Cycle_47_Self-Advocacy_(Plain_Language)_Project_Flyer.pdf

3831 N. Freeway Boulevard, Suite 125

Sacramento, CA 95834

Phone: (916) 263-7919

Fax: (916) 263-7963 e-mail: council@scdd.ca.gov webpage: www.scdd.ca.gov

SELF-ADVOCACY (Plain Language) For federal fiscal year (FFY) 2025, the Council has designated a total amount of $300,000 to fund Cycle 47 projects in one or more of the following proposed topic areas:

Health (Tribal), Self-Advocacy (Plain Language), and Self-Advocacy (Isolation). The Council understands that the final list of approved grant projects may not address all three (3) of the targeted topic areas. The Council will consider all proposal submissions and choose one (1) or more grant-funded projects (that combined) will not exceed the full $300,000 budgeted amount.

Below, please find the Council’s brief description for the Self-Advocacy (Plain Language) option.

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT GRANT (PDG) CYCLE 47

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

DUE: May 10, 2024

The State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) is invested in ensuring that all Californians with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families are provided with publicly accessible, plain language information about available supports, services, and other important resources and issues. Through anecdotal data, SCDD staff reports, and general observation, the Council has recognized that commonly available, public-facing information is not consistently provided in plain language or in accessible formats for culturally, linguistically, or cognitively diverse populations of people with I/DD (PwI/DD) and other disabilities and/or their families/support persons.

The Council is seeking a grantee to develop a comprehensive, accessible, culturally relevant project that will market the value of plain language, public-facing information mailto:council@scdd.ca.gov http://www.scdd.ca.gov/ to public, private, and non-profit entities and inform and teach PwI/DD, their families and other advocates on how to convert hard-copy and/or web-based information, documents, curricula, resources, etc. into accessible, plain language formats. The capacity-building project will include an employment/micro-business preparation component, so that trained PwI/DD, their family members, and other advocates have the necessary tools, methodology, and mechanisms to use and market their skills in providing auditing and editing for accessibility and plain language content. Finally, in support of sustainability, the grantee will disseminate the project curriculum and materials, findings (e.g. promising/best practices, detailed recommendations, outcomes and impacts), and resources to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities and partners invested in the project’s outcomes and deliverables.

SCDD is interested in funding a project that will:

1. Develop a replicable marketing tool, by creating or using existing information, to educate the public, public/private entities, and those who support and serve people with I/DD about the importance of using culturally appropriate, inclusive plain language when creating content for the public (e.g. marketing materials, webpages, informational materials, etc.).

2. Create a ‘how-to’ guide for public/private entities to convert industry-specific terminology into a plain language format that produces functional language that can be understood by individuals with low literacy levels.

3. Develop a pilot group/demonstration model for people with I/DD and their families who are interested in applying their skills and knowledge (associated with converting web-based and/or hard-copy information into accessible, plain language formats) to obtain employment and/or develop micro-businesses, and:

a. Provide evidence-based information, training (e.g.

https://selfadvocacyinfo.org/resource/2023-series-of-easy-read-plain-language-webinars-for-government-and-non-profit-agencies/), guidance/technical assistance (TA), and resources about plain language conversion to a cohort of PwI/DD and other disabilities and their families

b. Collect public/private industry examples of content to convert to plain language as examples, for training and demonstration purposes

c. Provide a training/TA component that educates people with I/DD and their family members about competitive, integrated employment and/or micro-business options to link their plain language skill sets to gainful employment opportunities https://selfadvocacyinfo.org/resource/2023-series-of-easy-read-plain-language-webinars-for-government-and-non-profit-agencies/ https://selfadvocacyinfo.org/resource/2023-series-of-easy-read-plain-language-webinars-for-government-and-non-profit-agencies/

4. Identify effective, replicable mechanisms by which the Council, its regional staff, and collaborative partners may:

a. Continue to provide culturally competent, plain language information, training, resources; and

b. Provide technical assistance/support to PwI/DD and other disabilities, their families, and others throughout the state in converting material into accessible, plain language formats; and

c. Assist PwI/DD and their families in leveraging their skills into employment and/or micro-business opportunities; and

d. Disseminate resources, information, and a toolkit/guide to support employment or micro-business efforts to translate materials into accessible, plain language formats

5. Develop and provide a comprehensive report detailing the methods, resources, findings and specific recommendations associated with the development, implementation, outcomes, deliverables, and actual impact(s), including anecdotes and success stories, for this project

The project will serve as a replicable model by developing and identifying innovative, promising and/or best practices in and/or barriers to reaching, serving and educating PwI/DD, their families, professionals and others that serve and support them in culturally appropriate, accessible ways.

The project grantee will:

✓ Have demonstrated knowledge about I/DD and other disabilities, including needs and issues associated with low literacy and comprehension levels

✓ Demonstrate subject matter expertise in producing inclusive, fully accessible content in plain language

✓ Have experience and cultural competence in reaching and collaborating with PwI/DD and other disabilities, their families, and those entities/professionals that support and serve them, including those in underserved populations and/or regions of California

✓ Have demonstrated experience and cultural competence in developing and providing developmentally appropriate, quality, accessible information, training, services, and/or resources to PwI/DD and other disabilities and their families

✓ Demonstrate a broad understanding of the employment needs of families and individuals with I/DD and other disabilities

✓ Demonstrate a broad understanding of outreach principles associated with reaching culturally, economically, ethnically, geographically, linguistically, and other diverse, underserved populations

✓ Demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to the concepts of self-advocacy, supported decision-making, and employment opportunities within fully inclusive environments

Priority will be given to projects that are led or co-led by people with I/DD and lived experiences and are focused on culturally, ethnically, geographically, economically and linguistically diverse, underserved populations (e.g., Black/African American, Asian, Hispanic/Latino, etc., in addition to low-income, bilingual or non-English-speaking, inner city and/or deeply rural populations, those who are unhoused or in licensed/foster care settings, and/or those from Native/Tribal communities) in urban and/or rural settings throughout the state.

For more information and to download all forms for Cycle 47, please visit our website https://scdd.ca.gov/grantinformation/

Please email all grant-related questions to grantscontracts@scdd.ca.gov

This project is supported by federal funding through the Administration for Community Living (ACL). For more details, visit: Program Development Grants | SCDD (ca.gov) https://scdd.ca.gov/grantinformation/ mailto:grantscontracts@scdd.ca.gov https://scdd.ca.gov/grantinformation/