Peer Supports for Augmentative and Alternative Communication

The Administration for Community Living, under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is soliciting one cooperative agreement to establish a sustainable, national peer support network for individuals who use or could benefit from Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) across their lifespan. This three-year initiative, with a total funding amount of $2,325,000 and a performance period running from September 30, 2026, to September 29, 2029, seeks to empower approximately five million Americans with speech disabilities, particularly those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, by fostering peer-led communities that promote self-determination, independence, and full inclusion in community life. The project must engage a broad coalition of stakeholders, including AAC users, self-advocacy organizations, nonprofit service providers, families, and youth and adults with disabilities, building a leadership coalition led directly by AAC users to ensure authentic representation and ownership. The selected recipient will be responsible for developing a comprehensive AAC peer support toolkit, creating a national directory of vetted peer support groups and mentors, maintaining an accessible digital Hub for connection and resource sharing, delivering targeted training and outreach, and hosting a national conference to increase awareness and usage of AAC. Proposals will be evaluated on a 100-point scale, with the Approach carrying the highest weight at 50 points, followed by Project Relevance (20 points), Impact (10 points), Capability and Expertise (10 points), Budget Narrative (10 points), and a non-scored Project Summary. The award will be made using a trade-off model, meaning the highest-scoring applicant is not guaranteed selection—the decision will reflect holistic judgment on merit, geographic distribution, past performance, cost reasonableness, and alignment with ACL’s strategic goals. Applicants must be nonprofit organizations with a valid Unique Entity Identifier, submit resumes and job descriptions for key personnel, adhere to the Executive Level II salary cap, ensure all materials meet accessibility standards for individuals with intellectual disabilities, and comply with federal requirements including 2 CFR Part 200 and FFATA reporting for subawards over $30,000. Proposals must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov by July 22, 2026, in PDF format with specific formatting requirements and include mandatory attachments such as proof of nonprofit status, indirect cost agreements, and commitment letters, with no page limits on these documents except for the 25-page project narrative. The project will be implemented nationwide, with