Here is today's Kansas Commission on Disability Concerns (KCDC) Disability News message. I hope you have a wonderful day.?

Martha

*Martha K. Gabehart* | "Executive Director
"Kansas Commission on Disability Concerns (KCDC)
*Kansas Governor Laura Kelly
*900 SW Jackson, Suite 100 | Topeka, Kansas 66612
(785) 296-6525 (direct) | (785) 260-4027 (cell)

[email protected] | www.kcdcinfo.ks.gov [ [link removed] ]

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This email is from the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) Employment First Community of Practice (CoP).

View it in your browser [ [link removed] ].

Application Opportunity!

The U.S. Department of Education issued a Notice Inviting Applications for Disability Innovation Fund -- Creating a 21st Century Workforce of Youth and Adults with Disabilities Through the Transformation of Education, Career, and Competitive Integrated Employment Model Demonstration Projects.
(Assistance Listing Number 84.421F)

Pre-Application Meeting:
Wednesday, May 1, 1:30 PM ET

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Eligible Applicants, including State Educational Agency, State Juvenile Justice agency, State Developmental Disabilities agency, State Department of Health, State Department of Human Services, Designated State unit for Vocational Rehabilitation Services, and Public, Private, and Nonprofit Entities, including Indian Tribes and Institutions of Higher Education, are invited to compete for grants totaling $236 million.

The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA [ [link removed] ]) within the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), U.S. Department of Education intends to fund multiple innovative model demonstration projects focused on activities aimed at increasing competitive integrated employment (CIE) as defined in section 7 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act) (29 U.S.C. 705(5)) for youth and other individuals with disabilities.

The 21st century brings numerous changes that will affect youth and adults with disabilities. As we look to the future, technological innovations can provide new opportunities for individuals with disabilities by improving mobility, communication, learning, daily living activities, education, career training, and CIE. However, it is crucial that these technologies are accessible and affordable, and more importantly, that individuals with disabilities and professionals, including educators, service professionals, and employers, are knowledgeable and use, as appropriate, the options available. In addition, with the advancement of technology across all sectors, education, employment, and communities are constantly changing. Advanced technology can result in knowledge-based jobs and support remote work, providing individuals with disabilities increased CIE opportunities.

Additionally, individuals with disabilities, including justice-involved youth with disabilities, youth and adults with acquired disabilities, disconnected youth with disabilities and disconnected adults with disabilities, may benefit from a range of services, and supports to address their unique needs and challenges to ensure access to CIE. However, there are challenges in ensuring all youth and adults with disabilities receive the support, education, training, and advocacy they may need to succeed in the workplace. There are also opportunities to address these challenges by exploring new ideas, methods, or technologies to improve existing processes, products, or services that have the potential to affect how many of these individuals with disabilities achieve their CIE goals.

The purpose, as outlined in the Notice Inviting Application (NIA), is to fund innovative model demonstration projects designed to develop, implement, refine, evaluate, and disseminate, for easy adoption, new or substantially improved model strategies or programs to transition youth and/or adults with disabilities to CIE in any one of five topic areas, or a sixth topic, for field-initiated topic areas that includes the opportunity to address more than one topic as outlined in the NIA.

Additional Information

The NIA and additional information can be found at the following resources:
? RSA.ED.GOV [ [link removed] ]
? NCRTM?s RSA Discretionary Grant Information page [ [link removed] ]

Pre-Application Meeting

OSERS will conduct a pre-application meeting specific to this competition on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at 1:30 PM ET to respond to questions. Information about the pre-application meeting will be available on NCRTM?s RSA Discretionary Grant Information page [ [link removed] ]. More details will be forthcoming.

The 84.421F pre-application meeting summary will be available on NCRTM?s RSA Discretionary Grant Information page [ [link removed] ] within ten business days after the pre-application conference call.

Application Package

The full application package is available at GRANTS.GOV [ [link removed] ].

Questions

OSERS invites you to send questions to [email protected] in advance of the pre-application meeting.

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There is still time to nominate a person with a disability or an organization that works with people with disabilities for the Michael Lechner Advocacy Award. Deadline for nominations is May 15, 2024.? Information about the award criteria and the nomination form are attached below.? Please consider nominating someone who has been an advocate for people with disabilities for the prestigious award.??


* 2024 Michael Lechner Award Request for Nominations.pdf [ [link removed] ]
* Lechner Award nomination form 2024.docx [ [link removed] ]

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