Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Interventions to Promote Community Living Among People with Disabilities
🏛 Administration for Community Living (HHS-ACL)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for rehabilitation research and training centers focused on promoting community living among people with disabilities. Eligible applicants typically include universities, research institutions, nonprofit organizations, and academic medical centers with demonstrated capacity to conduct research and provide training. The grant supports projects with national scope that advance evidence-based interventions and best practices for helping people with disabilities live independently in community settings. Applicants must have expertise in disability services, community integration, rehabilitation research, and the ability to develop and disseminate training materials and technical assistance resources.
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Key dates
- Jun 22, 2026 Applications open
- Jul 29, 2026 Application deadline in 13 days
- Sep 1, 2026 Award announced
- Sep 1, 2026 Project start
Program description
The purpose of the RRTCs is to achieve the goals of, and improve the effectiveness of, services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act through well-designed research, training, technical assistance, and dissemination activities in important topical areas as specified by NIDILRR. This particular opportunity is for an RRTC to conduct research toward evidence-based services, supports, or interventions to promote community living outcomes among people with disabilities. NIDILRR plans to make one grant under this opportunity. The grant will have a 60-month project period, with five 12-month budget periods.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- Colleges (all higher ed)
- County Government
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project narrative (typically 25-30 pages, addressing research aims, innovation, training/TA plan, evaluation, and dissemination)
- Budget and budget narrative (including personnel, equipment, travel, and indirect costs)
- Organizational capacity and past performance documentation
- Letters of commitment from community partners and advisory board members
- Curriculum vitae of key personnel
- Evidence of organizational nonprofit status or institutional affiliation
Program contact
- 👤 Dawn Carlson
- 📧 dawn.carlson@acl.hhs.gov
- 📞 202-795-7323
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.433 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$6,230,000
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$6,230,000
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$6,230,000
-
$6,230,000
-
$6,229,999
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$5,560,825
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$5,560,824
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Transcen Inc MD$5,560,823
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$5,557,344
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$5,407,677
Top States by Funding
- IL 15 awards $63.1M
- PA 9 awards $35.6M
- NY 6 awards $30.8M
- MA 6 awards $21.3M
- CA 4 awards $20.8M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.433). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $112,987,188 | |
| 2025 | $112,711,817 | |
| 2026 est. | $110,762,762 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for RRTC funding?
Universities, research institutions, nonprofit organizations, academic medical centers, and other organizations with research and training capacity typically qualify. Applicants must demonstrate expertise in disability services and rehabilitation research.
What types of research and training are supported?
RTCs support applied rehabilitation research, model development, training programs, and technical assistance initiatives focused on promoting community living for people with disabilities.
How competitive is this grant?
RRTC grants are highly competitive. Strong applications typically include established research teams, clear innovation in disability intervention approaches, and partnerships with community organizations and people with lived experience.
What is the expected funding range?
RRTC grants typically provide substantial multi-year funding, often ranging from several hundred thousand to over a million dollars annually, depending on the specific competition.
When is the application deadline?
Application opens September 5, 2025. Check Grants.gov and ACL's website for the specific deadline date, as it may not yet be posted.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Develop strong partnerships with community organizations, disability advocates, and people with lived experience in disability; reviewers prioritize community engagement and co-design approaches.
- Clearly articulate your center's innovation: what new interventions, models, or evidence will your RTC generate that advances the field?
- Plan for robust dissemination and technical assistance; RTCs are expected to share findings widely through training, publications, webinars, and resources for practitioners.
- Include a detailed evaluation plan with measurable outcomes tied to community living and independence; show how you'll track impact and adapt your approach.
- Align your proposed work with current ACL priorities around health equity, diversity, and serving underrepresented populations in disability research and services.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail when they lack strong community partnerships and input from people with lived disability experience, making the research feel disconnected from real-world needs. Weak dissemination and technical assistance plans are another frequent issue—reviewers want to see exactly how findings will reach practitioners and improve services nationally. Finally, many applicants underestimate the training and capacity-building component; RTCs must clearly define how they'll develop the next generation of disability professionals and practitioners.
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