Community Grants Program
Disability Health Care Access and Quality Grant Program for Safety Net Organizations
DISABILITY HEALTH CARE ACCESS AND QUALITY GRANT PROGRAM FOR SAFETY NET ORGANIZATIONS
The U-M Center for Disability Health and Wellness (CDHW) and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan are excited to announce a call for applications from safety net organizations within Michigan who are interested in enhancing health care access and quality for individuals with disabilities from low-income and traditionally underserved communities.
- Grants will be for amounts up to $10,000 to support the one-time purchase of equipment, the development of material or educational programming, or support of training activities associated with improving accessibility and quality of health care for people with physical, cognitive, sensory, and developmental disabilities.
- All projects will demonstrate involvement of local disability representatives and show how the project will have a broad impact on people with disabilities in the identified community.
- The project must be realistic and achievable within a six-month time frame.
While we welcome new initiatives, we encourage applicants to leverage existing projects that could benefit from additional funding to enhance or expand disability access and inclusion.
Examples of projects and activities to support disability health care access and quality:
Staff Trainings Programs/Training Modules and Accessible Materials
- Disability awareness, cultural competency and intersectionality
- Person-centered interactions and care including emergency procedure
- Americans with Disabilities Act compliance and legal obligations
- Alternative formats for patient forms and information (e.g., Braille, large print, accessible electronic formats)
- Assistive technology and accessible communication
- Inclusive intake, documentation and the continuum of care
Purchase and Update Products/Equipment
- Purchase of noise canceling headphones or other supplies to reduce overstimulation
- Accessible Medical Instruments: Sphygmomanometers with long cuffs
- Magnification and Screen Reader Devices: Desktop video magnifiers, portable screen readers for vision-impaired patients
- Modification of exam rooms, accessible weight scales, adjustable exam tables
This grant program is supported by the University of Michigan Center for Disability Health and Wellness (U-M CDHW) in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM). Funding will be provided by BCBSM and through a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research through the Advancing Health Equity among Adults with Disabilities from Diverse Communities Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (AHEAD-DC RRTC).
Only Michigan nonprofit health care safety net organizations that provide direct patient care are eligible to apply for this funding.
Safety Net Organizations are organizations that provide free or discounted health care to vulnerable populations. These organizations include public hospitals, community health centers, free and charitable clinics, rural health clinics, school-based and school-linked health centers and Federally Qualified Health Centers as well as community and migrant-worker health centers, health services programs for homeless children and adults, local public health departments, and Indian, Tribal and Urban Indian health programs. Clinics embedded within health systems, including Michigan Medicine, are not eligible to receive funding through this award.
Independent health care providers and private organizations are not eligible to apply.
Project requirements:
To be considered for funding, your project proposal must:
- Clearly demonstrate the potential to increase health care access and quality for people with disabilities.
- Show how the project will have a significant and lasting impact on people with disabilities.
- Ensure that local disability representatives, either individuals with disabilities or representatives from organizations that serve or advocate for persons with disabilities, are actively involved throughout the project.
- Identify staff to participate in virtual trainings and utilize technical assistance provided by CDHW.
- Provide progress updates and a brief final report, using a template provided by CDHW, within 30 days after completion of the project.
- Agree to have your project publicly shared and reported by CDHW and the AHEAD-DC RRTC.
The following types of projects will not be considered for funding:
- Projects that require ongoing support, including providing sign-language interpretation
- Projects that are typically the funding responsibility of federal, state, or local government
- Projects that do not include disability representation on the project team
- Projects that are not at the community level and are only accessible to a limited number of people
- Projects that do not involve community feedback and engagement
Who can apply?
This funding opportunity is open to any safety net or non-profit organization, group, or agency that has demonstrated reach at a community level.
Award Information:
Award ceiling: $10,000
Length of project period: Six months
Application Due Date: Applications for this funding cycle are now closed
Funding decisions will be made for a project period of six months. Awards are contingent upon the availability of funds and the submission of satisfactory reports. Please note that indirect costs or overhead expenses are not permitted.
Grant Applications
Completed grant applications, including a cover letter, will be reviewed by the U-M Center for Disability Health and Wellness on a rolling basis until all funds are granted. Applications for this funding cycle are now closed.
Grant applications can be submitted by email to [email protected] or by mail:
U-M Center for Disability Health and Wellness
ATTN: Community Grants Program
325 E. Eisenhower Parkway
Lower-level Suite 4
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
For questions about the application process or requirements contact [email protected] or 734-936-5260.
2026 Grant Awardees
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) and the University of Michigan (U-M) Center for Disability Health and Wellness have awarded more than $66,000 in grants to organizations across the state working to improve the accessibility and quality of healthcare for people with disabilities. This year’s grant funding expands support for initiatives that address critical gaps in access to care. Grant funding will support efforts including the purchase of equipment, accessible entryways, updates to patient materials and training for staff and volunteers. The following organizations have been awarded a grant.
| Recipient | Project Title | Project Descrip. | Location | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avalon Healing Center | Advancing Inclusive Care for Sexual Assault Survivors | Accessibility assessment and staff training | Detroit & SE Mich. | $6,000 |
| Cass Clinic | Building Access, Building Competence: Advancing Disability-Informed Care at Cass Clinic | Accessible medical exam tables, equipment and staff and volunteer training | Detroit | $4,950 |
| City on a Hill Clinic | Disability-Inclusive Care Access Improvement Project | Medical equipment, update patient materials and staff and volunteer training | Zeeland | $10,000 |
| Deaf Community Action Network | Improving Access to Care for DeafBlind Patients Through Assistive Technology | Portable screen reader devices | Sylvan Lake | $5,500 |
| Exalta Health | Accessibility for All: Expanding ADA-Accessible Healthcare Items | Accessible medical exam table and wheelchair-accessible scale | Grand Rapids | $10,000 |
| Great Lakes Bay Health Centers | Accessible Exam Table Bayside | Accessible medical exam table | Bay City | $10,000 |
| Holland Free Health Clinic | Improving Access to Dental Care for Adults with Disabilities | Disability training, accessibility supports and patient and caregiver education | Holland | $1,500 |
| Love in Action | Barrier-Free Access and Sound Reduction Initiative | Automatic door openers and sound reduction | Grand Haven | $10,000 |
| Ogemaw Hills Free Clinic | Sidewalk Widening and Repair and Accessible Scale | Expand walkway and purchase wheelchair-accessible scale | West Branch | $8,627 |
Read the full press release for more information.
The contents of this page were developed under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number 90RTHF0005). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this page do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, or HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.
