ACL Awards $4M to Fund 16 Field-Initiated Research and Development Projects

ACL's National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) is pleased to announce that it has awarded $3,991,978 to 16 Field-Initiated Projects in their first year. The purpose of the Field-Initiated Projects 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 those with the highest support needs. These projects will study and build new ways to improve health, community living, and employment for people with disabilities.  

The grants support NIDILRR's mission to generate new knowledge and promote its effective use to improve the lives of people with disabilities, and advance ACL’s strategic priorities. These projects will run for three years and receive funds up to $250,000 a year. 

• Airless Radial Wheels for Improving Durability, Comfort, and Mobility of Power Wheelchair Users — University of Pittsburgh. The study tests airless wheels on power wheelchairs for ride comfort, durability, and access to rough terrain. 
• An Innovative Employment-Specific Social Communication Evaluation Tool for Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorders — Kessler Foundation. The project develops a website tool that evaluates workplace email communication for autistic youth. 
• Assessing The Clinical Impact of Recreational Therapy as Part of Rehabilitation Services for Brain Injury — Craig Hospital. This work studies which parts of recreational therapy best improve outcomes after brain injury. 
• Enhancing Comprehensibility of Social Media for Blind People Using Generative AI — Michigan State University. The project tests ways to read social media posts aloud and add helpful context for people who use screen readers. 
• Community Autism Peer Specialist in Delaware — University of Delaware. The project pilots a statewide program in which trained peers support autistic adults with wellness and community participation goals. 
• Development of a Smart Insole (Cybersole) To Improve Health and Function in Persons With Diabetic Foot Disease — Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. The project builds a prototype of a self-adjusting insole to help prevent diabetic foot ulcers. 
• Examining and Expanding the Family Peer Support Role in Early Psychosis Care — University of Texas at Austin. This project studies how family peer support specialists help families of young people with early psychosis and produces a best practice guide. 
• Feasibility, Acceptability, and Tolerability of Tele-Monitored At-Home Application of tDCS for People With Aphasia — Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. The research tests whether people with aphasia can safely use brain stimulation along with speech therapy at home, with remote monitoring by the research team. 
• Improving Community Living and Participation by Adapting and Testing Narrative Enhancement and Cognitive Therapy for Young Adults With Serious Mental Health Conditions in Post-Secondary Education — Research Foundation of the City University of New York. This work tests an adapted therapy to reduce self-stigma and support community participation among college students with serious mental health conditions. 
• Integrating AI Personalization Into KeyStroke, an In-Home Music-Based Therapy App, for Upper Extremity Motor Recovery After Stroke — Georgia State University Research Foundation. This project adds movement sensing and AI to a music-based home therapy app, so exercises adapt to each stroke survivor’s recovery. 
• In the Classroom, Supporting Young Children With Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): Strategies for Developmental Success — University of Oregon. The project develops training and strategies to help early childhood educators recognize and support young children with TBI. 
• Joint Opportunities for Bridging Wellness, Integration of Community Services, and Supported Employment-Family — University of Northern Colorado. This pilots a group program to help families move from child to adult services and supports. 
• Project B-JUST: Brain Injury & Juvenile Services Training — University of Oregon. The project develops and studies training for juvenile services staff who work with justice-involved youth who have a TBI. 
• Surviving The Loneliness Epidemic: Development of an Intervention To Reduce Social Isolation and Loneliness Among Persons With Multiple Sclerosis (MS) — Kessler Foundation. The project refines an existing program that reduces loneliness for people with MS, writes a manual for it, and tests whether other settings can use it. 
• The Influence of Prosthesis Training in Biomarkers of Neurorehabilitation in Children With Congenital Limb Loss — University of Nebraska. The study looks at how prosthesis training changes brain activity in children born with upper-limb differences. 
• Wearables for the Bladder: Self-Management Tools To Increase Participation in Daily Life for People With MS — University of California, San Francisco. The research investigates whether wearable bladder devices and self-management training help people with MS manage bladder problems and take part in daily life. 

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. 

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