NIDRR Field Initiated Projects

The purpose of the Field Initiated Projects program is to develop methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technology that maximize the full inclusion and integration into society, employment, independent living, family support, and economic and social self-sufficiency of individuals with disabilities, especially individuals with the most severe disabilities. Another purpose of the FI Projects program is to improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

Amount: $200,000/year for 3 years

Date due: January 6, 2010

In carrying out a research activity under an FI research grant, a grantee must identify one or more hypotheses or research questions and, based on the hypotheses or research questions identified, perform an intensive, systematic study directed toward producing (1) new scientific knowledge, or (2) better understanding of the subject, problem studied, or body of knowledge.

For more information on research grants, click here.

In carrying out a development activity under an FI project development grant, a grantee must use knowledge and understanding gained from research to create materials, devices, systems, or methods, including designing and developing prototypes and processes, that are beneficial to the target population. Target population means the group of individuals, organizations, or other entities expected to be affected by the project. There may be more than one target population because a project may affect those who receive services, provide services, or administer services.

For more information on development grants, click here.

Public Health Conference Support Program

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) proposes a funding opportunity to provide partial support for specific non-Federal conferences in the areas of health promotion, disease prevention, and educational programs.

Amount: $5,000 - $100,000

Date due: December 11, 2009

Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with one (or more) of the following performance goal(s) for the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities:  Improve the health and quality of life for people with disabling or potentially disabling conditions.  

For more information, click here. 

R & D to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect

The Quality Improvement Center on Early Childhood is requesting proposals for research and demonstration projects to prevent child abuse and neglect.

Amount: $1,240,000 for a 40-month

Date due: January 19, 2010

The QIC-EC will support 3-5 research and demonstration (R&D) projects that show promise of generating robust evidence and new knowledge related to the following overarching research question: How and to what extent do collaborations that increase protective factors and decrease risk factors in core areas of the social ecology result in optimal child development, increased family strengths, and decreased likelihood of child maltreatment, within families of young children at high-risk for child maltreatment?

In their approach to this question, R&D projects must target high-risk families who have an infant between the ages of birth to 24 months at the inception of the project, and for whom there has been no substantiated Child Protective Services report in the 24 months preceding acceptance into the project.

For more information, click here.

International Education Research Grants

The International Education Research Foundation's mission is to conduct research and disseminate information on world educational systems and to facilitate the integration of individuals educated outside the United States into the U.S. educational environment and work force. Proposals are particularly sought for the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Costa Rica, Finland, Greece, Paraguay, Portugal, and Uraguay.

Amount: Varies

Date Due: Rotating until December 31, 2010.

Each research grant proposal is evaluated on how well its project design and expected outcomes address the following criteria:

• Supporting research for the evaluation of foreign academic credentials,
• Promoting the integration of students, scholars and professionals holding non-U.S. academic credentials into the United States,
• Facilitating the publication and dissemination of the results of the research and
• Encouraging the exchange of information about educational systems.

For more information, click here.

TBI States Grant Program (Implementation Partnership Grants)

The Federal TBI Program was reauthorized as part of the Childrens Health Act of 2008. Through this program States and Territories are eligible to receive two types of TBI Grants. This announcement solicits competitive applications for one type, State Implementation Partnership Grants. These grants are to be used by states to establish an infrastructure for the delivery of TBI related services and to improve the States ability to make system changes that will sustain the TBI service delivery infrastructure.

Amount: $250,000/year for 4 years

Due: October 15, 2009

As cited in 42 CFR Part 51a.3 (a), any public or private entity, including an Indian tribe or tribal organization (as those terms are defined at 25 U.S.C. 450b), faith based and community based organization are eligible to apply for this federal funding opportunity that can document previous experience to address and fulfill review criteria in guidance.

For more information, click here.

Paraprofessional Preservice Program Improvement Grants

U.S. Department of Education announces the availability of funding to help address the need for highly qualified personnel in special education, related services, early intervention, and regular education to work with infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities. Improving paraprofessional preservice programs will help ensure that paraprofessionals are adequately trained to meet IDEA requirements and the needs of children.

Amount: $150,000/year for 4 years

Date due: November 3, 2009

Purpose of the program is to improve paraprofessional preservice programs in one of two focus areas. Focus Area A is for EI, ECSE or ECE paraprofessional to serve children ages birth through five. Focus Area B is for K - 12 general education and/or special education.

For more information, click here.

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) -- includes Education

The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the National Science Foundation including education. REU Sites must have a well-defined common focus that enables a cohort experience for students. These projects may be based in a single discipline or academic department, or on interdisciplinary or multi-department research opportunities with a coherent intellectual theme.

Amount: Varies

Due: October 22, 2009

REU projects involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs or in research projects specifically designed for the REU program. This solicitation features two mechanisms for support of student research: (1) REU Sites are based on independent proposals to initiate and conduct projects that engage a number of students in research. REU Sites may be based in a single discipline or academic department, or on interdisciplinary or multi-department research opportunities with a coherent intellectual theme. Proposals with an international dimension are welcome. A partnership with the Department of Defense supports REU Sites in DoD-relevant research areas.

For more information, click here.

Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA)

The following NIH AREA grant program is aimed specfically at institutions such as WOU that do not typically receive NIH funding. AREA grant (R15) applications to support new biomedical, behavioral or clinical research projects proposed by faculty members of eligible colleges, universities, schools, and components of domestic institutions. It is anticipated that investigators supported under the AREA program will benefit from the opportunity to conduct independent research; that the grantee institution will benefit from a research environment strengthened through AREA grants and sustained by participation in the numerous and diverse extramural programs of the NIH; and that students will benefit from exposure to and participation in scientific research in the biomedical, behavioral and clinical sciences.

Amount: $300,000 for up to 3 years

Due: September 24, 2009

At institutions that have not been major recipients of NIH support, AREA grants may support, new or renewal, meritorious projects in biomedical, behavioral research or clinical research, including:

• pilot research projects and feasibility studies
• development, testing, and refinement of research techniques
• secondary analysis of available data sets
• similar discrete research projects that demonstrate research capability

For more information, click here.

Small Grant Program for Conference Support (NIH)

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), announces its continued interest in supporting conferences through its Small Grant Program for Conference Support. AHRQ seeks to support conferences that help to further its mission to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans. The types of conferences eligible for support include:

1. Research development - conferences where issues or challenges in the delivery of health services are defined and a research agenda or strategy for studying them is developed;
2. Design and methodology - conferences where methodological and technical issues of major importance in the field of health services research are addressed or new designs and methodologies are developed;
3. Dissemination conferences - where research findings are summarized and communicated broadly to organizations and individuals that have the capability to use the information to improve the outcomes, quality, access to, and cost and utilization of health care services; and/or,
4. Research Training, Infrastructure and Career Development-conferences where research faculty and students are brought together with users of research to develop, share and disseminate research products, experiences, curricula, syllabi, approaches or core competencies required to train individuals from multi- and interdisciplinary backgrounds or prepare developing or emerging research institutions to conduct and translate research related to fostering improvements in health care delivery in the US.

Amount: $50,000

Due: October 20, 2009

AHRQ is especially interested in supporting conferences that demonstrate strategies which include plans for disseminating conference materials and products beyond the participants attending the event. Such strategies might include, but are not limited to, submitting articles for publication, posting information on a Web site, and seeking formal opportunities to discuss conference information with others.

For more information, click here.

Charter Schools -- NonSEA applicants

The U.S. Department of Education announces a funding opportunity for non-State Education Agencies to increase national understanding of the charter school model and expand the number of high-quality charter schools available.

Amount: $175,000/year for 3 years

Due: August 26, 2009

The grants are for the planning, program design, and initial implementation of charter schools, and to evaluate the effects of charter schools, including their impact on students, student academic achievement, staff and parents.

For more information, click here.

Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury PI-Initiated Research

The Psychological Health/Traumatic Brain Injury Research Program Investigator-Initiated Research Award is intended to support studies that make an important contribution to PH/TBI research and/or patient care in at least one of the FY09 PH/TBI topic areas, and are responsive to the health care needs of warriors, Veterans, families, caregivers and/or communities. All applications must specifically and clearly address the military relevance of the proposed research.

Amount: $1 million across 4 years

Due: August 14, 2009 (pre-application submission); October 28, 2009 (application)

Collaboration with military researchers and clinicians is encouraged. Research projects may focus on any phase of research from basic laboratory through translational research. Observations that drive a research idea may be derived from laboratory discovery, population-based studies, or a clinician’s firsthand knowledge of patients and anecdotal data.

For more information, click here.

Model Demonstration for Projects on Tiered Approaches for Improving Writing Proficiency of High School Students (OSEP)

The purpose of the Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities program is to promote academic achievement and to improve results for children with disabilities by supporting model demonstration projects.

Amount: $400,000/year for 4 years

Due: August 12, 2009

The purpose of this priority is to fund cooperative agreements to support the establishment and operation of three Model Demonstration Projects on Tiered Approaches for Improving the Writing Proficiency of High School Students (Projects) who have writing difficulties, including those at risk for and with learning disabilities. Each project must design, implement, and evaluate a tiered approach in high schools that incorporates evidenced-based components including screening, progress monitoring, core instruction, and instructional interventions at varying levels of intensity based on students’ learning needs. The models must have writing as the core instructional component.

For more information, click here.

Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Research Program

The Department of Defense (DoD) announces the availability of grant funds to promote research that will advance the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of military-relevant psychological health (PH) and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Amount: $6 million across 5 years

Due: October 28, 2009

This Program is focused on the spectrum of PH and TBI research from basic, applied, and clinical research, to translational research that transforms scientific discoveries into clinical applications and best practices that prevent, mitigate, and effectively treat TBI and optimize PH in the short and long term. The goal is to increase understanding of the etiology of PH problems, TBIs, and associated comorbidities – including patients with TBI and/or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and/or substance dependence/abuse – in order to develop preventive interventions and new treatments and to arrive at evidenced-based solutions.

For more information, click here.

Statewide Forums on Careers in the Arts for Individuals with Disabilities

This project is designed to advance education and career opportunities in the arts for individuals with disabilities.

Amount: $50,000

Due: August 6, 2009

The Arts Endowment plans to award a single award of up to $50,000 to an organization to 1) manage and support a minimum of two Statewide Forums on Careers in the Arts for Individuals with Disabilities in states that have not yet convened such a forum, and 2) conduct a minimum of four follow-up activities in states that have convened forums.

For more information, click here.

Keeping up: Technology's Rapid Changes and Effects on People with Disabilities

The National Council on Disability is interested in evaluating how Americans with disabilities are faring in this new digital media age. NCD is interested in examining the accessibility of new media and technologies developed, documenting successful development processes, understanding consumer needs, and identifying the facilitators and barriers to the technology transfer for employment purposes. Through this research, NCD will aim to educate designers about how specific new technologies intersect with the employment needs of individuals with disabilities. This research will aim to provide technology developers with knowledge on how their complex products can be developed in a cost-effective way and used to increase the employment of people with disabilities.

Amount: $150,000

Due date: August 7, 2009

As part of this research, six new media sources and/or digital technology products will be analyzed for their utility in employment settings, and their accessibility to people with disabilities. This analysis should include market trends, potential consumers, facilitators and barriers to expanding the market to employment settings, industry practice, and accessibility. NCD proposes to collect data on the experiences of people with disabilities in this new media environment; highlight accomplishments, and determine recommendations for how digital media accessibility for people with disabilities can be improved. NCD hopes the information in this report will motivate and drive the development of new technologies that will improve the employment status of people with disabilities.

For more information, click here.

Registered Apprenticeship for Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities Iniative

The Office of Disability Employment Policy within the Department of Labor has announced the availability of funds and solicitation for grant applications (SGA) for a cooperative agreement that would focus on developing, providing and researching apprenticeship programs for youth and young adults with disabilities.

Amount: $400,000

Due date: July 15, 2009

Required partners must include university, registered apprenticeship program, a community based organization, and a business with demonstrated experience providing employment and training services to youth with disabilities.

According to the RFP, "successful applicants will research, develop, and evaluate innovative
models of Registered Apprenticeship service delivery that are inclusive of youth and
young adults with disabilities, including those with significant disabilities, between the
ages of 16 and 27. It is expected that the models will produce skilled workers who are
in demand in one or more high-growth, high-demand industries including but not limited
to, construction, healthcare, green jobs, information technology, and biotechnology. To
create a continuum of service delivery for youth with disabilities of high-school age, and
to provide apprenticeship opportunities for those who may lack relevant skills, and those
who may have dropped out or otherwise failed to obtain a high school diploma, the
service delivery model being developed must also include a pre-apprenticeship
component."

For more information: http://tinyurl.com/ldx6km