Aging and Disability

diverse group of older people

Though not everyone will become disabled with age, we are more likely to experience impairments and disabilities as we get older. For a quick overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and what it covers, check out our fact sheet on Aging and the ADA: Why You Should Care About the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The ADA and Caregivers: Frequently Asked Questions addresses questions often posed by caregivers and the people who need their assistance.

In the sections below, you'll find information on the ADA, and other resources that may be helpful to older people and those who care about them.

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Aging and Employment

Our fact sheet Aging and the ADA: Aging in the Workforce gives a brief overview of the ADA's employment provisions.

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) offers information and accommodation ideas related to aging.

The Office on Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) in the U.S. Department of Labor offers information and resources on laws, policies, and programs about older workers for individuals, employers, policy makers, and service providers.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) regulates laws related to both age discrimination and disability discrimination.

Assistive Technology for Seniors in the Workplace

Check out these recorded webinars, fact sheets, web courses, and other resources to help employers and older workers use assistive technologies, from simple to sophisticated, to support continued success in the workplace.

Resources from the Maryland Technology Assistance Program (MDTAP)

Resources from TechOWL (Pennsylvania)

From the Maryland Technology Assistance Program (MDTAP)

Two recorded webinars outline the concept of reasonable accommodations in the workplace and explore technology solutions to common age-related impairments.

Handout of slides: AT for Seniors in the Workplace #1

Handout of slides: AT for Seniors in the Workplace #2

Fact Sheet: Assistive Technology in the Workplace: Resources for Seniors

From TechOWL (Technology for Our Whole Lives), Pennsylvania's Initiative on Assistive Technology

The Valuing Older Workers (VOW) three-part video series is available in English and Spanish.

Web courses based on the VOW video series are also available in English and Spanish; participants who complete the course material and quizzes may earn a certificate:

Valuing Older Workers (course in English)

Valorar a los trabajadores mayores (curso en Español)

Aging and Health

The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Healthy Aging and Physical Disability conducts research and training activities to promote healthy aging for people with long-term physical disabilities. The site also offers training materials and information, including articles and user-friendly fact sheets.

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) offers information on aging and health, caregiving, doctor-patient communication, research and clinical trails, and end of life issues.

The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) offers information about hearing loss, including causes, prevention, and treatments, to people of all ages. The organization also offers information on all types of hearing assistive technologies, as well as programs that may be able to assist people in obtaining technologies such as hearing aids, specialized telephone equipment, alerting devices, and more.

The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) offers a variety of information on blindness and low vision, including common conditions and causes (such as macular degeneration and diabetes-related vision loss), as well as information on adaptive technologies. The organization also conducts research to identify strategies to improve transportation, education, and employment opportunities for individuals who experience blindness and low vision.

Aging and Transportation

The National Aging and Disability Transportation Center offers publications, training, and information on transportation options for older adults and people with disabilities, caregivers, and service providers.

Transportation: What Caregivers Need to Know is from the AARP.

Transit Planning 4 All offers a variety of tools and materials to help communities develop transportation systems that meet the needs of older adults and people with disabilities.

Accessibility information from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) includes resources on the ADA, planning for inclusive transit programs, developing supportive transportation options in rural communities, and ensuring that emerging technologies such as autonomous vehicles are accessible.

Aging, Housing, and Community Living

Livable Communities from the AARP and Livable Communities from the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) both include a wide variety of resources on making communities age-friendly and safe. Individuals and families, businesses, local government agencies, caregivers and volunteers, and community organizations can all benefit from information on issues such as housing and home modifications, strategies for community engagement, and transportation systems and streetscape designs that safely include pedestrians and cyclists.

The National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modifications offers information for consumers and professionals. The site includes a wealth of resources on making home modifications to enhance independence and facilitate aging in place, including resources specific to various populations (e.g., older veterans, Native American elders, LGBTQ older adults, those in rural areas, with low income, or aging with disabilities). The site also includes a Home Modification Information Network and a National Directory of Home Modification and Repair Resources to help you find resources in your own community.

The National Association of Home Builders offers a training and certification program for professionals who specialize in home modifications to facilitate aging in place. Search the Directory of Professionals with Home Building Designations (narrow your search by state or city) for those with the designation "CAPS" (Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist) to find builders with this certification in your community.

General Resources on Aging

The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) offers a variety of information for service providers, elders, caregivers, and advocates.

The Eldercare Locator can help locate state and local agencies, such as Aging and Disability Resource Centers, and offers a variety of information on elder rights, health care, insurance and benefits, transportation, and more.

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) offers a portal to a variety of Aging and Disability Networks related to legal rights, assistive technology, services and supports, and community integration.

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) offers information on issues of interest to older people, including economic security, health care, long-term services and supports, and more. The organization also has information for caregivers and professionals.

The National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA) works to improve the lives of Hispanic older adults, their families, and their caregivers by promoting, educating, and advocating for research, policy, and practice in the areas of economic security, health, and housing.

The American Society for Aging (ASA) is a membership organization for professionals working in aging-related fields.

The FrameWorks Institute offers articles, reports, and toolkits to help professionals and advocates reframe how we think about aging and older people.

The United Nations offers information about aging and disability around the world.

Information, Guidance, and Training on the Americans with Disabilities Act

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Aging and Disability

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From the Maryland Technology Assistance Program (MDTAP)

From TechOWL (Technology for Our Whole Lives), Pennsylvania's Initiative on Assistive Technology

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Aging and Disability

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From the Maryland Technology Assistance Program (MDTAP)

From TechOWL (Technology for Our Whole Lives), Pennsylvania's Initiative on Assistive Technology