Peer Supports for Augmentative and Alternative Communication

The National Augmentative and Alternative Communication Peer Support Network funding opportunity is offered by the Administration for Community Living within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, specifically through the Administration on Disabilities and the Office of Disability Services Innovation. The program is designed to address the significant unmet needs of approximately five million individuals in the United States who have speech-related disabilities and rely on augmentative and alternative communication methods. The initiative builds upon prior federally funded exploratory and pilot efforts conducted in 2024 and 2025, which demonstrated the effectiveness of peer support models in improving communication access, independence, and community engagement among AAC users. The primary purpose of this cooperative agreement is to strengthen and expand a sustainable, national peer support network for individuals who use or need AAC. The program emphasizes a disability-led, user-centered approach in which individuals with speech-related disabilities play a central role in leadership, governance, and implementation. The funded project is expected to create a modern, accessible network that reflects contemporary communication practices, enabling users to connect, share experiences, and access resources that improve outcomes such as self-determination, economic mobility, and social inclusion. Funding will support a wide range of allowable activities focused on building and maintaining the national network infrastructure. These include establishing and managing a leadership coalition composed primarily of AAC users, developing a national directory of peer support groups and mentors, maintaining a centralized digital hub, and creating toolkits and training resources. Outreach and dissemination are also critical components, with expectations to engage hard-to-reach populations and expand awareness nationwide. Restrictions apply to certain costs, including prohibitions on construction, basic research, and activities that do not align with federal policy requirements. There is no cost-sharing requirement, and applicants are not required to provide matching funds. Eligible applicants include domestic public and private nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, tribal entities, hospitals, institutions of higher education, and community-based or faith-based organizations. Individuals and foreign entities are not eligible. Applicants must submit proposals through Grants.gov and maintain active registrations with both SAM.gov and Grants.gov systems. Required application components include a project narrative limited to twenty-five pages, a budget narrative, standard federal forms, and supporting documentation such as proof of nonprofit status and commitment letters from partners. The application process involves submission by the stated deadline, with an optional notice of intent requested twenty days after publication to assist in planning the review process. Applications are evaluated through a multi-stage review process that includes an initial compliance screening followed by a merit-based panel review. Evaluation criteria focus heavily on the proposed approach, project relevance, organizational capability, and budget justification. Additional considerations include alignment with agency priorities, geographic distribution, and past performance of the applicant. Key dates for this opportunity include an application deadline of July twenty-two, two thousand twenty-six, with submissions due by eleven fifty-nine p.m. Eastern Time. Awards are expected to be issued by September thirty, two thousand twenty-six, with the project period beginning on the same date. The cooperative agreement spans three years, divided into three twelve-month budget periods, ending September twenty-nine, two thousand twenty-nine. During the project period, recipients are required to collaborate closely with federal program officers, submit semiannual reports, and comply with all federal grant regulations and reporting requirements. This funding opportunity is a one-time solicitation with a single anticipated award, reflecting a strategic federal investment in building a national infrastructure for AAC peer support. The initiative prioritizes sustainability, accessibility, and measurable outcomes, ensuring that funded activities lead to long-term improvements in communication access and quality of life for individuals with speech-related disabilities across the United States.

Focus on a strong detailed approach with measurable outcomes ensure AAC user leadership demonstrate alignment with ACL priorities and clearly justify budget costs