Independent Living State Grants Program

Program Office: Rehabilitation Services Administration

CFDA Number: 84.169A
Program Type: Formula Grants
Also Known As: State Independent Living Services, IL State Grants

This program offers formula grants to states for one or more of the following purposes:

• To provide resources to statewide independent living councils (SILCs);
• To provide independent living (IL) services to individuals with significant disabilities;
• To demonstrate ways to expand and improve IL services;
• To support the operation of centers for IL that comply with the standards and assurances of Sec. 725 of the Rehabilitation Act;
• To support activities to increase the capabilities of public or nonprofit agencies and organizations and other entities in developing comprehensive approaches or systems for providing IL services;
• To conduct studies and analyses and gather information, approaches, strategies, findings, conclusions, and recommendations for federal, state, and local policymakers to enhance IL services for individuals with significant disabilities;
• To provide training on the IL philosophy; and
• To provide outreach to populations that are unserved or underserved by programs under Title VII of the Rehabilitation Act, including minority groups and urban and rural populations.

This program supports projects that provide independent living services, directly or through grant or contract, and demonstrate ways to expand and improve them.

The purpose of the independent living programs is to maximize the leadership, empowerment, independence and productivity of individuals with disabilities and to integrate these individuals into the mainstream of American society. Independent living programs provide financial assistance to provide, expand and improve independent living services; develop and support statewide networks of centers for independent living and improve working relationships among state independent living rehabilitation programs, centers for independent living, Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILC), Rehabilitation Act programs outside of Title VII and other relevant federal and non-federal programs.

The independent living programs are current-funded. However, the Act contains a provision allowing all Title VII grantees to carry over unobligated funds for an additional fiscal year. States participating in the State Grants and Older Blind programs must match every $9 of federal funds with $1 in nonfederal cash or in-kind resources in the year for which the federal funds are appropriated. To be eligible for financial assistance under the Independent Living State grants or Centers for Independent Living programs, states are required to establish an SILC. Each state must also submit a state plan for independent living that is jointly developed and signed by the director of the designated state vocational rehabilitation unit(s) (DSU) and the chairperson of the SILC.

Who May Apply: (by category) Other Organizations and/or Agencies.

Who May Apply: (specifically): State vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies or other designated state units (DSUs) may apply.

This page contains the following sections

• Annual Performance Report: RSA-704

• Monitoring

• State Plan for Independent Living

• FY 2005 Annual Program Performance Report

Grantees for this program are required to fill out Part I of the RSA-704 report.

• RSA-704 Part I Instructions
  MS Word (263KB)

• RSA-704 Part I Instrument
  MS Word (308KB)

• RSA-704 Part I Key Guidance
  MS Word (51K) | PDF (33KB)

• RSA-704 Part II Instructions
  MS Word (245KB)

• RSA-704 Part II Instrument
  MS Word (253KB)

• RSA-704 Part II Key Guidance
  MS Word (47KB) | PDF (48KB)

RSA has developed a separate page containing information you may find useful concerning the State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL).

(February 11, 2013)

FY 2005 Annual Program Performance Report

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, Title VII, Chapter 1, Part B, Secs. 711-714; 29 U.S.C. 796e-796e-3.

• Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR)
• 34 CFR 364  PDF (237 KB)
• 34 CFR 365  PDF (193 KB)

PD-11-03
October 26, 2010
"Instructions for completing the Federal Financial Report (SF-425) for other formula grant award programs"
 MS Word (128K) | PDF (1.9M)

• Promising Practices

• State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL)

• SILC Roles and Responsibilities

The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), as part its monitoring of state vocational rehabilitation and independent living programs funded under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, together with state vocational rehabilitation agencies and their stakeholders, have identified promising practices. These are practices developed and implemented in each state for the purpose of enhancing employment and independent living outcomes for individuals with disabilities. These practices provide useful samples of programs and services and each practice is unique, based on the needs and resources available in that state. The practice may work differently or produce different results in your state if you choose to replicate it.

RSA has developed a separate page containing information you may find useful concerning the State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL).

(February 11, 2013)

RSA Technical Assistance Circular, TAC-13-01, dated January 30, 2013, titled "Federal Requirements Governing the Roles and Responsibilities of Statewide Independent Living Councils," outlines the authorized roles and responsibilities of Statewide Independent Living Councils.
 MS Word (85KB) | PDF (349KB)

This TAC is consistent with guidance contained in “RSA’s Responses to National Council on Independent Living’s Questions Regarding SILC Roles and Responsibilities,” issued on January 23, 2008.
 MS Word (101KB) | PDF (101KB)

(February 7, 2013)

Name:
Tim Beatty

E-mail Address:
timothy.beatty@ed.gov

Mailing Address:
U.S. Department of Education, OSERS
400 Maryland Ave., S.W., Rm. 5057, PCP
Washington, DC 20202-2800

Telephone:
(202) 245-6156

Additionally, RSA has designated State Liaisons for each state and territory. See http://rsa.ed.gov/people.cfm for a list of the current liaisons.