Improving Methods for Conducting Research with People with Cognitive Disabilities in Virtual Environments | HHS 2023 ACL NIDILRR DPGE 0060

Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2023 ACL NIDILRR DPGE 0060

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and its National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), is offering a single Discretionary Research and Rehabilitation Projects (DRRP) grant focused on improving how research is conducted with people who have cognitive disabilities in virtual environments. The opportunity is rooted in the Rehabilitation Act and is meant to strengthen the evidence base behind disability services and supports by generating new knowledge and developing better methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technologies. In practical terms, the grant is aimed at research that ultimately improves real-world outcomes for people with disabilities, especially those with the greatest support needs, across areas like health and function, community living, and employment.

The central goal of this specific funding priority is methodological: the funded project must develop and study rigorous research methods and approaches that work well in virtual settings, so that people with cognitive disabilities can provide data about their experiences and outcomes that are valid (accurate), reliable (consistent), and meaningful (captures what matters in their lives). The focus on virtual environments reflects the growing use of remote and technology-mediated research approaches, including online platforms, video-based interviews, virtual focus groups, app-based data collection, and other digital tools. The work is expected to address the unique challenges that can arise when collecting self-reported or participation-based data remotely with individuals who may have differences in memory, attention, communication, comprehension, executive functioning, or fatigue. The population of interest is intentionally broad and can include, but is not limited to, people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, serious mental illness, traumatic brain injury, dementia, stroke, or similar cognitive disabilities.

This is a science and technology and other research and development opportunity (CFDA 93.433) with an award ceiling of $500,000, and NIDILRR expects to make one award total in fiscal year 2023. The project period is 60 months, structured as five 12-month budget periods, which signals that the funder anticipates a multi-year research agenda where methods can be designed, tested, refined, and validated over time rather than in a short pilot. The funding instrument is a grant, and the opportunity category is discretionary, meaning applications will be competitively reviewed and funded at the agency's discretion based on responsiveness to the priority and overall merit.

Eligibility is broad and includes many common research-performing and community-serving entities: state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other applicants as allowed under the notice's additional eligibility language. The funding opportunity number is HHS-2023-ACL-NIDILRR-DPGE-0060, and the notice was created on May 4, 2023. The original application deadline was July 3, 2023, with electronic submissions due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date.

Taken together, this grant is essentially a targeted investment in making virtual research more inclusive and scientifically sound for people with cognitive disabilities. Rather than funding a particular intervention or service model outright, it prioritizes the underlying research methods that determine whether virtual studies can accurately capture the voices, preferences, and lived outcomes of people with cognitive disabilities. The intended payoff is stronger, more trustworthy evidence that can be used to improve disability-related programs, technology, and supports over time.

• 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 "Improving Methods for Conducting Research with People with Cognitive Disabilities in Virtual Environments" 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 May 04, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 03, 2023 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, 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, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for HHS 2023 ACL NIDILRR DPGE 0060

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: