Many nonprofits seek ADA compliance grants to foster a more inclusive society and ensure equal participation for individuals with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA is enforced by the U.S. Department of Justice.
ADA-compliant grants are awarded to businesses, government entities, and non-profit organizations dedicated to making goods and services accessible to people with disabilities. Funding usage spans a broad spectrum, applicable to everything from retrofitting stairways to purchasing assistive technologies to aid visually impaired individuals at self-service checkout counters.
Please continue reading to learn more about ADA compliance grants for nonprofits, the available requirements and qualifications for obtaining an ADA compliance grant, and how nonprofits can utilize these grants to meet their accessibility objectives.
Types of ADA Grants for Nonprofits
Accessibility Improvement Grants
One of the more popular ADA grants for nonprofit organizations is Accessibility Improvement Grants/Access Enhancement Grants. These are typically awarded to organizations that aim to remove barriers by implementing accessibility improvements at brick-and-mortar locations and other physical spaces.
Examples include tactile signage, wheelchair ramps, upgraded bathrooms with extra-wide stalls, and other similar upgrades.
Professional Development and Education
Another common compliance with the ADA grant revolves around professional development and education. Any project should focus entirely on removing barriers for those with disabilities in brick-and-mortar locations or online spaces.
For example, the National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM) is a nonprofit organization recognized by the IRS for advancing accessible technologies for individuals with disabilities. Others, like Disability Rights Advocates (DRA), provide support, healthcare access, and other administrative services to a significant portion of the population suffering from partial disabilities.
Technology Accessibility Grants
These ADA grants award nonprofit organizations that provide website accessibility for those with disabilities.
For example, a nonprofit receives a technology accessibility grant to retrofit its existing website with new accessibility upgrades, such as alternative text for images, larger cursors, and compatibility with assistive technologies like text-to-speech for people with disabilities.
Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
Established by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), CDBGs provide financial assistance with grant funds to improve accessibility in public spaces.
They can be used for any number of things, from accessibility modifications (e.g., installing wider bathroom stalls) to retrofitting existing housing units to meet accessibility standards.
Another benefit of CDBG grants is that they lend themselves to a lot of partnership opportunities. For example, local governments can partner with nonprofit organizations, the private sector, or community advocates to consolidate resources, combine expertise, and join forces to promote inclusive design
Don’t forget about accessibility awareness and education. Funds can even be used to provide community services to people with disabilities, including municipalities and state governments. Resume help, employment assistance, and similar offerings could all be available.
Private Foundation Grants
Another excellent ADA-compliant grant source is private foundation grants or ones from an actual company. In the field of tech, one of the more popular accessibility grant programs belongs to Microsoft. Microsoft’s AI for Accessibility program offers grants and general operating support to nonprofit organizations that leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to assist those with disabilities, with grants starting at $100,000 and upwards of $100,000, depending on the project scope.
As of this writing, numerous nonprofit organizations, including the American Printing House for the Blind (APH), Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Perkins School for the Blind, and the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), have received the Microsoft AI for Accessibility grant to expand technology opportunities for the blind, color-blind, and visually impaired individuals.
Lastly, let’s pay special mention to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and its Quality of Life Grants Program, which has awarded more than $43 million to date to 3,000 nonprofits across the country for all types of accessibility programs. Grants start from $5,000 and go up to $25,000 as part of its Direct Effect (Tier 1) program, with higher grant amounts offered under its ‘Priority Impact’ and ‘Expanded Impact’ programs.
For more information, visit Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation – Funding for Nonprofits/Quality of Life Grants.
Tax Credits
According to Section 44 of the Internal Revenue Code, small businesses earning annual revenue of less than a million with 30 or fewer workers can obtain an ADA compliance tax credit for up to $5,000, under the condition that the funds are used to pay for removing barriers complying with ADA requirements.
For example, these funds could be used to modernize an elevator, build wheelchair ramps, or provide any other type of physical accommodation that can remove barriers for people with disabilities.
The tax credit is restricted to 50% of qualifying expenses in a year, up to a maximum of $10,250.
ADA National Network
One of the best sources for ADA compliance grants is the ADA National Network.
Funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), it provides comprehensive guidance to businesses and organizations about the Americans with Disabilities Act and how they can comply with accessibility requirements.
If you want to complete the list of funding opportunities with the ADA National Network, visit the Americans with Disabilities Act National Network. You will be redirected to a separate website where you can search for grants for nonprofits across the country.
Requirements and Necessary Qualifications for Obtaining an ADA Grant
To obtain an ADA compliance grant or other disability grants, businesses and organizations must meet the strict eligibility criteria set by each grant provider. These providers can operate at the federal and state levels, depending on the type of initiative supported. Some grant providers are stricter than others, but essential eligibility criteria apply.
For starters, you must be recognized by the IRS as a registered nonprofit priority organization with a mission statement that aligns with whatever goal you wish to use the funding for under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The project should focus entirely on removing barriers for individuals with disabilities in brick-and-mortar locations or online spaces.
If you aim to assist with complying with ADA requirements and avoid lawsuits, then it’s all about removing barriers, providing assistive technology, or retrofitting your existing facilities to accommodate individuals with disabilities.
The third qualification for obtaining an ADA grant is to demonstrate that you have a healthy financial budget. You must show how the funds will be utilized with detailed budget plans.
How Nonprofits Utilize ADA Funds to Enhance Compliance
Nonprofits can request funding to enhance compliance at brick-and-mortar locations and digital spaces in several ways.
Facility Upgrades
One of the more popular options for non-profits to achieve compliance is retrofitting or upgrading existing projects and facilities.
Whether installing accessibility support initiatives like automated sliding doors, designating a certain number of accessible parking spaces, or introducing new wheelchair ramps, funds can accommodate these accessible features, allowing full and equal opportunities for those with physical disabilities and chronic disabilities like multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Digital Upgrades
ADA funds can also enhance web compliance. For example, you may invest in making your website compatible with assistive technologies like screen readers and braille displays. Alternatively, you may invest the funds in developing an accessible website and have a small team conduct regular manual and automated accessibility testing to optimize your website for those with disabilities.
Ongoing Education
If you’re not making facilities or e-commerce websites accessible, your ADA funds can be used towards advocacy and innovative programs on ADA requirements and compliance. Whether it’s workshops, seminars, or public displays of advocacy for disability rights, there’s no shortage of options for publicizing accessibility benefits for those with disabilities.
In short, brick-and-mortar upgrades, digital upgrades, and ongoing accessibility training and education to develop skills are excellent ways nonprofits can use ADA funds to enhance compliance.
Transportation Improvements
No mention of ADA compliance is complete without a mention of transportation. ADA compliance grants for nonprofits can be used to provide accessible transportation services. Whether it’s equipping the latest bus model with electronic ramps or implementing a bus system for more audible route information, there’s no shortage of accessibility improvements individuals with disabilities can enjoy under this vertical.
A Word on Accessibly
The Accessibly ADA widget offers one of the more intuitive ways of achieving ADA and WCAG compliance.
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