Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN)

This Announcement solicits applications under funding opportunity Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN).

The purpose of this program is to identify and promote adoption of innovative and equitable evidence-based policy and practice solutions to help public and private sector employers of all sizes recruit, hire, retain, and advance people with disabilities, including those from historically underserved communities. The awardee will accomplish this by:

• Engaging with, and soliciting input from, employers, employer intermediaries, labor management partnerships, and intermediaries representing historically underserved communities to identify and understand challenges related to creating more disabilityinclusive workplaces;
• Conducting research and policy analysis to identify inclusive and equitable policy and practice solutions to address the challenges identified;
• Collaborating with employers, employer intermediaries, labor management partnerships, and intermediaries representing historically underserved communities to develop equitable tools and resources tailored to support implementation of policy and practice solutions;
• Providing technical assistance and promoting adoption of equitable and innovative policies, practices, tools, and resources; and
• Evaluating center processes, stakeholder engagement, and impact of these policies and practices, with a particular emphasis on underserved communities.

The entity awarded the EARN cooperative agreement will conduct research that values the perspectives of historically underserved groups, conduct policy analysis to identify and validate effective disability-inclusive policy and practice models, translate that knowledge into engaging tools for employers and intermediary organizations, and provide technical assistance and training to help employers of all sizes, both public and private, create inclusive workplace cultures that support high-quality employment of people with disabilities. 

The successful applicant must have the demonstrated capacity to conduct high quality research and policy analysis and identify new and innovative areas for research and policy inquiry. The awardee must also have demonstrated capacity to engage with employers and employer intermediaries and develop technical assistance materials that meet employer needs. In addition, the awardee will have the demonstrated capacity to address employer inclusion of workers with disabilities who are also members of other historically underserved communities.

• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• Private institutions of higher education
• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
• Others (see text field entitled "Additional Eligibility Criteria" for clarification)

Estimated Total Program Funding: