Workplace Equity for Persons with Disabilities in STEM and STEM Education (NSF 23-593)
The Workplace Equity for Persons with Disabilities in STEM and STEM Education solicitation supports fundamental, applied, and translational research that advances knowledge and practice about diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible STEM and STEM education workplaces and postsecondary training environments for persons with disabilities. Proposals should focus on one or more of the following three research themes: (1) Studying barriers and solutions to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in STEM and STEM education workplaces and training settings for persons with disabilities; (2) Applying intersectional social identity perspectives to investigate characteristics and conditions of STEM and STEM education workplaces and training environments that limit and/or improve diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility for persons with disabilities; and (3) Conducting use-inspired and solution-oriented translational research about diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible STEM and STEM Education workplaces and training settings for persons with disabilities.

Dear Colleague Letter: Persons with Disabilities - STEM Engagement and Access (PWD-SEA)
NSF's Directorate for STEM Education (EDU) has published a new Dear Colleague Letter: Persons with Disabilities - Engagement and Access (PWD-SEA), seeking to increase the engagement of persons with disabilities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields and STEM education. Please see NSF 21-110 for more information.

Multiple NSF Funding Opportunities
The PWD-SEA Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) identifies a variety of funding opportunities serving persons with disabilities in STEM disciplines and STEM education. Please see a comparison chart about funding opportunities identified in DCL PWD-SEA for additional information. These mechanisms include, but are not limited to, the following NSF initiatives.

• Dear Colleague Letter PWD-SEA (NSF 21-110)
  

  The DCL encourages submission of new proposals, or requests for supplemental funding to existing awards, to support access to and engagement in STEM learning, research, and workforce development at proposing or awardee organizations for NSF-funded students, postdoctoral scholars, or faculty and staff with disabilities. New proposals or supplemental funding requests to existing awards may also request support for the inclusion of persons with disabilities as project participants. Funding requests are not intended for research subjects. There is no separate PWD-SEA program for funding and proposals are not submitted to the DCL. New proposals or supplemental funding requests are made directly to any of the 23 programs in the NSF's Directorate for STEM Education that are participating in this activity. Please see the list of participating programs for more information. Proposers are encouraged to discuss new proposals or supplements with the program officers of the relevant program to which they are interested in applying to.

Additional information can be obtained by emailing Drs. Mark Leddy and Chris Atchison.

• Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED)
  

  The NSF's Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (NSF 23-1) offers instructions to proposers about Facilitation Awards for Scientists & Engineers with Disabilities (FASED). As part of its effort to promote full utilization of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians, and engineers, and to develop scientific and technical talent, the Foundation offers proposal guidance to reduce or remove barriers to participation in research and training by persons with physical disabilities by providing special equipment and assistance under awards made by NSF; and to encourage persons with disabilities to pursue careers in science and engineering by stimulating the development and demonstration of special equipment that facilitates their work performance.  There is no separate program for funding of special equipment or assistance. Requests are made in conjunction with regular competitive proposals, or as a supplemental funding request to an existing NSF award.

• Dear Colleague Letter: Research to Improve STEM Teaching, Learning, and Workforce Development for Persons with Disabilities (NSF 21-114)
  

  NSF's EDU re-published a DCL seeking to support fundamental and applied research on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teaching, learning, and workforce development for persons with disabilities. NSF invites proposals focused on advancing knowledge and developing innovative research-based interventions to improve STEM teaching, learning, and workforce development for individuals with disabilities. Research about persons with disabilities in STEM and STEM education includes fundamental and applied research, with a particular focus on efforts to understand and address disability-based differences in STEM teaching, learning, workforce preparation and employment. Proposers are encouraged to explore a wide range of fundamental and applied research and development projects. Please see NSF 21-114 for more information.

• Disability and Rehabilitation Engineering (DARE) Program

The Disability and Rehabilitation Engineering program supports fundamental engineering research that will improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities through the development of new technologies, devices, or software combined with advancement of knowledge regarding healthy or pathological human motion, or advancement in understanding of injury mechanisms. Please see the DARE program for more information.

• Rehabilitation Research at NSF
  

  NSF has many funding opportunities for research related to rehabilitation. Please see Rehabilitation Research at NSF for additional information.

Questions about Dear Colleague Letter PWD-SEA (NSF 21-110)

Additional information can be obtained by emailing Drs. Mark Leddy and Chris Atchison.