The U.S. Department of Education has awarded $251 million to 27 grantees nationwide to enhance employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. These five-year grants, under the Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) program, aim to promote competitive, integrated employment (CIE), ensuring that youth and adults with disabilities receive fair wages for their work while creating pathways to in-demand fields.
"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," said 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 following its notice inviting applications. The applications focused on several topics:
- Broadening access to advanced technology careers for youth and/or adults with disabilities leading to CIE.
- Innovative uses of advanced technology supporting youth and/or adults with disabilities leading to CIE.
- Early intervention and reintegration strategies from the juvenile justice system leading to CIE.
- Workforce reintegration strategies for youth/adults with acquired or disconnected disabilities leading to CIE.
- Field-initiated topics addressing innovative areas not included in other priorities or combining multiple areas into one application.
Grant recipients will develop new or improved model strategies or programs transitioning youth and adults with disabilities into CIE. Additionally, they are expected to design model demonstration projects that can be easily adopted by others.
Recipients come from 16 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands. They include 13 institutions of higher education, nine nonprofits, four state agencies, and one special institution.
