Disability Innovation Fund (DIF)
Active
- Assistance listing
- 84.421
- Agency
-
Department of Education
- Grant awards
- 70 $730,757,519 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 funds the Disability Innovation Fund (CFDA 84.421) to support innovative activities aimed at increasing competitive integrated employment for individuals with disabilities, with the most recent grant awards issued on October 1, 2024.
The program has accelerated significantly in recent years, moving from six awards in 2016 to twenty in 2024, with a cumulative portfolio of 70 awards totaling $730.8 million in federal dollars obligated since 2015. All awards are Project Grants. Recent grants support workforce development initiatives including extended reality training for vocational rehabilitation, career awareness and employment programs for youth with disabilities, technology-enhanced job retention services, transition partnerships across multiple states, pathways to competitive integrated employment from subminimum wage positions, and employer-focused neurodiversity workforce inclusion. Representative awards from the October 2024 cohort include $10 million for "Competitive Integrated Employment in Creative Careers," $9.89 million for "XR for VR: Using Extended Reality to Close the Career Awareness Gap," and $10.82 million for "Families Achieving Self Sufficiency Together." Earlier cohorts funded larger initiatives, including a $20.4 million career advancement model demonstration and multiple $18 million workforce pathway projects in 2021, alongside more focused interventions such as a $13.67 million subminimum wage to competitive integrated employment transition initiative in 2023.
The most recently posted grant opportunity closed on July 8, 2024 (solicitation ED-GRANTS-040924-001), which invited applications from state governments, nonprofits, school districts, and other entities for model demonstration projects focused on creating a 21st-century workforce of youth and adults with disabilities. No currently open opportunities are present in the source. Prior solicitations in this series have been posted annually in March–April with June–July deadlines, funding multiple cohorts across topic areas including career advancement, transition pathways, and subminimum wage conversion models.
Objective and description
- Objective
To support innovative activities aimed at improving the outcomes of individuals with disabilities as defined by section 7(20)(B) of the Rehabilitation Act.
- Description
The Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) authorizes funding for innovative activities aimed at improving outcomes for individuals with disabilities; for evaluation of, and technical assistance, for DIF activities; for Federal administrative expenses related to DIF; for improving monitoring and oversight of grants for vocational rehabilitation services under title I of the Rehabilitation Act, including information technology modernization; and for an evaluation of outcomes for students receiving services and supports under IDEA and under title I, Section 504 of title V, and title VI of the Rehabilitation Act.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
States and public, private and nonprofit agencies and organizations, including Indian tribes and institutions of higher education may apply.
- Beneficiary eligibility
Individuals with disabilities as defined in 7(20)(B) of the Rehabilitation Act will benefit.
- Uses of assistance
Use of funds is determined by the notice inviting applications. Contact program office for additional information.
- Use restrictions
Use of funds is determined by the notice inviting applications. Contact program office for additional information.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Subject to the availability of funds, grants may be awarded for up to 5 years.
How to apply
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Criteria for selecting among grant applications will be normally be selected from those in the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), 34 CFR Part 75.210. Contact the program office for additional information.
- Award procedure
The Department will screen applications submitted in accordance with the requirements in the Notice Inviting Applications. Additional tiers of reviews of eligible applications may be used.
Grant opportunities
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 70 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CA Dept Of Rehabilitation | $41,242,507 | 6% |
| 2 | Human Services Vermont Agency Of | $25,684,852 | 4% |
| 3 | Illinois Department Of Human Service | $24,173,946 | 3% |
| 4 | Department Of Aging & Disability Services | $24,173,946 | 3% |
| 5 | Department Of Labor & Industry Pa | $24,163,989 | 3% |
| 6 | Department For Aging And Rehabilitative Services | $23,577,987 | 3% |
| 7 | Massability | $23,419,982 | 3% |
| 8 | Wisconsin Department Of Workforce Development | $20,415,000 | 3% |
| 9 | Oregon Department Of Human Services | $18,468,504 | 3% |
| 10 | University Of Maryland, College Park | $18,117,592 | 2% |
10 of 58 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2025 | -$10,582,268 |
| FY2024 | $185,441,923 |
| FY2023 | $213,292,880 |
| FY2022 | $177,381,906 |
| FY2021 | $106,177,857 |
| FY2016 | $39,045,221 |
| FY2015 | $20,000,000 |
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 84.421?
Assistance Listing 84.421 is Disability Innovation Fund (DIF), a federal grant program run by Department of Education.
What is the CFDA number for Disability Innovation Fund (DIF)?
Its CFDA number is 84.421: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 84.421 awarded?
70 grant awards under 84.421 have obligated $730,757,519 in federal funds to 58 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 84.421?
The recipients obligated the most under Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) are CA Dept Of Rehabilitation ($41,242,507), Human Services Vermont Agency Of ($25,684,852) and Illinois Department Of Human Service ($24,173,946).
How much did 84.421 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 84.421 obligated -$10,582,268 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 84.421?
No opportunity listed under 84.421 is open now. The latest, OSERS: RSA: Disability Innovation Fund (DIF)--Creating a 21st Century Workforce of Youth and Adults with Disabilities Through the Transformation of Education, Career, and Competitive Integrated Employment Model Demonstration Project, ALN 84.421F, was posted on April 9, 2024.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
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