[Arizona-students] Re: [nfbcs] Re: Request for Letters of Support

[David Andrews]

Hi:

If you go to the url 

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/nidrr/index.html

and dig around I am sure you can find more info.  NIDRR is a part of the depeartment of Education, and they most often fund universities, but do other things too.  I believe this type of grant is called field initiated grant.  You have to be a college or university, state agency, or nonproffit.

Dave


At 04:22 PM 12/27/2004, Allison wrote:
>I would happily write such a letter, but would also appreciate some tips on how other states and/or groups could apply for the NIDRR grant.  IA is far from being the only state who could benefit from such funding.
>
>Allison Hilliker
>
>
>
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Curtis Chong (by way of David Andrews<dandrews at visi.com>)" <chong.curtis at blind.state.ia.us>
>To: <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>; <nfb-announce at nfbnet.org>; <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>; <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>; <promotion-technology at nfbnet.org>; <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>; <gui-talk at nfbnet.org>; <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>; <blindkid at nfbnet.org>; <blparent at nfbnet.org>; <il-talk at nfbnet.org>; <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>; <ccb-alumni at nfbnet.org>; <arizona-students at nfbnet.org>; <oabs at nfbnet.org>; <iabs at nfbnet.org>; <mabs at nfbnet.org>; <vendtalk at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Monday, December 27, 2004 2:58 PM
>Subject: [Arizona-students] Request for Letters of Support
>
>
>>The Iowa Department for the Blind is applying for a National Institute
>>on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) grant that will fund a
>>project to develop training kits for nonvisual access technology to be
>>used by blind, visually impaired, or deaf-blind individuals. Each kit
>>will contain all the materials needed for a series of lessons on a
>>specific computer application or device. Two types of training kits will
>>be developed: one for trainers to use in directed training and one for
>>individuals to use independently. The kits will focus on the following
>>software and devices: computers equipped with Windows, security
>>software, Microsoft Office software, and screen access programs;
>>accessible Personal Digital Assistants (PDA's); Optical Character
>>Recognition (OCR) equipment; digital book readers; and nonvisual access
>>software for cellular phones. The kits will focus on software and
>>devices that are used in most office settings for document development,
>>communications, task and time management, and contact management. The
>>materials will be designed for beginner and intermediate level users.
>>
>>What sets these materials apart from the documentation shipped with
>>software and devices is that we plan to provide step-by-step
>>instructions, exercises, and other materials to give structure to the
>>training for both trainers and clients who wish to learn on their own.
>>We are aware that training in the use of nonvisual access technology is
>>often in short supply and, at the same time, in great demand. Product
>>documentation does not include the element of reinforcement and practice
>>of the newly learned skills, and this is a gap we hope to fill.
>>
>>As part of the grant application process, we are soliciting letters of
>>support from individuals or agencies who have benefited from Project
>>ASSIST materials in the past, or who would benefit from the proposed
>>training kits. We would be grateful if you could take a few moments to
>>write such a letter. A suggested draft is attached, which you may use as
>>you see fit. Please return your letter to Linda Trogdon at the address
>>below by January 10.
>>
>>Your help and support are greatly appreciated.
>>
>>
>>Project ASSIST with Windows
>>Iowa Department for the Blind
>>524 Fourth Street
>>Des Moines, IA  50309
>>Fax: (515) 242-5781
>>
>>For any questions about this project, please contact Curtis Chong at
>>515-281-1361 or via e-mail at chong.curtis at blind.state.ia.us.
>>
>>
>>
>>The draft support letter appears below, and is also attached (DA)
>>
>>
>>
>>I am pleased to support the grant application for the Iowa Department for
>>the Blind to produce training kits for nonvisual access technology. The
>>proposed materials fill an important gap by providing structured training
>>materials not present in documentation shipped with software and devices.
>>The user is often faced with a new piece of software or hardware and no
>>organized way of learning to use it. The materials produced under this
>>grant will be an invaluable resource both for teachers and trainers and for
>>clients who wish to learn on their own.
>>
>>Training in nonvisual access technology for blind Americans is woefully
>>inadequate. I am confident that these training kits will help fill an
>>urgent and persistent need. I therefore enthusiastically support this grant
>>application.
>>
>>
>
>
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
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>
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