Funding Areas
We support proven programs that can effectively serve and improve the lives of children and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and strive to partner with organizations to sustain their efforts in assisting this underserved community.
Our Funding Areas:
Medical Care and Case Management Awareness
In a study chartered by NTSOC in 2019 to assess community needs, it was reported by medical providers surveyed, that many medical professionals do not treat the core, and often mental or behavioral, manifestation of the issue (LLC, 2019). We encourage grant applicants from non-profit organizations that provide comprehensive medical care and case management awareness to help meet and exceed this need within the community.
Programs or services such as:
- Cognitive/behavior therapies
- Art and music therapies
- Speech and language therapies
- Physical and occupational therapies
- Individual and group counseling
- Waiver case management awareness
- Managed care plans
- Resource coordination and service coordination
Skilled and Non-Skilled Home Care & Respite
Although there are no formal metrics of quality for pediatric home health, it is evident from several national surveys that family caregivers are frequently shouldering enormous burdens that lead them away from their own gainful employment and create social, emotional, and financial hardship (Carolyn C. Foster, 2019). We encourage grant applicants from non-profit organizations that provide comprehensive skilled, non-skilled home care and respite to address the unmet needs within the community.
Programs or services such as:
- Certified nursing care
- Pediatric home care
- Telehealth-enabled care
- Assistance with daily activities
- Family support services like grocery shopping, bill paying, laundry etc.
- Daily and hourly respite care
Sports and Recreation
The participation of children with disabilities in sports and recreational activities promotes inclusion, minimizes deconditioning, optimizes physical functioning, and enhances overall well-being (Murphy, 2008). We encourage grant applicants from non-profit organizations that offer adaptive sports programs, leagues, or adaptive equipment that are designed for children or young adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities to address the unmet needs within this community.
Please see examples below:
- Paralympic event programs
- Therapeutic horsemanship events
- Adaptive hockey
- Sports and recreation adaptive equipment (balance bikes, tricycles, racing chairs,
sensory balls, bowling ramps, etc.) - Challenger divisions of baseball, softball, flag football, kickball etc.
- Youth fishing programs
Assistive Technology
Adaptive equipment and assistive technology can be life-changing for children and young adults facing intellectual or developmental disabilities. The use of this technology to enhance learning, communication, and connection are effective in helping an individual reach their full potential because it allows them to capitalize on strengths and bypass areas of difficulty.
We encourage grant applicants from non-profit organizations that provide effective and safe assistive technologies to confront this unmet need within the community.
Please see examples below:
- Text to speech assistive tools
- Assistive listening systems
- Audio books or remedial reading software
- Alternative keyboards
- Optical character recognition units or software
- Sip and puff systems
- Eye tracking devices
- Mobility aids
Coaching, Post-High School Education and Job Support
Along with experiencing function-related transitions, people with disabilities experience a range of other transitions, many of which mark common social milestones, such as starting school, finding a job, and potentially one day, moving out of their family home. Most caregivers feel ill-equipped for the transition that occurs when the child or young adult they care for turns 18, with 70% stating they do not feel they have the necessary information needed for guardianship and alternatives (LLC, 2019). We encourage grant applicants from non-profit organizations that provide programs or services to fulfill the unmet needs within the community.
Programs or services such as:
- Adult education or comprehensive postsecondary transitions programs
- Centers for independent living
- Recreation and leisure activities
- Vocational counseling and guidance programs
- Job placement assistance or supported employment services
- Mentoring programs
- Guardianship and conservatorship
- Benefits and estate planning
Independent Living
There have been tremendous improvements in the approaches to transitioning young people with disabilities into independent, adult life. Successful transitions usually require attention to multiple areas such as living arrangements, transportation, employment opportunities, family and other social relationships, and financial self-sufficiency. For example, housing and transportation conditions can affect the ease of self-care and physical access to supportive health care services.
We encourage grant applicants from non-profit organizations that provide comprehensive transition programs or supportive services to address the unmet needs within the community.
Programs or services such as:
- Life skills programs for independent or semi-independent living
- Integrated employment services
- Mentoring programs
- Housing services
- Transportation services
- Collateral support services and parent groups
Still have questions? Visit our Grant Info page or send us an email at info@disablingbarriers.org
We love hearing about new programs that serve the community of children and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, feel free to reach out or send an email to info@disablingbarriers.org