Assistive Technology Act National Activities: State Training and Technical Assistance for Assistive Technology Programs and National Assistive Technology Public Internet Site | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this funding opportunity about?

This opportunity is an Administration for Community Living (ACL) discretionary cooperative agreement under Section 6(b) of the Assistive Technology (AT) Act of 1998 (as amended). It is intended to strengthen how statewide AT programs operate and to improve how the public finds reliable, current AT-related information.

What are the two main deliverables expected from the funded project?

The project is designed to do two things at once: (1) provide training and hands-on technical assistance to state and territory AT programs funded under Section 4 of the AT Act, and (2) run and maintain a public-facing national AT internet site that offers comprehensive, up-to-date information on assistive technology resources and on the AT Act-funded programs.

How many awards did ACL expect to make under this competition?

ACL anticipated making one award.

What is the maximum funding amount available?

The award ceiling is $625,000, meaning the single funded project could receive up to that amount.

What type of award mechanism is being used?

The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement.

What does a cooperative agreement mean in practical terms?

A cooperative agreement generally indicates substantial federal involvement during the project period. Compared to a standard grant, this typically means closer collaboration and ongoing input from ACL.

Who is the federal agency posting this opportunity?

The opportunity was posted by HHS-ACL (the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living).

When was the opportunity posted and what was the application deadline?

The competition was posted on April 20, 2016, and the application deadline was June 20, 2016.

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.464.

What is the overall purpose of the training and technical assistance component?

The training and technical assistance component is meant to help Section 4 AT programs administer and manage their work more effectively, improve program quality, strengthen day-to-day operations, and support better outcomes across required and common program activities.

Which statewide AT program activity areas are specifically referenced as being supported through training and technical assistance?

The description references support for improved outcomes in areas such as device demonstrations, device loans, reuse, and financing activities, as well as state leadership and coordination functions.

What kinds of improvements is the project expected to promote across Section 4 AT programs?

The project is expected to help grantees meet federal requirements, adopt effective practices, address common implementation challenges, and make services more consistent and impactful nationwide.

What is the purpose of the national Assistive Technology public internet site?

The national site is intended to serve as a centralized, public resource that is comprehensive and kept current, helping people understand assistive technology and locate relevant services and programs, including those connected to the AT Act and AT Act-funded programs.

What kind of information should the national AT website provide?

It should offer comprehensive, up-to-date information on assistive technology resources and information about the AT Act-funded programs themselves, presented in a way that is usable by the general public.

Who is expected to benefit from the public-facing national AT website?

The site is intended to make it easier for people with disabilities, families, service providers, and other stakeholders to locate trustworthy AT information and supports.

How does this opportunity aim to improve access to assistive technology?

By strengthening program performance and management across the AT Act Section 4 network and by providing a dependable, centralized online location for current AT information and links to resources, the opportunity aims to expand awareness and improve access to reliable information that supports increased access to and acquisition of AT devices and services.

What is the scope of the project (state/local vs. national)?

The project is national in scope. It supports a nationwide network of state and territorial AT programs and includes operation of a national public internet site.

Which programs are the direct recipients of the training and technical assistance?

The training and technical assistance is directed to the state and territory AT programs funded under Section 4 of the Assistive Technology Act.

What kinds of organizations were eligible to apply?

Eligibility included state governments; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses.

What experience or capacity would an applicant typically need to be competitive for this project?

Because the project combines national training/technical assistance responsibilities with operation of a public national website, an applicant would typically need strong experience in assistive technology systems, stakeholder engagement, accessible information dissemination, and the capacity to support a nationwide network of state and territorial programs.

What broader activity category is this opportunity associated with?

The opportunity is listed within the broader activity category of Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

What is the central goal of the grant according to the opportunity description?

The central goal is to improve how AT Act Section 4 programs perform and serve their communities while giving the public a single, dependable online location for current assistive technology information and links to resources.