Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training (ARRT) Program - Employment

The Administration for Community Living, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has announced a forecasted funding opportunity for the Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training (ARRT) Program in Employment. This program is administered through the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). NIDILRR has a long-standing mission to generate new knowledge and promote its effective use to improve the abilities of people with disabilities to perform activities of their choice in the community. Through initiatives like ARRT, NIDILRR strengthens the pipeline of researchers who are committed to disability and rehabilitation research. The ARRT Program is designed to provide advanced research training to individuals who already hold doctoral or equivalent advanced degrees. The focus of the program is on training rehabilitation researchers, including those with disabilities themselves, to advance high-quality, multidisciplinary research. Under this particular opportunity, the training emphasis is on employment outcomes for people with disabilities. This priority underscores the national importance of creating pathways for individuals with disabilities to achieve economic self-sufficiency and full participation in the workforce. The award will support one project with an estimated total funding of $250,000. The award floor is $245,000 and the ceiling is $250,000, providing a narrow range that sets clear expectations for applicants about the anticipated funding size. The grant is structured as a 36-month project, divided into three 12-month budget periods. Funding under this program is intended to support training-related activities that expand the capacity of qualified individuals to conduct rigorous rehabilitation research. The notice does not specify restrictions on spending, but consistent with NIDILRR’s mission, funds are expected to be directed toward training and research in the designated employment area. Eligibility for this program is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education. Foreign entities are not eligible to apply for or receive awards under this program. This restriction emphasizes NIDILRR’s focus on building U.S.-based research capacity. Applicants will need to demonstrate their ability to host and mentor researchers and to provide an environment conducive to high-level rehabilitation research training. The anticipated application timeline includes a forecasted posting date of October 3, 2025, with full applications due by December 5, 2025. The estimated award date is June 1, 2026, which is also the anticipated project start date. No pre-application requirements such as letters of intent are listed in the forecast notice. The program is forecasted to recur annually, as suggested by its structured timeline, with an archive date of September 30, 2026. Applications will be evaluated on their ability to provide advanced, high-quality training opportunities and to demonstrate a strong plan for enhancing the research skills of participating fellows. While specific evaluation criteria are not detailed in the forecast, applicants can reasonably expect that their research plans, training environment, mentorship capacity, and alignment with NIDILRR’s priorities will be scrutinized. Interested applicants are directed to the ACL grants webpage for more details and updates once the official notice is posted. The primary contact for this funding opportunity is Courtney Ward-Sutton at the Administration for Community Living. Applicants may reach her by phone at (202) 240-3164 or by email at Courtney.Ward-Sutton@acl.hhs.gov. This grant represents a significant opportunity for institutions of higher education to build the next generation of rehabilitation researchers with a specific emphasis on improving employment outcomes for people with disabilities.

Ensure the 70/30 cost split is maintained in academic program budgets; carefully document regional/national training needs; strong advisory council and evaluation plan increase competitiveness.