2017 Call for Projects
Autism and New Technologies
launched by the Fondation Orange, the UEFA Foundation for Children and the International Foundation of Applied Disability Research (FIRAH)
Information on previous Calls for Projects, specifically with details on applied research we have funded, is available on the link “Calls for Projects” on the FIRAH website.
For more information and to better understand the type of project proposals covered by this Call for Projects consult the Applied Disability Research Centre resources[1] website at http://www.firah.org/centre-ressources/.
1. What applied research on disability encompasses
Applied research complies with the rules that apply to all forms of scientific research with regard to ethics, methodology, rigour, and evaluation. The goal of applied research is to provide solutions to the difficulties encountered daily by persons with disabilities[2] and their families. Applied research must be construed as concrete collaboration, throughout the research process, between the persons with disabilities, their families, carers, professionals and researchers.
As in all other fields of research, findings should be disseminated through all possible channels to the research communities, particularly through scientific articles published in peer-reviewed journals.
Knowledge generated by research projects must be disseminated to the field stakeholders[3] (persons with disabilities, their families, carers and professionals). It is essential to share information with non-scientific audiences for the purpose of ensuring that research findings are truly applied and improve the daily lives of the disabled persons and their families. Information must be presented using language and materials that are adapted[4] to the targeted audiences.
2. The six selection criteria applied in the Call for Projects
The six criteria that will be used to assess applied research project proposals are described below.
Everyone submitting a proposal should read them carefully and present projects that correspond to them. The criteria should serve to structure the letter of intent and the complete application.
This document, particularly pages 3 to 6, will assist you when completing the Letter of Intent Application Form (available to download on the FIRAH website).
Criterion no. 1–Overall objective of the project
The overall objective of the research project should be to contribute to obtaining greater access to human rights for persons with disabilities, in compliance with the principles of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities:[5]
- Respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy including the freedom to make one's own choices, and independence of persons;
- Non-discrimination;
- Full and effective participation and inclusion in society;
- Respect for difference and acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity;
- Equality of opportunity;
- Accessibility;
- Equality between men and women; and
- Respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities and respect for the right of children with disabilities to preserve their identities.
These principles will be used to assess research project proposals.
Criterion no. 2–Originality and innovative nature of the project
It will be necessary to precise how a review of the literature in the field of study will be realize at the beginning of the project. Special attention will be given to the identification and analysis of applied research that has already been conducted and to the means of applications developed from the research for field stakeholders.
Special attention will also be given to the taking into account of new approaches, evolutions in concepts and terminology related to disabilities.
If relevant, project proposals may include ways of transitioning from traditional ways of working to innovative and inclusive methods and should clearly highlight issues affecting resistance to change.
The originality of the research must also be demonstrated in the methods used to measure quality of life, quality of social participation, levels of satisfaction, self-determination and empowerment of the people involved.
The project’s particular context and any elements in the context that generate change will also be seen as sources of innovation.
Criterion no. 3 –Presentation of research project leader and partners and their respective roles in the project
Priority will be given to participatory research projects that are able to demonstrate an organised and cohesive structure with strong links between field stakeholders (with special attention to persons with disabilities and their relatives, representative organisations and professionals) and researchers.
The research project may include civil society organisations involved in the defence of the rights of persons with disabilities. The involvement of organisations must be demonstrated through their intentions as well as their role in the planning, coordination and evaluation of the research project and in the dissemination of its findings.
Persons with disabilities, their families, and organisations that represent them must be seen as the ‘subject’ of the research and not only as the ‘object’ of the research. Priority will be given to projects that address problems identified by persons with disabilities and their families. Proof of this participatory approach must be provided in the form of clearly worded letters of support.
The proposal must specify the names of the participating researchers, their areas of expertise, their respective role in the project, their previous involvement in relevant and funded research projects and any articles they have published that may be of importance to the proposal.
Research project leaders must demonstrate expertise and their ability to meet their goals by citing previous research outcomes and by describing their knowledge of current problems encountered by persons living with disabilities.
Unless there are exceptional circumstances, which must be explained in the application file, the team of researchers must be comprised of at least one scientist working in an institutional or academic setting whose official responsibilities include a research.
For projects conducted outside France, particular attention will be paid to those done in collaboration with a French organisation, so as to develop international cooperation in this area, and to promote research to French bodies.
Criterion no. 4–Methodology and expected outcomes
The project’s research hypothesis or question must be clearly described.
Clear and coherent scientific methodology is required and the expected outputs must be clearly identified. How the research project will contribute to the advancement of knowledge must also be explained.
Where relevant, a description should be provided of how the expected outcomes will affect the quality of access for persons with disabilities decision-making, good practices, social participation or the targeted population’s exercise of their rights.
Inclusiveness should also be highlighted in relation to education, employment, new technologies, etc.
Criterion no. 5–Tools produced to disseminate and capitalise on knowledge generated by the research project (and methods for transferring these tools)
Special attention must be given to the means used to facilitate the transfer of the knowledge generated by research, quantitatively and qualitatively.
To be useful to academic and scientific circles, project outcomes must by described in articles published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and presented at scientific gatherings.
In addition to scientific articles, the evaluation committee will pay particular attention to the production of other means of applications to be used by the stakeholders in the field. The term “means of applications”[6] encompasses training tools, videos, practical written materials, computer applications, or any other means required by the target audience to appropriate the knowledge. These documents will have to be translated into French and English to ensure the widest possible dissemination. To reach as large an audience as possible, it must be made available online, free of charge. Project leaders must explain how field stakeholders will contribute to the creation of the research-derived material they will use.
Networks and other mechanisms that could have a lasting multiplier effect in circulating and optimising the outcomes must be identified for each target audience.
Criterion no. 6–Objectives, activities and resources must be coherently matched
Coherence will be required in the following areas:
· A coherent assessment of the project in terms of resources (human and material), and completion time and funding requested.
· Job descriptions for everyone working on the project and the amount of time they are expected to allocate to the project.
· The rationale for how financial resources are allocated to research activities, dissemination and practical applications, which includes the creation of means of application for stakeholders in the field and English and French translations.
3. Autism and new Technologies: the Specificities of the 2017 Call for Projects[7]
Autism is a major public health issue, but it is also an area where many doubts and questions persist and diverging concepts collide. Applied research is essential for innovation and finding new solutions that correspond to the expectations of the persons directly concerned, their families and professionals in the field.
Organisations submitting project proposals must be located in one of the following six countries: France, Belgium, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Ireland. International cooperation between two or more of these six countries and/or with other countries will be favourably received. Projects must focus on children between the ages of 2 and 18 and special attention must be given to early childhood.
The development of new applications (already extremely numerous) will not be prioritized in this second Call for Projects, which will be more oriented towards evaluation, use, and the sharing of existing solutions.
In this context, the following subjects will be particularly appreciated:
· An evaluation of the interest and efficacy, for children with autism, of using existing new information and communication technologies and robotics. Solutions to improve the use and sharing of the contribution of these new technologies (tablets, software, robots, etc) on motor skills, cognition, sensoriality, demonstrations of emotion or other learnt skills, social relationships…
· The risks linked to new technologies which may be addictive, from a behavioural or cerebral point of view; sensory disturbances…
· The use of new technologies as a parental aid in early-childhood care (including the period immediately following the announcement of the disability) and the development of their children (use of existing age-appropriate applications…)
· The proposed evaluation methods should be implemented in collaboration with external teams other than those participating in the development of products or actions; this will avoid a situation where the same organisation is both judge and jury.
The total amount provided to selected projects will be a maximum of 100 000 euros.
Projects which have raised all the necessary funding at the start of 2018 will be prioritized.
These projects should be conducted over a maximum period of 2 years.
4 – Structure of the letter of intent for the 2017 Call for Projects
The FIRAH form must be used to draft the letter of intent. The form can be downloaded from www.firah.org under “Call for Projects” tab.
The project must be described on the application form and in accordance with the six selection criteria detailed in Part 2 (page 3) of the current document.
The completed application form should be comprised of three pages and of an annex of no more than four pages:
- A one-page summary of the project;
- Overall objectives of the project - criterion no. 1 (a third of a page in length);
- Originality and innovative character of the project - criterion no. 2 (a third of a page in length);
- Presentation of the project leader and partners, and their respective roles in the project (a third of a page in length) together with an annex (3 pages max.) containing short CVs of the persons involved and a brief presentation of the organisations involved, highlighting their experience and expertise in the project’s topic; the email addresses of all of the persons and organisations must be included (criteria no. 3);
- Methodology and expected findings (criteria no. 4);
- One third of a page should be used to present the materials created to disseminate and promote the use of the knowledge generated by the research project and of the means to be used for the transfer of said knowledge (criteria no. 5); and
- Coherent assessment of objectives, activities and resources and an annexed one-page budget broken-down by main items of expenditure (criteria no. 6).
Applicants whose letters of intent are selected will be asked to submit a full project application. Recommendations for submitting the application may be sent to the project leader as guidance. How the recommendations are addressed will be a key factor in the final project selection process.
The letter of intent may be written in French or English and must be drafted in Arial 11 font and sent as a .doc file to .
1
[1] The Centre has an applied research database with information on numerous initiatives that may be useful to grant applicants.
[2] The term “persons with disabilities”, is used in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
[3] The expression “field stakeholder” refers to persons with disabilities and their families, organisations representing them, human rights defence organisations (to encourage them to include disabled persons in their activities); service providers and other organisations working with disabled persons or who need to take into account the requirements of persons with disabilities, e.g. architects, teachers, business firms, industry, policymakers at the local, national and international levels, as well as the public at large.
[4] Findings and knowledge from applied research will be developed into products, services and content that meet the expectations and needs of persons with disabilities. Through proper adaptation they should help the field stakeholders improve their practices. These means of applications must include training and application tools, adapted written texts, videos, etc.
[5] More information on the UN convention is available at http://www.firah.org/centre-ressources/ under “Understand to take action”. The Convention, just as the Convention on the Rights of the Child, is binding on the countries that have ratified it.
[6] The project leaders are advised to consult the professionals in communication or education to assist with the drafting and dissemination of means of application. This form of advice will be very useful when it comes to making the information contained in these support tools available and comprehensible. More information about the means of application on http://www.firah.org/centre-ressources/ in “Our publications”.
[7] Autism in the current context refers to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and/or Neuro-Developmental Disorders (DSM-5, 2013) in children.