Technology and Media Services for Individuals with Disabilities – Stepping-Up Technology Implementation
Grant: Technology and Media Services for Individuals with Disabilities – Stepping-Up Technology Implementation
Agency: U.S. Department of Education (DOE)
Division: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
Deadline: The deadline was March 18, 2013.
Description: The purposes of the Technology and Media Services for Individuals with Disabilities program are to: (1) improve results for students with disabilities by promoting the development, demonstration and use of technology; (2) support educational media services activities designed to be of educational value in the classroom for students with disabilities; (3) provide support for captioning and video description that is appropriate for use in the classroom; and (4) provide accessible educational materials to students with disabilities in a timely manner.
For the purpose of this grant in particular, emphasis is placed on technology implementation. The goal is to support cooperative agreements that will identify resources needed to effectively implement evidence-based technology tools to assist students with disabilities, as well as to develop and disseminate those products among a broad range of schools.
The Stepping-Up Technology Implementation grant program strives to identify, develop, and disseminate products and resources that promote the effective implementation of evidence-based instructional and assistive technology tools in K-12 settings.
The Secretary may extend a project one year beyond 48 months to work with dissemination schools if the grantee is achieving the intended outcomes. Therefore, each applicant must include in its application a plan for the full 60-month award.
Fit for Public Broadcasting: This is an excellent fit for stations involved in using technological services such as closed captioning to improve educational opportunities for K-12 children with disabilities. Public Broadcasters have an excellent opportunity to address this concern and have been recognized for their past successes in this field. WGBH’s National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM) has been celebrated for their superior edescription program, a technology designed to adapt broadcast description methodologies for use with classroom media to improve access to, and participation in the curricula for students with visual impairments.
Eligibility: Stations can act as a lead applicant on this grant. Additionally stations are encouraged to partner with eligible state or local educational agencies including public charter schools, institutions of higher education, Indian tribes or tribal organizations, or other public or for-profit agencies and organizations.
Anticipated Funding: An estimated $3 million is expected to be granted among six awards, with grants ranging from $475,000 to $500,000. The project period is up to 48 months with an optional additional 12 months based on performance.
How to Apply: Applications for this program may be submitted online via Grants.gov. Online submission requires registration, a process that usually takes three to five business days but can take as long as four weeks. Be sure to visit Grants.gov and begin registering well in advance of the grant deadline.
Resources:
Program notice
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services Website
