Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 032526 001

  • The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS): Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA): Training of Interpreters for Individuals Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and Individuals Who Are DeafBlind; Assistance Listing Number 84.160D" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.160.
  • This funding opportunity was created on 2026-03-25.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-05-26. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $450,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others.
Apply for ED GRANTS 032526 001

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Opportunity Summary:

The U.S. Department of Education, through the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) and its Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), is offering a discretionary grant competition focused on strengthening the interpreter workforce serving people who are deaf or hard of hearing and people who are DeafBlind. This opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing Number 84.160D and is titled "Training of Interpreters for Individuals Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and Individuals Who Are DeafBlind." The central goal is practical and service-driven: expand and improve interpreter training so interpreters can more effectively meet communication needs in real-world rehabilitation and independent living contexts, especially where communication access directly affects a person s ability to benefit from vocational rehabilitation (VR) services and related programs authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

The program is designed to support training efforts that prepare interpreters to work with individuals receiving VR services and also individuals receiving services through other Rehabilitation Act programs, including independent living services. In other words, the focus is not only on general interpreter skill building, but specifically on preparing interpreters for settings where communication access is essential to employment planning, training, workplace readiness, job retention, independent living, and other rehabilitation outcomes. The emphasis on individuals who are DeafBlind signals an expectation that funded projects address specialized communication needs, which may involve distinct interpreting approaches, environmental considerations, and coordination with service systems that support DeafBlind consumers.

Eligible applicants include States as well as public or private nonprofit agencies and organizations. The eligibility language also explicitly includes American Indian Tribes and Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), which often have the infrastructure to run interpreter education or continuing education programs and to partner with VR agencies and community providers. The award mechanism is a grant, and the opportunity category is discretionary, meaning applications will be competitively reviewed and selected based on the program s published criteria rather than by formula.

Key administrative details included in the notice are straightforward. The Funding Opportunity Number is ED GRANTS 032526 001. The opportunity was created on March 25, 2026, and the application closing date is May 26, 2026. RSA anticipates making about 4 awards, with an award ceiling of $450,000 per award. While the notice excerpt does not list a total program funding amount, the ceiling and expected award count provide a practical sense of scale for project planning and budgeting.

For application logistics, the Department directs applicants to follow the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on August 29, 2025 (90 FR 42234). That document provides the official addresses and the required process for obtaining and submitting an application. The notice points applicants to the Federal Register link for those instructions: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/08/29/2025-16571/common-instructions-and-information-for-applicants-todepartment-of-education-discretionary-grantams. Practically, that means applicants should rely on the Common Instructions for the authoritative submission rules, formatting expectations, and procedural requirements that apply across Department of Education discretionary competitions.

Overall, this competition is aimed at building capacity in the interpreter pipeline to ensure that individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or DeafBlind can fully access rehabilitation services and related supports. The funding is meant to translate into better prepared interpreters and, by extension, more effective communication access for consumers navigating VR and independent living systems under the Rehabilitation Act.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the name of this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Training of Interpreters for Individuals Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and Individuals Who Are DeafBlind."

Which federal agency is offering this grant?

The grant is offered by the U.S. Department of Education through the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) and its Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA).

What is the Assistance Listing Number for this program?

The Assistance Listing Number is 84.160D.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is ED GRANTS 032526 001.

What is the main goal of this grant competition?

The central goal is to expand and improve interpreter training so interpreters can more effectively meet communication needs in real-world rehabilitation and independent living contexts, particularly where communication access affects a person's ability to benefit from vocational rehabilitation (VR) services and related programs authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

What types of training does the program prioritize?

The program prioritizes practical, service-driven interpreter training that prepares interpreters to work in settings connected to VR services and other Rehabilitation Act programs, including independent living services.

Is this grant focused on general interpreter skill-building, or something more specific?

The focus is not only on general interpreter skill building. The emphasis is on preparing interpreters for rehabilitation-related settings where communication access is essential to outcomes such as employment planning, training, workplace readiness, job retention, and independent living.

Who is the intended population that benefits from the funded projects?

Funded projects are intended to strengthen communication access for people who are deaf or hard of hearing and people who are DeafBlind as they receive services through vocational rehabilitation and other Rehabilitation Act programs, including independent living services.

Does the competition specifically include people who are DeafBlind?

Yes. The title and program emphasis explicitly include individuals who are DeafBlind, signaling an expectation that funded projects address specialized communication needs for this population.

What does the emphasis on DeafBlind consumers imply for proposed projects?

Based on the notice description, it implies funded projects are expected to address specialized communication needs that may involve distinct interpreting approaches, environmental considerations, and coordination with service systems that support DeafBlind consumers.

What kinds of service contexts are highlighted for interpreter preparation?

The notice highlights rehabilitation and independent living contexts, especially those tied to vocational rehabilitation services and other programs under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Which programs under the Rehabilitation Act are mentioned as relevant?

The notice mentions vocational rehabilitation (VR) services and related programs authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and it also specifically mentions independent living services as part of the focus.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include States as well as public or private nonprofit agencies and organizations. The eligibility language also explicitly includes American Indian Tribes and Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs).

Are Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) eligible applicants?

Yes. Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) are explicitly included in the eligibility language.

Are American Indian Tribes eligible to apply?

Yes. American Indian Tribes are explicitly included as eligible applicants.

Is this a formula grant or a competitive grant?

This is a discretionary grant competition, meaning applications will be competitively reviewed and selected based on published criteria rather than awarded by formula.

How many awards does RSA expect to make?

RSA anticipates making about 4 awards.

What is the maximum funding amount per award?

The award ceiling is $450,000 per award.

Is the total program funding amount provided in the notice excerpt?

No. The excerpt does not list a total program funding amount, but it does provide an award ceiling and an expected number of awards to indicate scale.

When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on March 25, 2026.

What is the application closing date?

The application closing date is May 26, 2026.

Where should applicants look for the official application instructions?

Applicants are directed to follow the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on August 29, 2025 (90 FR 42234).

What do the Department's "Common Instructions" cover?

The Common Instructions provide the official addresses and the required process for obtaining and submitting an application, as well as the authoritative submission rules, formatting expectations, and procedural requirements that apply across Department of Education discretionary competitions.

Where can applicants find the Federal Register notice for the Common Instructions?

The notice provides this link: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/08/29/2025-16571/common-instructions-and-information-for-applicants-todepartment-of-education-discretionary-grantams

What is the award mechanism for this opportunity?

The award mechanism is a grant.

What does "service-driven" mean in the context of this competition?

In the context of the notice description, it means training should be aligned with real-world communication access needs in rehabilitation and independent living systems, where interpreter effectiveness directly supports participation in VR services and related Rehabilitation Act programs.

What outcomes does the notice connect to improved interpreter training?

The notice connects improved interpreter training to better communication access for consumers navigating VR and independent living systems, supporting outcomes such as employment planning, training, workplace readiness, job retention, and independent living.

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