Project Grant H129B250002

The University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras Campus received a $229,571 Project Grant award dated October 1, 2025, from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) under the Rehabilitation Long-Term Training (RLTT) program (CFDA 84.129). The award supports an academic training initiative designed to address personnel shortages in vocational rehabilitation services by developing and delivering educational programming that prepares rehabilitation professionals to serve individuals with disabilities. The one-year project period extends through September 30, 2026, and aligns with the RLTT program's primary objective of increasing the supply of qualified rehabilitation professionals capable of providing specialized services to individuals with various disability conditions, including physical disabilities, mental health disorders, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and sensory impairments.

As a Hispanic-serving institution with demonstrated expertise in STEM education and workforce development, the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras Campus will leverage this funding to develop comprehensive training curriculum and educational programming in vocational rehabilitation counseling and related service areas. The grant supports the institution's capacity to prepare professionals who can effectively address emerging rehabilitation service needs, such as multicultural competency and technology integration, while contributing to the critical workforce needs identified by the Department of Education in the vocational rehabilitation services sector.