Advancing Bold, Creative Solutions to Critical and Emerging Needs
Projects of National Significance are short-term projects with long-term impact. PNS is the only source of discretionary federal funding dedicated to addressing critical, emerging issues facing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). These issues include direct care workforce shortages, health care access, aging and long-term planning, financial independence, and individuals with I/DD who also have mental health conditions.
What PNS Grants Do
PNS-funded projects work to:
- Bring people and organizations together to address issues that matter to people with I/DD.
- Design and test new approaches that can use and sustain.
- Find new ways to help people live with independence in their community.
- Build the systems and resources needed to turn good ideas into lasting change.
Built to Last
Good ideas alone aren't enough. Lasting change requires the right people working together. PNS projects bring together people with I/DD and their families alongside key partners, including:
- State Councils on Developmental Disabilities
- University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
- State Protection & Advocacy Systems
- Centers for Independent Living and State Independent Living Councils
- State and federal agencies
- National and local disability organizations
Data That Drives Better Decisions
PNS also funds three ongoing national studies that collect data found nowhere else. These studies inform policy, , care, and public understanding of changes in disability services in each state and in the U.S.:
- Residential Information Systems Project (RISP) gathers and reports information on services and supports for people with I/DD.
- StateData from ThinkWork! collects and reports on employment services and outcomes for people with disabilities.
- State of the States in I/DD collects and reports on state spending for I/DD services.
Real Impact
Bridging Aging and Disability Services
As people with disabilities and their caregivers age, aging programs and disability services often operate separately, making it harder to provide coordinated support. A PNS grant funded the Bridging Aging and Disabilities Network (BADN), led by the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities. The project brings aging and I/DD service systems together to better support older adults with disabilities and their aging family caregivers.
The results: Seventeen states created replicable "Alliance Teams" that connect aging and disability programs. The teams can serve as models for other states. To date, 71% of Area Agencies on Aging serve people who are 60 and older with I/DD or Traumatic Brain Injury, and 67% serve their family caregivers.
In Florida, research funded through the initiative identified the key factors that help aging caregivers thrive. The findings are helping shape the state's next five-year plan.
Wisconsin Puts Youth to Work
Finding meaningful work after high school remains a major challenge for many young people with I/DD. Through a PNS grant, the Wisconsin DD Council launched Let's Get to Work across nine school pilot sites. The project brings together teachers, employers, families, state agencies, and community organizations to remove barriers and build pathways to employment.
The results: The number of youths in paid jobs tripled, students reported greater independence and confidence, and the program's practices were later integrated into a statewide Transition Improvement Grant.
James, a student at Holman High School, now works two days a week doing clerical work at an insurance office. To support James’s communication, staff created a system using sign language and pictures to support him on the job. James enjoys his work.
At Lincoln High School, a teacher helped a student named Love find a job at a senior living community. The job has boosted her confidence and motivated her to become more involved in her community.
Funded Projects
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Previously Funded
 |
Partnering to Transform Health Outcomes for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (PATH-PWIDD) |