News

In response to the FY 2010 U.S. Department of Educations National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I program, NDI staffers Laura Gleneck, Sharon Brent and Elizabeth Jennings designed a feasibility study to produce a new accessible web-based I Can Work application. The I Can Work application will have the capacity to offer an unlimited number of Beneficiaries the opportunity to better manage their wage reporting through technology that is intuitive to meet the needs of the population. For Beneficiaries who want to return to work but fear the loss of cash and health benefits, the accessible I Can Work application will offer a snapshot of the impact of wages on benefits and give reminders of who to turn to for more information. As a web-based application, I Can Work may be customized as a mobile device/Smartphone app offering commercialization opportunities that would potentially generate enough income to maintain the technology.

The SBIR program funds research and development projects that propose a sound approach to the investigation of an important education or assistive technology, science, or engineering question under topics identified each year in the solicitation. The purpose of the program is to: stimulate technological innovation; increase small business participation in federal research and development; foster and encourage participation by minority and disadvantaged persons in technological innovation; and increase private sector commercialization of technology derived from federal research and development.

Award announcements will be made in September with a start date of October 1^st. We will keep you posted!