PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:
To support and coordinate research and its utilization to improve the lives of people of all ages with physical and mental disabilities, especially persons with severe disabilities through: (1) Identifying and eliminating causes and consequences of disability; (2) maximizing the health, physical, and emotional status of persons with disabilities and their functional ability, self- sufficiency, self-development and personal autonomy; (3) preventing or minimizing personal and family, physical, mental, social, educational, vocational, and economic effects of disability; and (4) reducing and eliminating physical, social, educational, vocational, and environmental barriers to permit access to services and assistance and to use their abilities in daily life.

 ELIGIBLE FUNCTIONAL CATEGORIES:
1. EDUCATION;
- General Research and Evaluation;
- Handicapped Education;
2. HEALTH;
- Mental Health;
- Prevention and Control;
- Program Development;
3. INCOME SECURITY AND SOCIAL SERVICES;
- Disabled and Handicapped Services;
- Research, Demonstration;
- Specialized Family and Child Welfare Services;
- Specialized Services;
4. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY;
- Research - Specialized;

 WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS PROGRAM:
- Scientist/Researcher;
- Handicapped;
- Mentally Disabled;

 WHO CAN APPLY:
- State (includes District of Columbia, public institutions of higher education and hospitals);
- Local (includes State-designated Indian Tribes, excludes institutions of higher education and hospitals);
- Public non-profit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals);
- Individual/Family;
- Private non-profit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals);