ACL Awards 20 Field-Initiated Projects Program Grants

September 30, 2024

ACL's National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) is announcing 20 Field-Initiated Projects (FIP) Program grant awards for 2024.

The planned project period for these grants is three years, with an estimated funding amount of up to $200,000 per year for each grantee.

The purpose of the FIP Program is to develop knowledge, 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 is to improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. FIP research projects conduct studies to produce new scientific knowledge or better understanding of the subject, problem, or body of knowledge. FIP development projects use knowledge and understanding gained from research to create beneficial products.

FIP Research Grant Recipients

• Baylor Research Institute, Dallas, TX: Expanding delivery of an evidence-based weight-loss intervention to enhance access and reach underserved groups after stroke.
• Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, Urbana, IL: Developing multiple types of phase-specific self-efficacy e-intervention (TOP-SEE) to enhance self-management for people with multiple sclerosis.
• Craig Hospital, Engelwood, CA: Spinal stimulation to improve upper extremity recovery in the home.
• Kessler Foundation, Inc., East Hanover, NJ: Cognitive integrated motor training to improve gait and balance and reduce falls in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.
• The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH: Designing wheelchair servicing intervention by repair technicians based on real-world wheelchair usage data.
• The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI: Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy with lay coaches: Enhancing health and community participation for older adults with ambulatory disabilities.
• Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc., New York City, NY: Individual placement and support (IPS) for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD): Helping adults with OCD succeed at work through IPS supported employment.
• The Research Foundation for SUNY on behalf of University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY: Addressing the impacts of climate change on people with disabilities.
• University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL: Participation of people with disabilities in research: A participatory approach mixed-methods study and monitoring dashboard.
• University of Kansas Center for Research, Lawrence, KS: Using the national survey on health and disability to assess the experiences of LGBTQ+ people with disabilities.
• University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH: Advancing peer-delivered mental health interventions for young adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities: Adapting and testing step up peer programming.
• Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN: Understanding integrated supports for community living and participation among adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families.

See Notice of Funding Opportunity: HHS-2024-ACL-NIDILRR-IFRE-0073, "Field Initiated Projects Program (Research)," posted October 10, 2023.

FIP Development Grant Recipients

• American Institutes for Research in the Behavioral Sciences, Arlington, VA: My Risk for Opportunity, Autonomy, and Dignity (My ROAD): Developing an intervention to expand dignity of risk in inclusive postsecondary education programs.
• Baylor Research Institute, Dallas, TX: Development of a telehealth platform for delivery of the Diabetes Prevention Program Group Lifestyle Balance modified for people with traumatic brain injury (GLB-TBI+).
• Baylor Research Institute, Dallas, TX: Implementation of an evidence-based educational resource for children with mild traumatic brain injury.
• Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA: Accessible delivery robots.
• Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH: Development of a ride-on car therapy gaming platform: Project WHEELS (Whole-person Home-based Electronic Learning System).
• Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA: Emergency preparedness in postsecondary transition programs.
• Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ: My CTE Journey: A digital toolkit for navigating career and technical education.
• University of Oregon, Eugene, OR: Ready to work: Community development of an employability social skill curriculum for justice-involved youth with disabilities served in community juvenile services programming.

See Notice of Funding Opportunity: HHS-2024-ACL-NIDILRR-IFDV-0074, "Field Initiated Projects Program (Development)," posted October 10, 2023.

NIDILRR funded the highest-ranked 16 FIP research and development applications in rank order. NIDILRR funded an additional four FIP grants out of rank order from among the high-scoring FIP applicants. These applicants present unique opportunities to advance knowledge to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities per 45 CFR 1330.25 (b)(1).

Contact [email protected] at NIDILRR with questions about the FIP Program.

To stay current on NIDILRR grant opportunities, please visit grants.gov and search: NIDILRR or 93.433.

NIDILRR, part of ACL, generates new knowledge and promotes its effective use so that people with disabilities can perform activities of their choice in the community. NIDILRR also works to expand society's capacity to provide full opportunities and accommodations for people with disabilities.