Grant Details

The goal of the Training and Services to End Violence and Abuse Against Individuals with Disabilities and Deaf People Program (Disability Grant Program) (CFDA# 16.529) is to create sustainable change within and between organizations that improves the response to individuals with disabilities and Deaf individuals who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and caregiver abuse, and to hold perpetrators of such crimes accountable. The Disability Grant Program brings together disability organizations and victim service providers to work in a collaborative manner at the intersection of disability and domestic and sexual violence. Grants are made to create permanent organizational changes to create more accessible, safe, and effective services for survivors with disabilities and Deaf survivors. Projects focus on building the capacity and internal infrastructure of the organizations that make up the Multidisciplinary Collaborative Team (Team). Disability Grant Program funds are used to establish and strengthen collaborative relationships; increase organizational capacity to provide accessible, safe, and effective services to individuals with disabilities and Deaf individuals who are victims of violence and abuse; identify needs within the grantee's organization and/or service area; and develop a plan to address those identified needs that build a strong foundation for future work. This is a capacity building grant that does not fund direct services during the initial award. 

In FY 2024, funds under the Disability Grant Program may be used for the following purposes:

• To provide personnel, training, technical assistance, advocacy, intervention, risk reduction (including using evidence-based indicators to assess the risk of domestic and dating violence homicide) and prevention of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking against individuals with disabilities and Deaf people. 
• To conduct outreach activities to ensure that individuals with disabilities and Deaf people who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking receive appropriate assistance. 
• To conduct cross-training for victim service organizations, governmental agencies, courts, law enforcement and other first responders, and nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations serving individuals with disabilities about risk reduction, intervention, prevention, and the nature of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking for individuals with disabilities and Deaf people. 
• To provide technical assistance to assist with modifications to existing policies, protocols, and procedures to ensure equal access to the services, programs, and activities of victim service providers for individuals with disabilities and Deaf people. 
• To provide training and technical assistance on the requirements of shelters and victim service providers under Federal anti-discrimination laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.) and section 794 of Title 29 (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973). 
• To modify facilities, purchase equipment, and provide personnel so that shelters and victim service organizations can accommodate the needs of individuals with disabilities and Deaf people. 
• To provide advocacy and intervention services for individuals with disabilities and Deaf people who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault. 
• To develop model programs to enhance the capacity of organizations serving individuals with disabilities and Deaf people who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. 

In FY 2024, OVW has four programmatic priorities. The priorities identified below are applicable to this program. Applicants are strongly encouraged, but not required, to address one or both priority areas. Applicants that state that they are addressing a priority area and meet the criteria for that priority area will be given special consideration:  

• Advance equity and tribal sovereignty as essential components of ending sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking by improving outreach, services, civil and criminal justice responses, prevention, and support for survivors from historically marginalized and underserved communities, particularly those facing disproportionate rates or impacts of violence and multiple barriers to services, justice, and safety.  

To receive consideration for this priority, the application must propose to have an organization as a member of the Team with a demonstrated history of using culturally appropriate and linguistically specific strategies to serve communities that have been historically marginalized and face barriers to accessing mainstream systems and service providers. At a minimum, to meet the priority, an applicant should describe these barriers and how the applicant builds on the unique help-seeking strategies and sources of resilience found in the identified historically marginalized community. In addition, an applicant may provide data regarding disproportionate rates or impact of violence in the community. 

• Strengthen efforts to prevent and end sexual assault, including victim services and civil and criminal justice responses. 

To qualify for this priority area, the application must propose a project that is 100 percent focused on sexual assault and a sexual assault service provider must be included on the Team.