Notice of Funds Available (RFP)

Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities
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2018-10:  TCDD Media Fellows Program

Specifications

Posted Applications Due Start Date End Date Amount MatchPoverty Match Council Staff
Nov 02, 2018 Apr 01, 2019 Mar 31, 2021 $67,500.00 $22,500.00$7,500.00 Danny Fikac

Introduction

The goal of the TCDD Media Fellows program is to support opportunities for experienced media professionals to train and mentor TCDD Media Fellows to create media products that cover disability-related issues and includes the voices, experiences, and knowledge of people with disabilities. TCDD may award a maximum of $67,500 per year to two projects for up to two years. TCDD will negotiate the budget as needed and may choose not to award funding for these projects.

TCDD does not plan to provide funding for these projects beyond two years. TCDD does not automatically continue funding each year and may terminate funds prior to the end date in this RFP.

If you have questions after reading this RFP, contact Danny Fikac, Planning Specialist, at Danny.Fikac@tcdd.texas.gov or at 512-437-5415.


Who May Apply

Any organization that meets the requirements set forth in this RFP can apply. Types of organizations could include:

  • government agencies,
  • nonprofits,
  • colleges and universities,
  • faith-based institutions,
  • technical and/or professional schools, and
  • for profit businesses.
The organization that applies for this grant must administer the grant and receive, disburse and account for grant funds.

Individuals may not apply for this grant.


Important Dates

Informational Conference Call: October 16, 2018

TCDD will hold an informational conference call to provide more information about TCDD's processes for proposal review and grant award. You are not required to attend in order to apply.

The informational conference call will be held: October 16, 2018 at 1:00 PM CST. To participate:

  • Phone number: 1-877-820-7831
  • Participant passcode: 649944#

Deadline to Submit Questions: October 19, 2018

Submit all questions about the RFP or application to Danny.Fikac@tcdd.texas.gov by 5:00 PM Central Time on October 19, 2018. TCDD will not answer questions about the RFP or application after that date and time. TCDD will post questions and answers on DD Suite as an attachment to this RFP by 5:00 PM Central Time October 23, 2018.

Deadline to Submit a Proposal: November 2, 2018

Proposals must be received by 5 PM Central Time on November 2, 2018. TCDD does not consider late applications under any circumstances, including user error. If you have questions about DD Suite and cannot find answers in the DD Suite Guide attached to this RFP, email Danny.Fikac@TCDD.Texas.Gov or call 512-437-5415. This should be done as early in the process as possible.

Award Notification: February 28, 2019

TCDD will notify proposers about funding decisions by February 28, 2019.


How to Apply

To have your application considered, complete the steps listed below by the due date. Applications and all associated documents must be submitted via DD Suite. Documents received by fax, email, hand delivery, or mail will not be accepted. Applications that do not include the items listed below, or that include incomplete items, will not be considered.

  1. Complete all required sections of the application in DD Suite.
  2. Complete all sections of the Supplemental Forms packet. The Supplemental Forms packet is attached to this RFP. This information will include all sections of the budget and all sections of the budget justification. The budget justification section must be detailed enough to show how calculations were made. Any zeros in the Fringe Benefits Section must be explained in the budget justification.
  3. Sign each document where indicated.
  4. Upload the Supplemental Forms packet. Upload the Supplemental Forms packet and other required documents to DD Suite as attachments to your proposal by the due date.
  5. Upload Letters of Support. If you have Letters of Support or letters from other entities or individuals that state they will partner with you on the project, upload them to DD Suite as an attachment to your application.
  6. Submit all attachments through DD Suite by the due date and time.

Background

Historically, media representation of people with disabilities and disability-related issues has not been positive. They often are either not represented in the media or are represented in a negative way. For example, they may be shown as people who are helpless; childlike; “too” dependent on government benefits; reliant on “frivolous” lawsuits; to be pitied, or, alternately, as inspiring and/or admirable simply because they live with a disability. Disability advocates maintain that media has contributed to a misunderstanding of the lives of people with disabilities and the issues that impact them (Haller, 2010). Before the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), advocates for the ADA decided not to rely on the media to push their ideas because they believed that the media would only perpetuate stereotypes and misinform the public (Shapiro, 1994).

The Developmental Disabilities (DD) Act (2000) states “the public needs to be made more aware of the capabilities and competencies of individuals with developmental disabilities, particularly in cases in which the individuals are provided with necessary services, supports, and other assistance.” Media creation and coverage that includes the voices, experiences, and knowledge of people with disabilities can help improve public awareness of capabilities and competencies of people with disabilities. In addition, media that covers disability-related issues can help further the policy and social change goals of disability advocates. Pearson and Trevisan (2015) found that the use of personal storytelling and/or use of statistical evidence in disability-related media advocacy can play a crucial role in promoting policy change (p. 926).

In addition to public perception, media can also influence self-perception. Studies have found that media contributes to underperformance among stigmatized groups and can prevent the people in these groups from realizing their potential (Steele, 1997; Steele, Spencer, & Aronson, 2002).

In sum, including the voices, experiences, and knowledge of people with disabilities in media creation and coverage can promote:

  • accurate and dignified representations of people with disabilities and disability-related issues in the media,
  • the capabilities and competencies of people with disabilities for policy and social change, and
  • positive self-perception among people with disabilities.

To be effective, many media professionals use different media platforms and mediums to communicate information. Mentoring by experienced media professionals may help people with less experience to become more effective at media creation and coverage that includes people with disabilities. Jones (2014) found that journalists would like increased access to people with disabilities who can speak about their own lives rather than speak only to advocacy organizations that would speak for them (p. 1216). A mentor program that collaborates with and includes people who have disabilities would benefit both the individual receiving the mentoring and the experienced media professionals who are exposed to diverse viewpoints from people who have disabilities. The sponsoring organization would also benefit from covering disability-related issues as it could improve an organizations’ audience size, reach, credibility, recognition, and opportunities for awards.


Project Description and Milestones

Through this grant project, TCDD will support opportunities for experienced media professionals to train and mentor a Media Fellow to create media that covers disability-related issues that includes the voices, experiences, and knowledge of people with disabilities.

The grantee is expected to conduct outreach and hire a TCDD Media Fellow through a competitive hiring process. A concerted effort should be made to recruit, interview, and select people who have disabilities. Additional preference will be given to applicants who plan to recruit people with disabilities who are also people of color and/or people who are bilingual.

The media created through this program should contribute to an awareness and understanding of disability issues that are consistent with TCDD's Mission and Guiding Principles. Information regarding TCDD Mission and Guiding Principles: http://www.tcdd.texas.gov/about/mission-and-guiding-principles/

The Mentor(s) and/or sponsoring organization will:

  • have the expertise related to the media creation and coverage to be practiced by the Fellow;
  • be competent communicating with and about people with disabilities;
  • understand disability etiquette;
  • understand and use the social model of disability; and
  • provide any accommodations, including technological support, needed by the Fellow.

Each organization receiving this grant will:

  • hire;
  • train, if needed;
  • mentor; and
  • support at least one media Fellow.


Outputs and Outcomes

TCDD expects:

  • The Fellow will develop knowledge and skills related to media creation and coverage that includes the voices, knowledge, and experiences of people with disabilities. Fellows will gain a deep level of understanding in the methods to communicate disability-related issues. Potential media platforms to be used could include but are not limited to:
    • Newspapers
    • Social Media
    • Magazines
    • Photography
    • Blogs
    • Film
    • Graphic Design
  • The Fellow will develop his or her effectiveness at working in media outlets at the national, state, and/or community levels to promote accurate and dignified representations of people with disabilities and disability-related issues by the end of the project.
  • The Fellow will collaborate with persons with developmental disabilities, their family members, disability advocates, and other disability professionals to create media and cover the voices, experiences, and knowledge of people with disabilities within their communities.
  • The Fellow and mentor will document the activities involved in training the Fellow in order to develop a guide to supporting a successful Media Fellowship and to creating media and coverage that includes the voices, knowledge, and experiences of people with disabilities.The purpose of this guide is to provide information to TCDD, AIDD, other Councils, and other organizations.

Match

Grantees must provide a matching contribution each year. This may include:

  • funding from non-federal sources,
  • volunteer hours, or
  • other "in- kind" donations, such as office space and utilities.

Other federal funds may not be used as match. Items or funds that are used for match for another federally-funded project may not be used as match. TCDD prefers that the amount of match increase each year of the project.

Match Amount: The front page of this RFP provides the amount of match expected for non-poverty counties and for poverty counties if you request the full amount. Requesting less than the full amount will reduce the amount of match you must provide.

Poverty counties are counties in which at least 20 percent of the people in the county live in poverty. The attachments to this RFP includes a list of counties that has poverty counties highlighted.

  • Non-poverty counties: Project activities located in counties not designated as federal poverty areas require matching resources equal to at least 25 percent of total project costs.
  • Poverty counties: Project activities located in counties designated as federal poverty counties require matching resources equal to at least 10 percent of the total project costs.

    • The Review Process

    Your proposal will be reviewed based only on what is in your:

    • application,
    • supplemental forms,
    • workplan,
    • other required attachments, and
    • optional letters of support and/or letters from organizations committing to partnering with you.

    You will not have the opportunity to provide additional information or to clarify questions about your proposal following submission.

    Step 1: Staff Review

    TCDD staff review proposals upon submission for compliance with the requirements of the RFP and ensure that all sections are complete. Incomplete applications and applications that do not meet the requirements of the RFP will not be considered.

    Step 2: Independent Review Panel Review

    Proposals that meet the requirements will be reviewed by an Independent Review Panel consisting of three to five people with expertise related to the RFP. The panel’s review focuses on the quality of the proposed plan, the feasibility of completing the plan, and how well the proposed project may move TCDD closer to meeting the TCDD State Plan Goals and Objectives. The panel will consider only the information specifically allowed by the RFP and the application instructions. The panel also considers only the information included in the submitted application.

    Step 3: Executive Committee Review and Decision

    The TCDD Executive Committee reviews the above information and makes the final funding decisions. If you have received a grant in the last five years, staff document your performance on that project and provide that to the Executive Committee.

    TCDD may give priority to proposals that address the needs of people who are unserved or underserved. This may include, but is not limited to:

    • people living in rural areas,
    • people living in poverty,
    • people of color, and
    • people with limited English proficiency.


    Continuation Funding

    Organizations that are awarded funding must apply for continuation funding each year. Continuation funding will not exceed the maximum per-year funding amount stated in the RFP. Continuation funding is based on the availability of TCDD funds and a review of:

    • the project's accomplishments;
    • progress toward stated goals and objectives;
    • management of funds;
    • compliance with reporting requirements;
    • the most recent program audit;
    • findings of TCDD's onsite reviews, if conducted; and
    • development of methods through which sustainability will be achieved.

    Continuation funding is not automatic and TCDD may choose not to award continuation grants. Continuation proposals are generally due approximately three months before the end of the grant year.


    Expectations of All Grantees

    Reporting: You must submit progress reports quarterly. You must submit financial documents, including reimbursement requests, at least quarterly. You must also provide required evaluation data, annual continuation proposals, and a final report. Failure to meet reporting and spending requirements may impact continuation or future grant awards.

    Continuation proposals: You may be asked to provide information about public policy implications and sustainability in your application for continuation funding.

    Advisory committee: You may be asked to develop an advisory committee.

    TCDD support: TCDD will serve as a resource to support grantees to be successful. You may be asked to participate in grants management training throughout the project period. You may also expect calls from TCDD staff about outcome and performance measures, public policy issues that relate to your project, products produced, and project events (if applicable). You may be asked to present their progress at quarterly Council meetings. TCDD may share opportunities for you to present at state and/or national conferences.


    Terms

    Applicants must agree to the following terms:

    • Applicants must disclose any conflicts of interest between themselves and TCDD Council members, employees, or their immediate families.
    • Applicants must use People First Language or Identity-First Language (where appropriate) in all materials.
    • Applicants must provide materials in Spanish and in an appropriate accessible format — including digital, tagged PDF, or large print, when possible. Funding for this should be included in the budget.
    • Videos, DVDs and teleconferencing and distance learning activities produced by this project must be fully accessible. Any videos or DVDs must be captioned.
    • Proposals received by TCDD are subject to release consistent with provisions of the Texas Public Information Act.

    See "Assurances" in the attached Supplemental Forms for all terms relating to this grant.

    Supporting Documents