Ask an Advisor Answers

To seek grants that support work around people with disabilities, you can utilize resources from the Community Tool Box sections and Toolkits, as well as other web resources. Here's a comprehensive plan:

1. Needs Assessment:
   • Utilize Chapter 3. Assessing Community Needs and Resources to understand the specific needs and challenges faced by people with disabilities in your community.
   • Conduct surveys, interviews, or focus groups to gather insights into the barriers to inclusion and opportunities for improvement.
2. Building Relationships:
   • Refer to Chapter 14. Core Functions in Leadership | Section 7. Building and Sustaining Relationships to establish partnerships with disability advocacy organizations, service providers, government agencies, and other stakeholders.
   • Collaborate with these organizations to identify funding opportunities and develop grant proposals that address the needs of people with disabilities.
3. Education and Awareness:
   • Utilize resources from Chapter 6. Communications to Promote Interest | Section 1. Developing a Plan for Communication to raise awareness about the importance of supporting people with disabilities and the impact of inclusive programs and services.
   • Develop educational materials, workshops, or awareness campaigns to educate funders and the community about the needs and rights of people with disabilities.
4. Grant Research:
   • Conduct comprehensive research to identify potential funding sources for projects that support people with disabilities.
   • Utilize online databases, grant directories, and funding alerts to search for grants specifically targeting disability-related initiatives.
5. Grant Writing:
   • Refer to the Applying for Grants toolkit for guidance on crafting a compelling grant proposal.
   • Clearly outline the goals, objectives, and outcomes of your project, emphasizing how it will benefit people with disabilities and promote inclusivity.
   • Provide evidence-based strategies and best practices for addressing the identified needs and challenges.
6. Capacity Building:
   • Strengthen the capacity of your organization to effectively implement programs and services for people with disabilities.
   • Utilize resources from Section 9: Increasing Participation and Membership to provide training and support to staff, volunteers, and community members.
7. Collaboration:
   • Seek opportunities to collaborate with other organizations and stakeholders working on similar initiatives.
   • Explore partnerships with disability-specific organizations, healthcare providers, educational institutions, and employers to leverage resources and expertise.
8. Evaluation:
   • Develop an evaluation plan to assess the impact and effectiveness of your programs and services for people with disabilities.
   • Utilize evaluation techniques from Chapter 36. Introduction to Evaluation | Section 1. A Framework for Program Evaluation: A Gateway to Tools to collect data, measure outcomes, and track progress towards your goals.
9. Networking:
   • Attend conferences, workshops, and networking events focused on disability rights and inclusion to connect with potential funders and partners.
   • Join online forums, social media groups, and mailing lists to stay updated on funding opportunities and share resources with other professionals in the field.
10. Continued Engagement:
    • Maintain ongoing engagement with funders, partners, and stakeholders to sustain support for your initiatives.
    • Provide regular updates on the progress of your projects and communicate the impact of your work on people with disabilities and the broader community.

By following these steps and leveraging resources from the Community Tool Box sections, Toolkits, and other web sources, you can effectively seek grants to support work around people with disabilities and advance inclusion and accessibility in your community.