I am posting an announcement from the Funding Partnership, a
consortium of private foundations interested in people with
disabilities. The announcement is fairly long so it had to
be attached as an ASCII file. If you have problems
retrieving it, please contact me directly. Also distribute
the announcement to all interested individuals or groups.
Larry Scadden
Larry Scaddennce foundation
National Science Foundation
lscadden@nsf.gov
TELECOMMUNICATIONS FUNDING PARTNERSHIP REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Background
Early in 1991, following the signing of the landmark Americans with
Disabilities Act, a consortium of private grantmakers established
the Funding Partnership for People with Disabilities to foster the
integration of people with disabilities into all aspects of
American life. Now, with the fifth anniversary of the ADA fast
approaching, people with disabilities face a new challenge: access
to the National Information Infrastructure (NII). People who are
blind or who have visual impairments, for example, are currently
"locked out" of telecommunications systems that are based on a
graphical user interface (GUI), which is activated by pointing and
clicking on graphical icons. The most commonly used GUI is
Windows, which has become the "dominant force driving the computer
market," within the last three years. Although this problem is
technically solvable in the long run--and Windows, in particular,
is improving because work has been done to find a solution to its
usability by people with disabilities--it is currently the most
serious barrier to consumers with vision impairment.
Such issues go to the heart of the "universal service" policy that
was established in The Communications Act of 1934. That law
mandated that every household in America have access to affordable
basic telephone service. But now, in the information age, the
"universal service" mandate is likely to incorporate interactive
telecommunications such as electronic networks, broadband
telecommunications facilities, and advanced information services.
Banking, shopping, ordering from restaurants, shareholder voting
and any number of other activities will be conducted via the NII,
and people who cannot get access to it will not only be
disadvantaged, they will be deprived of their rights to participate
as equals in the society of the very near future. Should this
occur, it would amount to an unconscious undermining of the primary
goal of the ADA, which is to enable people with disabilities to
participate as equals in all aspects of society.
For people with disabilities, the terms "universal service" and
"universal access" take on heightened meaning. Universal access
does not simply involve the concepts of availability and
affordability of equipment when service to people with disabilities
is considered: it also means that communications equipment must be
designed so that it is usable by the broadest range of people.
This concept, called "universal design," is key to the ability of
people with disabilities to fully participate in society. If
universal design and accessibility to people with disabilities are
not built into the National Information Infrastructure from the
ground up, a valuable opportunity to provide cost effective
services and equal access to information to people with
disabilities will be lost.
The Telecommunications Funding Partnership Grant Series
In 1992 and 1993 the Funding Partnership issued general Requests
for Proposals (RFPs) that provided broad-based funding for a
variety of projects promoting the independence of people with
disabilities. This year the Partnership has chosen to focus its
resources on specific emerging initiatives that have the potential
to have an extensive impact on the lives of Americans with
disabilities.
Three of the initiatives will result in projects operated by one or
more Funding Partners and which will focus on disability policy,
improvement in service provision, and increased representation for
people with disabilities on the national level. The fourth
initiative is a series of grants titled The Telecommunications
Funding Partnership, which will promote access to and use of
telecommunications systems and networks by people with
disabilities.
The members of the Funding Partnership recognize that the technical
issues that must be resolved for the National Information
Infrastructure to be accessible to and usable by people with
disabilities require hard research which is beyond the financial
capacity and intent of the current series of grants. Nevertheless,
there are a number of significant projects which can be funded for
relatively small amounts--ranging from $25,000 to $75,000--and
which can be crucial for defining and demonstrating
telecommunications issues as they impact people with disabilities.
The Telecommunications Funding Partnership will award a total of
$250,000 - $350,000 to non-profit organizations conducting projects
that address key issues focusing on the accessibility, useability
and usefulness of telecommunication systems and technologies for
people with disabilities. For purposes of this RFP,
"telecommunications" is defined as two-way electronic transmission
of voice, data and/or video images. The technology employed may
involve either local or long-distance networks, but it must support
interactive communication and be utilized in a project which
focuses on end-users with disabilities.
Funding Areas
The Partnership will fund four categories of projects: 1) the
development of an overall research agenda for telecommunications
issues relating to people with disabilities, 2) market research
which identifies the potential market for accessible communications
technologies and the extent to which their use would improve the
participation and quality of life of people with disabilities, 3)
a conference bringing together experts in disability and
telecommunications, and 4) model service delivery projects which
provide enhanced services to people with disabilities while
demonstrating the value of these telecommunications systems.
It is anticipated that the Partnership will award one grant apiece
in categories 1 - 3 and that two or three projects will be awarded
in category 4. The maximum funding request for any project is
$75,000, and the model service delivery projects are expected to
range between $25,000 and $50,000.
1) Development of a Research Agenda. The Partnership will support
efforts to identify major needs covering the areas of hardware,
software, storage, universal design of appliances and networks,
national policy, universal service, and dissemination of
state-of-the-art technological information to consumers with
disabilities.
Specific topics to be considered may include, but are not limited
to, the following:
Economics. The potential of telecommunications to enhance the
economic independence of people with disabilities. Affordability of
equipment through loans, grants or other means, and current or
potential financial models for defraying expense. Price structures
and affordability of hardware, software, services or data.
Education. The effect of telecommunications on the education of
children with disabilities.
Training. The need and availability of telecommunications systems
training for people with disabilities. Availability and
qualifications of trainers in various environments.
Age Issues. Telecommunications access and useability issues of
specific importance to older or younger users. Determination of
the extent to which older users should be considered as a distinct
group with particular needs.
Access Issues. The types and ranges of access and useability
issues.
Compatibility issues. Compatibility of adaptive equipment to
current and future networks and systems.
2) Market Study. The object of this category is to encourage
market research that can illustrate to telecommunications equipment
manufacturers and rehabilitation/education service providers that
there is a large and growing consumer market made up of people with
disabilities. Proposals for a market study must measure:
o The market potential for communications technologies which are,
or reasonably could be, available for sale to people with
disabilities, employers, family members or caregivers.
o The extent to which the availability and use of these
technologies could enhance economic access for people with
disabilities and enable them to participate more fully in the
marketplace.
3) Technical Conference. The primary goal of the technical
conference is to bring together technical experts, business and
industry leaders, and policymakers and implementers to develop
consensus on the issues which must be resolved to make the National
Information Infrastructure accessible to and usable by people with
disabilities. While the design and specific objectives of the
conference(s) are expected to be developed by applicants for grants
in this category, applications will be evaluated on their ability
to include the following:
o Direct exchange of technical information between experts in
telecommunications accessibility for people with disabilities and
engineers and scientists with primary responsibility for design and
manufacture of telecommunications hardware, software and networks.
o Participation by upper management from business and industry,
preferably in teams with scientists and engineers.
o Participation by representatives of Federal/state agencies
responsible for telecommunications policy, regulation and
procedures.
o A plan to develop consensus on issues and to facilitate
continued exchange of information after the conference has
concluded.
4) Model Service Delivery Projects. Model service delivery
projects should have a two- fold effect: they should provide
services to people with disabilities while demonstrating the
importance of access and use of telecommunications technology and
infrastructure to people with disabilities.
Long-distance learning projects aimed at people with mobility
restrictions, telecommuting, long-distance diagnosis and other
health care applications are examples of eligible projects. Other
service delivery issues involve availability and cost of accessible
telecommunications equipment to people with disabilities,
especially in remote areas, as well as training, education and
independent living issues that can be facilitated by
telecommunications. The Funding Partnership anticipates funding
two or three projects in this area.
Eligibility
Private, nonprofit organizations with documentation of IRS
501(c)(3) status are eligible to apply. All applicants must be
able to demonstrate expertise in the provision of services to
people with disabilities and use of appropriate telecommunications
technology.
The essential component of all Partnership grants will be new
applications of telecommunications networks and advancements in
existing equipment that promote access and usability by people with
disabilities. The following requests will NOT be eligible for
funding: 1) software development projects, 2) projects focusing on
the development or implementation of electronic job banks, and 3)
requests for computer or telecommunications equipment that are not
integral parts of otherwise eligible projects. Funds for purchase
of equipment are limited; grantseekers are therefore encouraged to
obtain in-kind contributions or equipment grants from other
sources.
Application Requirements and Procedures
Applicants must initiate the process by submitting a letter of
intent signed by the executive director or chair of the applicant
organization, together with a two-page pre-proposal. Pre-proposals
may be single- or double-spaced and should contain the following
information:
o Name and address of the applicant organization
o Name, address, telephone, fax, and internet address (if
available) of primary contact person
o The category under which the application is being submitted,
e.g., 1) development of a research agenda, 2) market study, 3)
technical conference, or 4) model service delivery projects.
o Brief project description, including goals and objectives,
population served, duration, and descriptions of participating
organizations
o Amount of funds requested and proposed use, together with an
abbreviated budget.
Please note that we do not accept faxed pre-proposals. Deadline for
submission of pre- proposals is April 10. The maximum funding
request is $75,000.
A full-proposal application packet specifying the requirements of
the appropriate grant category will be sent in response to a
pre-proposal passing an initial screening. It is anticipated that
50 or fewer applicants will receive application packets. Initial
proposal reviews will be conducted by several members of the
Funding Partnership and experts in the appropriate areas of
telecommunications.
Those full proposals found to be the most promising, innovative,
feasible, and consistent with the interest and capacity of the
Partnership will be presented to the Board of Trustees of
participating foundations and corporations for funding
consideration. Organizations may be asked to submit further
information during the review process. Consideration by individual
Funding Partners does not guarantee Partnership support. All
commitments and awards will be made directly by participating
grantmakers.
Use of Grant Funds
Grant funds may be used for direct project expenses, such as staff
salaries, office supplies, coordination of volunteers, consultant
fees, publicity, publications, media campaigns, collaborative
workshops and conferences, computer information and electronic
networking systems, and gathering data for research and analysis.
The maximum allowable overhead expense may not exceed 10 percent.
There will be no funding provided for software development.
Funding for equipment and other capital expenses will be considered
but limited, and in-kind donation of equipment is encouraged.
Selection Criteria
Pre-proposals will be evaluated on their potential to advance
access to and use of telecommunications networks by people with
disabilities. Specific pre-proposal evaluation criteria include:
o Significant, clearly defined goals that do not duplicate current
programs and services and are feasible given anticipated resources;
o A realistic plan and budget that describe activities appropriate
to meet project goals;
o Involvement of people with disabilities in the design and
implementation of the project;
o Potential for significant impact in all categories;
o Potential for long-term continuation and widespread replication
(category four, only).
Selection criteria for full proposals will be included in the
application packets sent to successful applicants. General
criteria will include all those listed above, plus a demonstrable
need for Partnership funds and the ability to demonstrate knowledge
of/experience with telecommunications issues and experience serving
people with disabilities. In addition, specific criteria will be
listed under each category.
Submission and Notification Dates
Preproposals are due on April 10th. Full proposals will be
solicited from fifty or fewer applicants by April 28th, and will be
due on June 5th.
Since individual Partners have different schedules for grant
authorizations, some funds may not be disbursed until late 1995.
(While every effort will be made to answer questions during the
application process, the Partnership will be unable to comment on
preproposals that do not receive encouragement to go on to the
proposal stage).
For further information, contact:
Paul Hearne, Chair
Funding Partnership for People with Disabilities
Telephone: 1-800/ADA-3885
APPENDIX A
Summary of 1995 Funding Partnership Activities
Telecommunications Funding Partnership.
It is critically important that the needs and abilities of people
with disabilities are taken into consideration before the National
Information Infrastructure is fully in place and while new
telecommunications policy issues are being formulated. The
proposed Telecommunications Partnership will fund significant
projects that will be crucial for defining telecommunications
issues as they impact people with disabilities. Three types of
projects will be funded, including service delivery models;
research projects that can help create an overall agenda by
identifying current problems and some potential solutions; and
information and communications projects with outreach to the
public, policy makers, people with disabilities, the scientific
community, business and industry, and other stakeholders.
Our plan for this series of grants has been to interest a smaller
number of funders than we did with the more general Funding
Partnership RFPs of the past few years, and to therefore be able to
issue the RFP more rapidly using a more streamlined process. We
expected to receive between $250,000 and $350,000 in commitments,
and it now appears that we will reach that goal.
National Membership Organization for People with Disabilities
Since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, it has
become increasingly necessary for people with disabilities to be
represented on all levels in the public and private sectors so that
the spirit of inclusion promoted in the Act becomes a reality.
Many organizations of all sizes and diverse interests have
represented the needs of people with disabilities in the past.
These have included service providers, government organizations,
and consumer advocacy groups which have competed with each other
and have not spoken with a unified voice. At this juncture in our
history, there is a need for a national organization that would
unify these diverse approaches, provide direct consumer and
organizational input from memberships, and represent and advocate
for the common interests of all people with disabilities. The
proposed National Membership Organization seeks to fill this role.
The first meeting of the new organization was held early in
December, where it was decided to offer both group and individual
memberships; the second meeting to agree on articles of
incorporation will be held in January, 1995.
Grantmakers' Forum on Disability Policy
The Grantmakers' Forum was developed by The Dole Foundation and the
Council on Foundations' Philanthropy and the Public Sector Project
to take advantage of the confluence of factors that makes it
possible for the foundations and federal/state appointees to work
in concert to raise awareness of significant but little understood
issues of disability policy and to chart a course of future
cooperative action. The purpose of the Forum series is explore
methods by which private philanthropy and government agencies can
learn about each others' programs and find potential areas of
common activity. Top Federal officials in disability-related
positions have made commitments to each other and with private
funders to increase public knowledge of significant issues in
disability policy and to explore areas of joint activity. On
receipt of appropriate funding, The Dole Foundation and the Council
on Foundations will work together to offer a package of strategic
support products and services for grantmakers and policymakers
which will help them work together on disability policy issues.
Results Based Accreditation
The National Results Council proposes to develop Results Based
Accreditation, a system that will hold service providers
accountable for results and the cost of achieving them. The
Council will create an outcome-oriented accreditation system,
develop and implement several statewide field tests, and market the
Results Based Accreditation (RBA) approach to those who share the
Council's mission to improve services for people with disabilities,
people with economic disadvantages, and other special needs
persons. RBA is designed to improve program performance on both
results and costs by raising the outcomes of poorly performing
programs, expanding exemplary programs, and unleashing market
forces to create incentives and positive competition.
APPENDIX B
Telecommunications Funding Partners
American Express Foundation
AT&T Foundation
Annie E. Casey Foundation
The Dole Foundation for Employment of People with Disabilities
The Florida Endowment Foundation for Vocational Rehabilitation
The JM Foundation
NEC Foundation of America
UNUM Charitable Foundation
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