Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program: Employment Among People Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

The grant opportunity under the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects Program focuses on advancing research that leads to positive employment outcomes for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Applicants are required to design projects that generate actionable, evidence-based solutions to improve workforce participation, job retention, career advancement, and workplace accessibility for this population. The project period is set at 36 months, structured into three distinct 12-month budget cycles, allowing for phased implementation, evaluation, and adjustment of research activities. This initiative is intended to produce findings that can be applied by employers, policymakers, service providers, and individuals to break down systemic barriers to employment. The solicitation, identified as HHS-2026-ACL-NIDILRR-DPEM-0223, was posted on July 6, 2026, with a response deadline of August 5, 2026. It is administered by the Administration for Community Living within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is open to eligible applicants seeking federal research funding. There is no set-aside specified, and the program is open to entities capable of conducting high-quality, outcomes-driven research. All inquiries should be directed to Angel Miles at the provided email and phone number. Proposals must align with the goal of transforming employment experiences for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and successful applicants will be expected to contribute new knowledge that can be widely adopted across disability and workforce systems.