Trying to understand the disability grants process can be cumbersome without a guide. There are a number of grants available for people with disabilities. Funds provided by grants for people with disabilities provide them with opportunities to become self-sufficient and to live independently. The disability grants process sometimes involves giving money directly to individuals in need, but more often is funneled to organizations that conduct research or provide services to people with disabilities. The disability grants process is a multi-agency effort that exists on the national, state and city levels to bring grants for people with disabilities to the people who need them the most.
Learn more about community based centers that receive grants to help people with disabilities with Jason Edwards of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Katie Humbert of Ocala, Florida walks us through grants for housing, Mark Lyle of Bozeman, Montana discusses education grants and Cissy Petty of New Orleans, Louisiana explains employment grants for people with disabilities.
Community Centers Use Grants for People with Disabilities to Help Those in Need by Jason Edwards of Cedar Rapids, Iowa
One organization that uses grant money to help people with disabilities is the Centers for Independent Living (CILs). The community-based centers are located across the U.S. and, perhaps most importantly, operated by people with disabilities. The private non-profit centers offer services to people with disabilities including peer counseling, information and referral, independent living skills training and advocacy, working to promote social change. The Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs) acts as a governing board for the CILs, overseeing the disability grants process. The SILCs act independently but share information across states to further their goal of providing a diverse array of assistance programs for the disabled.
Becoming Independent with the Disability Housing Grants Process by Katie Humbert of Ocala, Florida
The disability housing grants process is channeled through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and offers a number of ways for people with disabilities to become independent. HUD provides disabled people with rental vouchers, so they only pay 30% of their income towards housing. And the Disabled Accessibility Grants process, also funded in part by HUD, gives disabled people funds to make accessibility improvements to their homes. Home improvements included in the grants for people with disabilities include widening of doorways, installing ramps, doorbell height adjustments and a number of bathroom and kitchen modifications.
Employment Grants for People with Disabilities by Mark Lyle of Bozeman, Montana
The U.S. Department of Labor provides grants for people with disabilities through the Employment & Training Administration (ETA). The ETA’s Disabilities Program works to provide employment opportunities for the disabled. The Disability Employment Grants provide funds that funnel into training for people with disabilities. Jobs skill training includes general business skills and more focused career skills training for jobs in fields like information technology.
Education Grants Process: Helping People with Disabilities by Cissy Petty of New Orleans, Louisiana
Providing education grants to assist people with disabilities is a big part of helping them to become integrated members of their community, comments Cissy Petty. The disability grants process that provides for the educational needs of people with disabilities starts with young children. Young people with disabilities benefit from family members, preschool teachers and daycare providers that have received awareness training and skills in order to work with them in a way that’s nurturing, supportive and challenging. The government provides grants to groups that work with kids including teachers and various health care providers. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) outlines a disability grants process that provides funding at state and local levels. The government’s plan strives to ensure that recipients meet developmental goals, set appropriately challenging academic goals and help the kids with disabilities become as independent as possible.
We Thank Our Contributors:
- Cissy Petty, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Jason Edwards of Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Katie Humbert of Ocala, Florida
- Mark Lyle of Bozeman, Montana
