Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program: Projects for Translating the Findings and Products of Disability and Rehabilitation Research and Development into Practice

Background:A critical part of the mission of the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) is promoting the effective use of new findings and products from NIDILRR-sponsored research and development activities to improve outcomes among people with disabilities (NIDILRR, 2024). NIDILRR has adopted the conceptual framework of knowledge translation (KT) to help guide its efforts to promote the effective use of knowledge and products from its sponsored activities. Knowledge translation in the NIDILRR context refers to a multidimensional, active process of ensuring that new knowledge and products gained via research and development are relevant to the users’ needs, reach intended users, are understood by these users, and are used to improve participation of people with disabilities in society.NIDILRR has increasingly emphasized the importance of moving findings and products from NIDILRR-funded research and development projects into practice, policy, or other uses. NIDILRR emphasizes this by placing knowledge translation requirements in all grant opportunity announcements and by funding a number of dedicated knowledge translation centers to provide technical assistance to grantees. NIDILRR is supplementing these broader efforts with opportunities for the targeted KT projects invited in this announcement. These targeted KT projects must promote the use, adoption, or implementation of findings, interventions, or products from NIDILRR-sponsored research or development grants.References:National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (2024). 2024-2028 Long-Range Plan. Retrieved from https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/about-acl/2024-01/ACL_Final Transmitted_NIDILRR LRP 2024-2028.pdfPriority:The Administrator of the Administration for Community Living establishes a priority for Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project (DRRP) grants. These DRRP grants will serve as Projects for Translating the Findings and Products of Disability and Rehabilitation Research and Development into Practice. Under this priority, grantees must promote the use, adoption, or implementation of findings, interventions, or products from NIDILRR- sponsored research or development projects. Grantees under this priority must contribute to the following outcomes:1) Use, adoption, or implementation of NIDILRR- sponsored findings, interventions, or products by intended users of such findings, interventions, or products;2) Changes in policy, practice, or systems that are intended to improve outcomes among people with disabilities, including people with disabilities from underserved communities, as a result of the use, adoption, or implementation of NIDILRR- sponsored findings, intervention, or products; and3) Increased understanding of knowledge translation activities that promote the use, adoption, or implementation of research-based findings, interventions, or products in disability, independent living, or rehabilitation contexts.Grantees under this priority must contribute to these outcomes by:(a) Identifying findings, interventions, or products from a NIDILRR- funded research or development project or projects that are ready for use, adoption, or implementation in real-world settings, as well as the specific context or setting in which they will be used, adopted, or implemented. Applicants must cite a specific NIDILRR grant number or numbers for the grant or grants that generated the findings, interventions, or products;(b) Developing and then applying a knowledge translation plan to facilitate the use, adoption, or implementation of the findings or products identified under priority paragraph (a);(c) Identifying and applying measures to evaluate the success of the use, adoption, or implementation achieved under (b);(d) Documenting and disseminating the knowledge translation methods that they used to facilitate the use, adoption, or implementation achieved under (b) and (c);(e) Conducting project activities in partnership with people with disabilities and other relevant stakeholders. People with disabilities and other relevant stakeholders must be actively engaged in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of all knowledge translation activities; and(f) Ensuring that all materials, websites, and information technology tools and products will be accessible, and that electronic materials will be produced in full compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794d). For websites this compliance currently requires meeting Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0/2/1 AA success criteria. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to meet these requirements. Applicants should consult the NIDILRR Long-Range Plan for Fiscal Years 2024-2028 when preparing their application. The Plan is organized around the following outcome domains: (1) community living and participation; (2) health and function; and (3) employment. Applicants for these DRRP projects must specify in their abstract and project narrative which of these outcome domains their proposed project will focus on. Although applicants may propose projects that address more than one domain, they should select the primary domain addressed in their proposed project.