90BISB0034
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
FIDDLE - FIT (FOR) INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENTAL DETERMINATIONS (FOR) LONG-TERM EMPLOYMENT - THE US IS EXPERIENCING WORKFORCE SHORTAGES IN SECTORS SUCH AS MANUFACTURING, HOSPITALITY, FOOD SERVICE AND HEALTH CARE.
THESE ARE AREAS THAT COULD BE FILLED BY UNDER EMPLOYED JOB SEEKERS WITH INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY (ID), SUCH AS THOSE WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER, DOWN SYNDROME, AND THOSE WITH AN ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY.
NEW EVIDENCE SUPPORTS THE CONCEPT OF NEW TOOLS CAN HELP THE JOB SEEKER WITH AN ID, THEIR EMPLOYMENT-RELATED STAFF, AND POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS OF EMPLOYEES WITH AN ID.
THIS STUDY EXPLORES THE BENEFITS OF WEB-BASED TOOLS TO ENHANCE KEY STEPS IN THE PRE-EMPLOYMENT AND EMPLOYMENT PROCESS.
WITHOUT FIDDLE, EMPLOYMENT SPECIALISTS MUST RELY ON TRADITIONAL APPROACHES.
COMBINED WITH THE CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF EMPLOYMENT SPECIALISTS AND JOB DEVELOPERS, THIS WILL EXACERBATE THE STRAIN ON SCARCE RESOURCES.
PHASE I DEMONSTRATED THE TECHNICAL MERIT, FEASIBILITY, AND COST EFFECTIVENESS OF COMBINING AVAILABLE WEB-BASED TOOLS AND AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO CREATE THE FIDDLE SYSTEM AND TESTED WITH 10 JOB SEEKERS WITH ID AND THEIR SUPPORT STAFF.
PHASE II OBJECTIVES INCLUDE: 1) COMPLETING THE WEBSITE SOFTWARE AND CLOUD-BASED DASHBOARD, 2) INTEGRATING NEW SERVICES INCLUDING AI, AND 3) ADMINISTERING AN EXTENDED FIELD EVALUATION OF FIDDLE WITH JOB SEEKERS, JOB DEVELOPERS, AND EMPLOYERS (N=40) COMPARED WITH A CONTROL GROUP (N=40).
THESE ARE AREAS THAT COULD BE FILLED BY UNDER EMPLOYED JOB SEEKERS WITH INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY (ID), SUCH AS THOSE WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER, DOWN SYNDROME, AND THOSE WITH AN ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY.
NEW EVIDENCE SUPPORTS THE CONCEPT OF NEW TOOLS CAN HELP THE JOB SEEKER WITH AN ID, THEIR EMPLOYMENT-RELATED STAFF, AND POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS OF EMPLOYEES WITH AN ID.
THIS STUDY EXPLORES THE BENEFITS OF WEB-BASED TOOLS TO ENHANCE KEY STEPS IN THE PRE-EMPLOYMENT AND EMPLOYMENT PROCESS.
WITHOUT FIDDLE, EMPLOYMENT SPECIALISTS MUST RELY ON TRADITIONAL APPROACHES.
COMBINED WITH THE CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF EMPLOYMENT SPECIALISTS AND JOB DEVELOPERS, THIS WILL EXACERBATE THE STRAIN ON SCARCE RESOURCES.
PHASE I DEMONSTRATED THE TECHNICAL MERIT, FEASIBILITY, AND COST EFFECTIVENESS OF COMBINING AVAILABLE WEB-BASED TOOLS AND AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO CREATE THE FIDDLE SYSTEM AND TESTED WITH 10 JOB SEEKERS WITH ID AND THEIR SUPPORT STAFF.
PHASE II OBJECTIVES INCLUDE: 1) COMPLETING THE WEBSITE SOFTWARE AND CLOUD-BASED DASHBOARD, 2) INTEGRATING NEW SERVICES INCLUDING AI, AND 3) ADMINISTERING AN EXTENDED FIELD EVALUATION OF FIDDLE WITH JOB SEEKERS, JOB DEVELOPERS, AND EMPLOYERS (N=40) COMPARED WITH A CONTROL GROUP (N=40).
Awardee
Funding Goals
NOT APPLICABLE
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Indiana
United States
Geographic Scope
State-Wide
Related Opportunity
Analysis Notes
Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 100% from $287,500 to $575,000.
Createability Concepts was awarded
Project Grant 90BISB0034
worth $575,000
from National Institute on Disability Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research in June 2024 with work to be completed primarily in Indiana United States.
The grant
has a duration of 2 years and
was awarded through assistance program 93.433 ACL National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) Phase II.
SBIR Details
Research Type
SBIR Phase II
Title
FIDDLE - Fit (for) Intellectual Developmental Determinations (for) Longterm Employment
Abstract
The US is experiencing workforce shortages in sectors such as manufacturing, hospitality, food service and health care. These are areas that could be filled by under employed job seekers with intellectual developmental disability (ID), such as those with autism spectrum disorder, Down Syndrome, and those with an acquired brain injury. New evidence supports the concept of new tools can help the job seeker with an ID, their employment-related staff, and potential employers of employees with an ID. This study explores the benefits of web-based tools to enhance key steps in the pre-employment and employment process. Without FIDDLE, employment specialists must rely on traditional approaches. Combined with the critical shortage of employment specialists and job developers, this will exacerbate the strain on scarce resources. Phase I demonstrated the technical merit, feasibility, and cost effectiveness of combining available web-based tools and an innovative approach to create the FIDDLE system and tested with 10 job seekers with ID and their support staff. Phase II Objectives include: 1) completing the website software and cloud-based dashboard, 2) integrating new services including AI, and 3) administering an extended field evaluation of FIDDLE with job seekers, job developers, and employers (n=40) compared with a control group (n=40).
Topic Code
NIDILRR
Solicitation Number
HHS-2024-ACL-NIDILRR-BISB-0070
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 4/4/25
Period of Performance
6/1/24
Start Date
5/31/26
End Date
Funding Split
$575.0K
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$575.0K
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Transaction History
Modifications to 90BISB0034
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
90BISB0034
SAI Number
90BISB0034-545902659
Award ID URI
SAI UNAVAILABLE
Awardee Classifications
Small Business
Awarding Office
75BG00 ACL National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research
Funding Office
75BG00 ACL National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research
Awardee UEI
S77YNLQ6HC16
Awardee CAGE
38UR9
Performance District
IN-90
Senators
Todd Young
Mike Braun
Mike Braun
Modified: 4/4/25