Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) Program: RERC on AI-Driven Assistive and Rehabilitation Technologies

Key Facts

Status: Open

Posted date: September 5, 2025

Archive date: September 30, 2026

Opportunity ID: 360499

Opportunity number: HHS-2026-ACL-NIDILRR-REGE-0212

Opportunity category: Discretionary

Agency name: Administration for Community Living

Agency code: HHS-ACL

Award floor: $970,000

Award ceiling: $975,000

Cost sharing required: No

Funding Instrument Types
  • Grant
Category of Funding Activity
  • Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Eligible Applicants
  • City or township governments
  • County governments
  • For-profit organizations other than small businesses
  • Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
  • Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
  • Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
  • Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
  • Others
  • Private institutions of higher education
  • Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
  • Small businesses
  • Special district governments
  • State governments
Tools
Categories (use these for quoted searches)
  • agency_code:hhs_acl
  • category_of_funding_activity:science_and_technology_and_other_research_and_development
  • cost_sharing_or_matching_requirement:false
  • eligible_applicants:city_or_township_governments
  • eligible_applicants:county_governments
  • eligible_applicants:for_profit_organizations_other_than_small_businesses
  • eligible_applicants:native_american_tribal_governments_federally_recognized
  • eligible_applicants:native_american_tribal_organizations_other_than_federally_recognized_tribal_governments
  • eligible_applicants:nonprofits_having_a_501_c_3_status_with_the_irs_other_than_institutions_of_higher_education
  • eligible_applicants:nonprofits_that_do_not_have_a_501_c_3_status_with_the_irs_other_than_institutions_of_higher_education
  • eligible_applicants:others
  • eligible_applicants:private_institutions_of_higher_education
  • eligible_applicants:public_and_state_controlled_institutions_of_higher_education
  • eligible_applicants:small_businesses
  • eligible_applicants:special_district_governments
  • eligible_applicants:state_governments
  • funding_instrument_type:grant
  • opportunity_category:discretionary
  • status:open
Description

The purpose of the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) program is to improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act by conducting advanced engineering research on and development of innovative technologies that are designed to solve particular rehabilitation problems or to remove environmental barriers. The purpose of this RERC is to conduct research on, develop, and evaluate Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven assistive and rehabilitation technologies that enhance independence, participation, and quality of life for people with disabilities. Many existing assistive and rehabilitation technologies lack adaptability, personalization, and seamless integration into daily life. AI and machine learning (ML) offer trans-formative potential to address these gaps by enabling smarter, more responsive, and individualized assistive and rehabilitation technologies. AI-driven innovations in assistive and rehabilitation technology can shift them from static tools to dynamic, intelligent systems that continuously learn and adapt in real time to individual preferences, needs, and changing abilities. This grant will have a 60-month project period, with five 12-month budget periods.

Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) Program: RERC on AI-Driven Assistive and Rehabilitation Technologies
The purpose of the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) program is to improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act by conducting advanced engineering research on and development of innovative technologies that are designed to solve particular rehabilitation problems or to remove environmental barriers. The purpose of this RERC is to conduct research on, develop, and evaluate Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven assistive and rehabilitation technologies that enhance independence, participation, and quality of life for people with disabilities. Many existing assistive and rehabilitation technologies lack adaptability, personalization, and seamless integration into daily life. AI and machine learning (ML) offer trans-formative potential to address these gaps by enabling smarter, more responsive, and individualized assistive and rehabilitation technologies. AI-driven innovations in assistive and rehabilitation technology can shift them from static tools to dynamic, intelligent systems that continuously learn and adapt in real time to individual preferences, needs, and changing abilities. This grant will have a 60-month project period, with five 12-month budget periods.
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) Program: RERC on AI-Driven Assistive and Rehabilitation Technologies
Open
Administration for Community Living
Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Grant
State governments
County governments
City or township governments
Special district governments
Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Private institutions of higher education
For-profit organizations other than small businesses
Small businesses
Others
2025-09-05