Disability Vaccine Access Opportunities Center (DVAO Center)

DVAO logoAbout the Project

The Disability Vaccine Access Opportunities (DVAO) Center provides training, resources, and support to eligible centers for independent living to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for people with disabilities. The DVAO Center provides funding to support vaccine-related efforts to eligible CILs who apply for funding.

The original intent of this grant was to provide funds to increase COVID-19 vaccine access for people with disabilities by supporting part B CILs that did not receive CARES Act funding. The CDC Foundation with the approval of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has expanded this funding opportunity to include:

  • Part B CILs operating under a Part C CIL; 
  • Part C CILs not previously eligible for CARES Act funding in fiscal year 2020; and
  • Any Part B or Part C CIL to improve COVID-19 vaccine access in unserved counties.

Awards are available for up to $50,000.

The DVAO Center aims to address the following outcomes:

  • Increase and strengthen COVID-19 vaccine confidence among people with disabilities (or improve education provided)
  • Improve accessibility of education materials that will specifically address people with disabilities
  • Improve access to COVID-19 vaccines for people with disabilities
  • Improve COVID-19 vaccine initiation and series completion among people with disabilities
  • Increase opportunities for collaboration between local health departments (LHDs) and CILs
  • Improve resource sharing and utilization of ACL’s Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) hotline
  • Improve education to address hesitancy specifically among the disability community

The DVAO Center is operated by Able South Carolina (Able SC) in collaboration with Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU) with grant funding from the CDC Foundation.

For additional information or to inquire about the eligibility criteria or funding requirements, please contact the DVAO Center at DVAO@able-sc.org.

Visit the Disability Vaccine Access Opportunities Center Resource Hub today!

View the directory of DVAO Center funded CILs.

View the DVAO Center Toolkit.

View Part B Centers for Independent Living Listing (xlsx)

The Disability Vaccine Access Opportunities (DVAO) Center is operated by Able South Carolina (Able SC) in collaboration with Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU) with grant funding from the CDC Foundation. Funding for this effort is supported by Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grant number 6 NU38OT000288-03-08. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official policy.