit with South Carolina—and help preserve the freedom of choice, independence, and local control that ACL provides.