ACL Awards Nearly $4.7 Million for Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Grants

ACL's National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) is pleased to announce seven new DRRP grants totaling approximately $4.7 million in first-year funding.

The purpose of the DRRP program is to plan and conduct research, demonstration projects, trainings, and related activities to develop methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technology. These projects will improve community living, employment, health and function, research infrastructure, and access to research-based information 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. The projects will run for periods of three to five years and receive funds ranging from $500,000 to $850,000 per year.

• ACCESS for Aging Well with AT (Aging Well 2.0): An Integrated Platform for Assessments and Solutions for Independent Living Outcomes - Georgia Tech Research Corporation. This work further develops and promotes the use of a new online platform that helps older adults identify and obtain assistive technology and other accommodations that support aging in place.
• Building Sustainable Community-Based Self-Management for Adults Living with Chronic Burn Injury - Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Corporation. The project develops and tests a community-based program to help people manage the long-term effects of burn injury and improve health and community participation.
• Enhancing Resilience through Peer Engagement among People with Spinal Cord Injury (PEER-SCI) - Medical University of South Carolina. This study investigates resilience and mental health among people with spinal cord injury and evaluates a peer-support intervention designed to improve well-being and social connectedness.
• Intelligent ADL Assistance Through Multimodal Shared Control of a Wheelchair-Mounted Assistive Robot to Support Daily Independence and Community Living - University of Wisconsin System. This project develops AI-enabled assistive robotic technology to help wheelchair users with significant upper-limb disabilities complete daily activities more independently.
• Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC) - American Institutes for Research. The center develops and shares research-based resources for people with spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and burn injury, while helping researchers translate findings into practical information for the public.
• Strengthening Employment Outcomes Among Deaf People - University of Texas at Austin. The project develops and tests Deafverse Career Connections, a program that helps deaf students explore careers, build professional networks, and make informed career decisions.

• Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems National Data and Statistical Center - Craig Hospital. The center maintains and strengthens one of the world's largest longitudinal databases on traumatic brain injury and supports research on long-term outcomes after TBI.

To stay current on NIDILRR grant opportunities, please visit grants.govand 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.