Rehabilitation Services Demonstration and Training Programs
Active
- Assistance listing
- 84.235
- Agency
-
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
Department of Education
- Grant awards
- 288 $176,556,729 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Assistance type
-
- Project Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 91-0301-0-1-506
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services is funding demonstration and training projects that expand rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities through CFDA 84.235, with the most recent grant awards dated October 1, 2025.
Program activity remains consistent and recent. The portfolio spans 288 awards since 2001, with 8 awards in 2025 and 3 in 2024 demonstrating steady annual funding. Grant opportunities are actively posted; two are currently open: Parent Information and Training Program for region C-2 (due April 24, 2026) and Braille Training Program (due March 27, 2026). Prior rounds closed in 2025, covering regional PTI centers, national PTI technical assistance, and braille training.
The program funds four primary activity categories. Regional Parent Information and Training Centers provide training and information to individuals with disabilities and their families to support employment and independent living goals, with recent awards to organizations such as Real Transition Partners ($579,532), PEAK RSA Region D2 ($600,000), and Independent Futures ($600,000). Braille training projects develop instruction methods, materials, and training for vocational rehabilitation and education personnel serving youth and adults who are blind, exemplified by awards for STEM braille literacy instruction ($114,999), culturally responsive AI-enhanced instruction ($95,514), and general braille instruction access ($114,654). National technical assistance centers provide coordination and support across state-level PTI programs, as seen in the National RAISE Technical Assistance Center award ($409,753). Demonstration projects test service delivery models and systems change—including career pathways for individuals with disabilities, SSI/SSDI work incentive demonstrations, and secondary transition services collaboration.
All 288 awards are Project Grants distributed exclusively through the Department of Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. Combined federal dollars obligated total $176.6 million over the program's history; non-federal contributions add $52.6 million in cost-share. Award sizes vary considerably, ranging from $95,514 to $13.9 million for multi-year SSI/SSDI demonstrations, with typical recent individual project awards in the $300,000 to $600,000 range and common year-one or one-year awards clustering at $300,000.
Eligible applicants include state vocational rehabilitation agencies, community rehabilitation programs, Indian tribes and tribal organizations, public or nonprofit agencies and organizations, and for-profit organizations as the Commissioner determines appropriate. Grants cannot be made directly to individuals.
Objective and description
- Objective
To provide financial assistance to projects and demonstrations for expanding and improving the provision of rehabilitation and other services authorized under the Act or that further the purposes of the Act, including related research and evaluation
- Description
Demonstration and Training programs provide competitive grants or contracts to expand and improve services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act or that further the purposes and policies of the Rehabilitation Act. The program supports activities that increase the provision, extent, availability, scope and quality of rehabilitation services, including related research and evaluation activities. Section 303(b) of the Rehabilitation Act authorizes the support of activities to demonstrate methods of service delivery to individuals with disabilities, as well as activities such as technical assistance, systems change, special studies and evaluation, and dissemination and utilization of project findings.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
Eligible applicants are State vocational rehabilitation agencies, community rehabilitation programs, Indian tribes or tribal organizations, or other public or nonprofit agencies or organizations, or as the Commissioner determines appropriate, for-profit organizations. Grants cannot be made directly to individuals.
- Beneficiary eligibility
Individuals with disabilities.
- Uses of assistance
Authorized activities under this program include carrying out special demonstrations for expanding and improving the provision of rehabilitation and other services authorized under this Act and that further the purposes of the Act. Projects may include demonstrations to increase client choice; technical assistance; systems change; special studies and evaluations; demonstrations of service delivery; model demonstrations; transition services; supportive employment; services to underserved populations and/or unserved or underserved areas; services to low-incidence disabilities; transportation; and other projects designated by the Secretary. Other authorized programs include Parent Information and Training and Braille training projects.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Grants are awarded for up to 60 months. Renewals are subject to the availability of funds.
How to apply
- Preapplication coordination
See above.
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Funding priorities are published in the Federal Register. Applications for discretionary grants are subject to peer review procedures leading to recommendations for approval or disapproval by Federal and nonfederal experts. Criteria for evaluating applications are published in program and department regulations (34 CFR Part 373).
- Award procedure
New awards are made based upon the results of a peer review process and the review and approval of applications by staff in various offices within the Department.
- Time to approval or disapproval
The range is approximately 150 to 180 days.
- Renewals
Projects with multi-year periods may be continued based on annual review of accomplishments and availability of appropriated funds.
Grant opportunities
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 288 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University Of Mass At Boston | $14,041,005 | 8% |
| 2 | Statewide Parent Advocacy Network Inc. | $6,539,412 | 4% |
| 3 | Department For Aging And Rehabilitative Services | $4,656,410 | 3% |
| 4 | Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency | $4,179,461 | 2% |
| 5 | Pacer Center Inc. | $3,903,024 | 2% |
| 6 | Department Of Education Nebraska | $3,663,223 | 2% |
| 7 | Maryland State Department Of Education | $3,071,050 | 2% |
| 8 | Peak Parent Center Inc. | $3,005,598 | 2% |
| 9 | DHS Office Of Financial Services Ovrs | $2,826,497 | 2% |
| 10 | South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department | $2,809,682 | 2% |
10 of 95 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | -$58,432 |
| FY2025 | $3,689,285 |
| FY2024 | $3,052,144 |
| FY2023 | $4,066,880 |
| FY2022 | $2,909,406 |
| FY2021 | $3,049,312 |
| FY2020 | $3,036,042 |
| FY2019 | $4,913,243 |
| FY2018 | $2,103,823 |
| FY2017 | $4,682,048 |
| FY2016 | $4,726,240 |
| FY2015 | $4,759,263 |
| FY2014 | $5,387,400 |
| FY2013 | $4,946,392 |
| FY2012 | $5,183,200 |
| FY2011 | $4,905,783 |
| FY2010 | $13,502,414 |
| FY2009 | $15,495,458 |
| FY2008 | $12,543,185 |
| FY2007 | $1,502,495 |
| FY2006 | $5,639,369 |
| FY2005 | $8,287,005 |
| FY2004 | $11,435,715 |
| FY2003 | $26,265,303 |
| FY2002 | $5,487,548 |
| FY2001 | $15,046,208 |
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Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 84.235?
Assistance Listing 84.235 is Rehabilitation Services Demonstration and Training Programs, a federal grant program run by Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (Department of Education).
What is the CFDA number for Rehabilitation Services Demonstration and Training Programs?
Its CFDA number is 84.235: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 84.235 awarded?
288 grant awards under 84.235 have obligated $176,556,729 in federal funds to 95 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 84.235?
The recipients obligated the most under Rehabilitation Services Demonstration and Training Programs are University Of Mass At Boston ($14,041,005), Statewide Parent Advocacy Network Inc. ($6,539,412) and Department For Aging And Rehabilitative Services ($4,656,410).
How much did 84.235 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 84.235 obligated $3,689,285 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 84.235?
No opportunity listed under 84.235 is open now. The latest, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS): Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA): Parent Information and Training Program ALN 84.235F, was posted on March 24, 2026.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
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