Choice-Making Among Youth (Birth-14): A Foundation for a Self-Determined Life

The Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities (TCDD) has released a Request for Applications (RFA) aimed at increasing choice-making skills among children with developmental disabilities (DD) from birth through age 14, as well as their families and caregivers. This initiative is grounded in TCDD’s broader mission to empower individuals with DD to lead self-determined lives, and it builds upon federal mandates and evolving best practices in early intervention and special education. By focusing on younger children, this grant seeks to establish foundational choice-making abilities that are vital for lifelong autonomy and self-advocacy. This RFA emphasizes a child’s ability to communicate preferences and make independent decisions—skills that are often limited for individuals with DD due to systemic and social barriers. The grant is structured to support one organization with up to $300,000 annually for a period of up to five years. Funding for this program is provided by the U.S. Administration for Community Living under the Department of Health and Human Services, as part of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act. Organizations located in federally designated poverty areas must provide a non-federal funding match of at least 10% of total project costs, while those outside such areas must contribute at least 25%. This requirement can be met through cash or in-kind contributions, and more information is available via TCDD’s FAQ page. Applicants are expected to design and implement a model that enhances choice-making in children with DD by compiling and disseminating evidence-based practices and engaging families, educators, and support providers. The project must consider varying communication styles and levels of developmental ability, including children who use non-verbal methods to communicate. Required activities include data collection before and after participation, community engagement, training module development, and translation of materials into Spanish and other locally appropriate languages. Additionally, grantees must submit materials for TCDD review and approval before public dissemination and consider using TCDD’s learning management system, Oasis, for training delivery. Applications must include detailed plans for recruitment, project accessibility, outcome measurement, and dissemination. Specific elements required in the application include strategies for identifying participants, pre- and post-training evaluation methods, communication accommodations, a list of project activities and products, and a plan for sustaining and sharing resources after the grant term ends. The project must also collect demographic data and impact stories from participants to inform ongoing and future efforts. The deadline for applications is 11:59 p.m. Central Time on Wednesday, August 28. Applications received by this date may be reviewed at the November 2024 Council meeting, although review timelines are subject to change. TCDD previously experienced technical issues with its submission platform, and applicants who encounter difficulties are instructed to email [email protected] with a detailed description of the problem and their application code for assistance. No action is required for applicants who have already successfully submitted. Interested organizations must request the application by emailing [email protected] and specifying the RFA title. Prior to submission, applicants are encouraged to review TCDD’s “How to Apply” guidelines. For questions about the RFA, email inquiries must be submitted by Friday, August 16, and responses will be posted regularly through Wednesday, August 21. Additional inquiries about the grant opportunity or TCDD’s broader goals may be directed to [email protected]. TCDD also invites public input on its State Plan through an online feedback form or email.