The U.S. Department of Education has announced the allocation of $251 million to 27 grantees nationwide, aimed at enhancing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. This funding, the largest vocational rehabilitation-focused competitive grant awarded by the Department, is intended to integrate people with disabilities into the 21st-century workforce through the Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) program.
"Today, more than 60 million adults live with a disability – each with unique talents and strengths. In our 21st century economy, we must provide more opportunities for these individuals to achieve their goals for competitive integrated employment, independence, and economic self-sufficiency," stated U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. "Through the Disability Innovation Fund and today’s announcement, we’ll make progress to overcome historic barriers to employment while ensuring the varied needs, preferences, and goals of individuals with disabilities remain at the center of our vision for a strong, inclusive workforce."
The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) within the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) received over 200 applications in response to its notice inviting applications. The focus areas included broadening access to advanced technology careers; innovative applications of advanced technology; justice-involved youth with disabilities; early intervention and reintegration strategies; and field-initiated topics.
Grant recipients are tasked with developing new or substantially improved model strategies or programs that transition youth and adults with disabilities into competitive integrated employment (CIE). These models should be designed for easy adoption by other organizations.
Recipients hail from 16 states, Washington D.C., and the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Islands. They include institutions such as higher education entities, nonprofits, state agencies, among others.
Key recipients include:
- Blind Institute of Technology in Colorado: $8 million
- John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in D.C.: $10 million
- National Disability Institute in D.C.: $9.99 million
- Florida Atlantic University: $9.96 million
- University of South Florida: $9.91 million
A comprehensive list details all recipients along with their respective grant amounts totaling over $251 million.
For further information about each grantee's initiatives under this program can be found on RSA’s website.
