ED Grants $3.6 Million for Accessible Tech -- THE Journal

Policy & Funding

ED Grants $3.6 Million for Accessible Tech

By Dian Schaffhauser
11/02/15

The field of accessible technology has just received an infusion of new funding. The Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs recently awarded $4.8 million in grants for projects intended to improve outcomes for students with disabilities. The bulk of that — $3.6 million — will be allocated to universities and other organizations to promote the development and use of accessible technology, media services and educational materials. The remaining funding is going to be directed to projects that increase literacy outcomes for students in grades 6-12.

The big award was funded under the Educational Technology, Media and Materials for Individuals with Disabilities Program and spread among eight recipients. Their projects include captioning and video description of educational materials and providing accessible materials to students with disabilities "in a timely manner."

Among the projects:

Closed Caption Latina is continuing with an initiative to ensure that students from early learners through grade 12 with visual and hearing problems will be able to use the same educational media as other students. The Florida company received almost $400,000 in this round of grants;
Beneficent Technology (Benetech) received $677,000 for its on-going efforts in the DIAGRAM Center, which is working to make images and math more accessible; and
CAST, the Center for Applied Special Technology, which promotes Universal Design for Learning, will receive almost $250,000. Researchers at the University of Minnesota will receive a similar amount and those at the University of Oregon will get nearly $500,000.

Other fundees included CaptionMax, Narrative Television Network and Bridge Multimedia, all of which provide services that make content accessible.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

E-Mail this page

Printable Format

Featured

OpenAI Introduces 'Operator' AI for Performing Web Tasks

OpenAI has announced "Operator," an AI agent designed to perform web-based tasks autonomously using its own browser. Currently available as a research preview for Pro users in the United States, the tool aims to automate everyday activities such as filling out forms, ordering groceries, and even creating memes.
Estonia to Roll Out ChatGPT Edu for all Secondary Schools

In a nationwide artificial intelligence program dubbed "AI Leap 2025," the country of Estonia plans to provide free access to leading AI applications for all secondary school students and teachers. The initiative will launch with a rollout of ChatGPT Edu to 20,000 high school students in grades 10-11 and their 3,000 teachers, beginning Sept. 1.
Report: 85% of Organizations Are Leveraging AI

Eighty-five percent of organizations today are utilizing some form of AI, according to the latest State of AI in the Cloud 2025 report from Wiz. While AI's role in innovation and disruption continues to expand, security vulnerabilities and governance challenges remain pressing concerns.
Discovery Education Announces Accessibility Enhancements for DreamBox Math

Discovery Education has updated DreamBox Math, an online math program for K–8 students to supplement core instruction, to improve accessibility for K–5 students, according to a news release. DreamBox Math provides personalized instruction by adapting to individual learners’ responses and providing an engaging, dynamic learning environment.