After fierce advocacy, Centers for Independent Living are now eligible to apply directly for the Fiscal Year (FY) 24 Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) under the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA).
The Disability Innovation Fund supports innovative activities aimed at increasing competitive integrated employment (CIE). For FY 2024, the priority of the DIF is “Creating a 21st Century Workforce of Youth and Adults with Disabilities through the Transformation of Education, Career, and CIE”.
The purpose is to fund model demonstration projects designed to develop, implement, refine, evaluate, and disseminate for easy adoption, new or substantially improved model strategies or programs to transition youth and adults with disabilities to CIE in any one of five topic areas. The sixth topic area is for field-initiated topics and includes the opportunity to address more than one topic area.
Topic Areas:
Topic Area 1: Broadening Access to Advanced Technology Careers and Creating A 21st Century Workforce of Youth and / or Adults with Disabilities Leading to CIE;
Topic Area 2: Innovative Applications (as defined in this notice) of Advanced Technology to Support Youth and / or Adults with Disabilities Leading to CIE;
Topic Area 3: Justice-Involved Youth with Disabilities: Early Intervention (as defined in this notice) and Reintegration (as defined in this notice) from the Juvenile Justice System to the Community, Leading to CIE;
Topic Area 4: Early Intervention and Workforce Reintegration Strategies for Youth and/or Adults with Acquired Disabilities that Lead to CIE;
Topic Area 5: Early Intervention and Workforce Reintegration Strategies for Disconnected Youth and / or Disconnected Adults with Disabilities that Lead to CIE; and
Topic Area 6: Field-Initiated
Key Dates:
- Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: April 23, 2024.
- Pre-Application Meeting: May 1, 2024
- Deadline for Applications: July 8, 2024.
More Information:
NCIL would be happy to provide support and general technical assistance for NCIL members. If you have any questions on this grant opportunity, please contact Mary-Kate Wells ([email protected]).