By Kathy Greenlee, Assistant Secretary for Aging and Administrator of ACL
Henry Claypool, one of the architects in creating the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and a tireless advocate for people with disabilities, has decided to step down from his dual roles as Principal Deputy Administrator of ACL and the HHS Secretary’s Advisor on Disability Policy.
Secretary Sebelius said it well: “Henry has been an indispensable health leader within the Department and the Obama Administration for the past four years. He has brought to his work a passion for advocacy, a sharp understanding of policy and a deep commitment to improving the lives of people with disabilities and older adults. There are few people with Henry’s breadth and depth of knowledge and experience.”
Henry has been an ambassador to the wide variety of smaller communities that make up the broad based world of disability. He has been the President and Secretary’s ambassador, communicating the importance of the Affordable Care Act—illustrating how it is the most important piece of disability rights legislation since the Americans with Disabilities Act. He’s been acknowledged by the community as working tirelessly, every day, to improve the lives of Americans with Disabilities.
Turning Policy Into Practice
It has been an honor to work alongside Henry, sharpening the focus on disability policy across a range of HHS agencies, and working on issues with the Departments of Housing and Urban Development, Education, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs, among others. Most notably, Henry has made sure the Affordable Care Act is implemented with an eye toward the needs and rights of people with disabilities; created model policies for the new health exchanges and eligibility standards for federal programs; and pushed for universal access to be part of the requirements for electronic health records—so every American can access their own medical histories.
Secretary Sebelius and the Obama Administration have heard the voice of people with disabilities, and Henry’s leadership can be seen in the many major speeches and innovative, substantive events hosted by HHS and the White House.
Year of Community Living
When President Obama announced the “Year of Community Living,” Henry was a leader in helping to establish an unprecedented partnership between HHS and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. People with disabilities need accessible and affordable housing as well as long-term services and supports in order to live full lives in the setting of their choice. This partnership had led to innovative solutions and is helping people move from institutional settings into the community.
Henry’s testimony to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in June, 2012 outlines both the strides that have been made and the challenges many people with disabilities still experience following the Supreme Courts’ 1999 Olmstead decision, which affirmed the right of people with disabilities to live in their community. You can watch or download his testimony on the Senate HELP website.
New Roles
Henry will continue his disability advocacy in a different role, outside of government. He will remain a staunch advocate for all we envision to support the health and independence of people with disabilities and seniors.
Sharon Lewis will serve as Acting Principal Deputy Administrator in addition to her current role as Commissioner of the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, part of ACL.
I wish Henry all the best and extend my sincere gratitude for all that he has taught me.