Dept. of Ed Awards $121 Million in Grants for Disability Research

October 2014 – The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) announced a commitment of more than $121 million in grants to disability research earlier this month. The investment will support research, development, technical assistance, and technology to improve outcomes for children and adults with disabilities

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan stated, "These investments are significant in assisting individuals with disabilities to reach their full potential." By promoting inclusion and accessibility, OSERS aims to increase opportunity and self-sufficiency to improve the quality of life for members of the disability community." Some of the grantees include:

• WestED with $8.7 million to create a Center for Systemic Improvement (CSI)— the largest technical assistance investment ever funded by OSERS;
• The University of North Carolina at Charlotte with $2.5 million for research to improve the transition to postsecondary education and employment for students with disabilities; and
• Gallaudet University with $950 thousand in funding to improve accessibility, usability, and Performance of Technology for Individuals who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

For a full list of grant recipients and additional information, please click the link below.