Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program: Technology for Expressive Communication | HHS 2020 ACL NIDILRR DPCP 0394

Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2020 ACL NIDILRR DPCP 0394

The Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program: Technology for Expressive Communication is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Community Living (ACL), through the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). It sits within NIDILRR's broader Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program and focuses on supporting research-driven work that advances rehabilitation methods and technologies. The overall purpose of DRRP funding is to plan and conduct research, demonstrations, training, and related activities (including international work when relevant) that help people with disabilities, especially those with the most severe disabilities, achieve fuller inclusion and integration in society. That includes better outcomes in employment, independent living, family support, and broader economic and social self-sufficiency, while also improving the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended).

This specific priority targets expressive communication, meaning the ability to convey wants, needs, ideas, and messages to others. NIDILRR's intent is to support research and development activities that produce new knowledge as well as tangible technology products that can improve expressive language use for people who have developmental communication disabilities, adult-onset communication disabilities, or acquired communication disabilities. The underlying goal is practical impact: improving communication capability in ways that translate into better community living outcomes, such as participation in daily activities, social relationships, service navigation, education and work participation, and greater independence in real-world settings.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity was published under Funding Opportunity Number HHS-2020-ACL-NIDILRR-DPCP-0394 and is categorized as a grant in the science and technology/research and development area (CFDA 93.433). The application deadline listed was May 18, 2020, with electronic submissions due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date. The award ceiling was $500,000, and the program anticipated making one award, indicating a single, relatively substantial project intended to deliver a focused body of work rather than multiple smaller projects.

Eligibility was broad and included many types of public, academic, nonprofit, and tribal entities. Eligible applicants included state, county, and city/township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education); and other entities as described in the opportunity's additional eligibility language. In practical terms, this wide eligibility reflects the interdisciplinary nature of expressive communication technology, which can involve rehabilitation engineering, speech-language pathology, computer science, human-computer interaction, special education, clinical rehabilitation, disability studies, and community-based service systems.

Taken together, the opportunity is designed to move beyond basic research alone and toward results that can be used: tools, approaches, and technologies that measurably improve expressive communication for people with significant communication disabilities, and that can ultimately support fuller participation in community life in line with the Rehabilitation Act's goals.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program: Technology for Expressive Communication" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.433.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 18, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 18, 2020 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 1159 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for HHS 2020 ACL NIDILRR DPCP 0394

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