AbleNet Research Consortium: Collaborating to improve the lives of people with disabilities

Request for Proposals:
Priorities and Definitions


Priority Research Category
	1.	Curriculum Efficacy Research Topics
		a.	Star Reporter™ newspaper program
			i.	Purpose of research: The Star Reporter is being used by schools across the United States. There is an elementary version and a secondary version. The AbleNet Research Consortium is requesting research that helps answer the following questions:
				1.	How does this program affect student achievement?
				2.	How does this program affect inclusion?
				3.	How does this program affect teacher satisfaction?
			ii.	What will be provided by AbleNet to support research?:
				1.	Researchers will be provided one monthly curriculum book and the entire program CD along with the necessary materials and assistive technology products at no charge. The number of curriculum materials and asssitive technology products provided by AbleNet will be awarded on a case by case basis to assure adequate research needs are met.
Secondary Research Category
	1.	Product Efficacy Research Topics
		a.	FL4SH™ scanning communicator
			i.	Purpose of research: FL4SH was designed as a classroom tool to help increase the success of beginning communicators. The AbleNet Research Consortium is requesting research that will help us answer the following questions:
				1.	What are the features that best affect student progress in beginning communication and scanning?
				2.	How does the supporting materials impact application in the classroom for teachers or others using FL4SH for teaching scanning and communication?
			ii.	What will be provided by AbleNet to support research?:
				1.	Researchers will be provided to up to eight devices at no charge based on recommendations of the consortium to assure adequate research needs are met.

Open Research Category
	1.	Product, curriculum, professional development efficacy Research Topics
		a.	AbleNet requests proposals that will help meet the corporate mission to enhance lives of people with disabilities. The AbleNet Research Consortium will welcome proposals the help answer questions that lead to improvements in solution design or new solution development for people with moderate to severe cognitive and physical challenges in the areas of learning, communication and participation.

Application Form

Please restrict your submission to no more than 5 pages.

Name:
Address:
Phone (Home):
Phone (Work):
Phone (Cell):
Fax:
Email:
University ID: (If attending or partnering with)
University Address:
...............................................................................................................................................

Research category addressed:

Research topic addressed:

Statement of problem or question to be answered:

Impact anticipated:

Collaborative partners identified (if appropriate):

Site chosen where research will be conducted:

Research method to be used:

Research procedures to be used:

Sample:

Data Analysis:

Dissemination Plan including publication to be sought:

Budget (please attach):

Timelines (please attach):

Technology, curriculum, materials requested from AbleNet to conduct research:

Signature:

Application Process

1. Complete the above online application.
2. Receipt Notification: You will receive notification of receipt within 48 hours
3. Advisor Review: The review board reviews your application and scores according to selection criteria.
4. Award Notification: You will be informed of our decision within 45 days following the deadline date.
5. Publicity guidelines: You will need to follow the AbleNet Research Consortium publicity guidelines including: signing a standard press release authorizing AbleNet to publicize the awardees, and following authorized/required used of the ARC logo and artwork.

If you receive a grant

1. Grant Acceptance: Final grant acceptance forms will be provided to you following award notification. You will need to complete and sign these forms in order to receive the grant materials (funding, curriculum, products, etc)
2. Final grant acceptance forms should be mailed to:

AbleNet Research Consortium
RE: Grant Acceptance
2808 Fairview Avenue North
Roseville, MN 55113-1308
Email: ARC@ablenetinc.com

When your research is complete

Submit one hardcopy and email a copy of your research manuscript to the AbleNet Research Consortium as you submit your research manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal. Examples of journals may be found here.

Eligibility Criteria

Grants are made to individual researchers, public, charter and private schools and/or groups employed at 501(c) (3) nonprofit organizations and specifically accredited colleges or universities. Our funding is not geographically specific; any researcher or group from a US or Canadian institution may apply. Any organization that is not an accredited university or an individual who is not from an accredited university, will be required to partner with such an organization. It is critical to AbleNet that the research conducted through this program will be published; therefore collaborations that increase the reliability and credibility of the results/learning are greatly encouraged

Expectations

Grant recipients are expected to follow all best-practices for research as determined by governing bodies as well as their own institutional guidelines. When research is completed, grant recipients are expected to write a paper summarizing and detailing their findings that will be used as a white paper on the AbleNet Research Consortium website if the article is not accepted by a peer review publication. However, it is a top priority of this initiative that grant recipients submit their research findings to an accredited peer reviewed journal for publication within one year following the start date of the research project. A list of targeted journals may be found here along with submission guidelines.

Prior to receiving the grant, awardees conducting research through universities and organizations will need to submit evidence that the research study has been reviewed and approved by their Institutional Review Board (IRB). Awardees conducting research through school districts will need to submit a letter from a school district official (e.g., superintendent) indicating that the study proposal has been reviewed and is in compliance with all relevant school district policies.

Resources

If you are a new author, you may want to review the following online article that describes the peer review process and offers practical information about getting published:

APA Guide to Preparing Manuscripts for Journal Publication

Before submitting your manuscript to a journal editor for peer review and publication consideration, use the following checklist from the American Psychological Association to ensure that you have properly prepared your manuscript:

Checklist for Manuscript Submission

When to submit your application

Applications are accepted at any time during the year. The proposals will be judged during the 30 days following the close dates of March 31, June 31, September 31 and December 31 of each year.

It is recommended to submit a letter of intent one month prior to the deadline. This will allow time for submitter to receive support in meeting expectations of the ARC.

Selection Criteria / Review Board

Grant applications will be judged according to the following criteria by the AbleNet Research Consortium:

1. Student population match
Does the research match the needs of students with significant to moderate cognitive and/or physical disabilities.

2. Impact on the use of and the integration of AbleNet curriculum solutions
Will the research results assist AbleNet in helping our customers gain the greatest student achievement?

3. Impact on the use of and the integration of AbleNet assistive technology
Will the research results assist AbleNet in helping our customers gain the greatest student achievement?

4. Importance of the study
Does the study address the relevant and critical issues facing classrooms today?

5. Feasibility of the design
Is the study doable within the time frame and budget that is submitted?

6. Qualifications of the staff
Do the qualifications of the collaborative partners/researchers provide the consortium with confidence that the study objectives will be achieved as submitted?

Research we will NOT fund

The AbleNet Research Consortium will NOT fund operating expenses for the researcher/group/organization's general overhead costs. In addition, research applicable to only a very small student population (i.e. one school) without broader potential impact, or research dedicated to a specific religious group, will generally not be funded.