CONTEXT: The Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice (IDRPP) at Utah State University is seeking peer reviewers for the 2025 Interagency Outreach and Training Initiative (IOTI) Grant competition. The purpose of the IOTI is to address critical training gaps in knowledge and skills for paraprofessionals who work directly with people with disabilities, direct care staff, individuals with disabilities, family members of people with disabilities, and/or volunteers. Funding for IOTI projects cannot supplant funds for training responsibilities that are required functions of the agency or organization applying for funding.
WHO: We are seeking peer reviewers from a variety of disability-related professions and backgrounds, including but not limited to:
- State/public agency staff
- Nonprofit or private for-profit organization staff
- Higher education faculty and staff
- Family members of individuals with disabilities
- Self-advocates
- Individuals with other disability related experience
WHAT: Peer reviewers will independently read, score, and provide timely feedback on assigned grant applications submitted for the 2025 IOTI request for proposal. Reviewers are also expected to participate in a one-time, two-hour review session to discuss the final scoring and selection of successful proposals (conducted via Zoom). It’s expected that reviewers will be assigned 5-7 proposals to review
REQUIREMENTS: All reviewers should have current experience (within the last 3 years) working directly with individuals with disabilities and/or within the disability service system or be an individual with a disability or family member/caregiver of someone with a disability. In addition to having relevant and direct experience with disability services and supports, peer reviewers must also meet the following requirements:
- Availability: Reviewers will need to commit between 10 – 20 hours depending on the number of proposals received for the competition. This general estimate of time includes participation in an orientation session by conference call, time to read, score, provide comments, and discuss assigned applications in a final review meeting.
- Timeline: While exact dates for the reviews have yet to be finalized, we expect that reviews will take place April 1 - April 30, 2025.
- Tools: Each reviewer must have an email address, a computer, and Zoom. A printer may also be helpful if you would like to print out applications for review.
- Quality of review: A standard scoring rubric will be provided to all reviewers, but each reviewer must provide detailed, constructive, and timely, written feedback for each assigned proposal. Individual reviews will be shared with the respective applicants and the comments regarding the funded proposals will be made public once awards are finalized.
SELECTION: Qualified reviewers will be selected on a first-come, first-first selected basis, up to the point that there is an adequate number of reviewers to address the number of submitted applications.
COMPENSATION: A $500 stipend will be provided to reviewers who adequately complete their assigned reviews by the assigned deadline and participate in the final proposal review meeting.
IF INTERESTED: To be considered as a peer reviewer please submit a short (one-page or less) statement regarding your interest in serving as a reviewer, your relevant experience within the disability field (you may also attach a short resume or CV) and your contact information to: Cassandra Shaw [email protected]
Materials must be received by Monday, March 3, 2025, at 5:00 pm.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST: Please remember, if you, your organization, or someone you are professionally or personally affiliated with intends to apply for the FY2025 IOTI competition, you may not be eligible to serve as a reviewer.
As a reviewer, a conflict of interest exists if:
- You helped prepare an application, regardless of financial interest in the success or failure of that application.
- You have agreed to serve, or you have been offered a position, as an employee, advisor, or consultant on the project.
- Your personal financial interest will be affected by the outcome of the competition. This includes any family members, employees or associates of the project applying for funding.
If you have any questions about the peer review process, please contact Cassandra Shaw at [email protected]
NON-DISCRIMINATION: The IDRPP solicits reviewers without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability. The IDRPP will provide reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability so that individual can participate in the peer reviewer application process. If you require a reasonable accommodation to apply, please contact Cassandra Shaw [email protected] no later than Tuesday, February 18, 2025 to ensure we can help you with the application process.
