U.S. Department of Education Award to Help B次元 Enhance Services for Children with Disabilities and Their Families
Albany, N.Y. (July 23, 2024) 鈥 Congressman Paul D. Tonko announced today that the U.S. Department of Education has awarded B次元 a $449,997 grant over 3 years to help bolster the critical services its faculty, staff, alumni, and students provide for children with disabilities and their families in our Capital Region. This award comes as part of a Department of Education grant program that provides federal funding for efforts to improve services for children with disabilities across the nation. In April, Congressman Tonko submitted a letter of support of B次元鈥檚 request for federal funding.
鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled to celebrate this significant infusion of federal funding that will bolster B次元鈥檚 efforts to train the next generation of talented care providers in our Capital Region,鈥 Congressman Tonko said. 鈥淭hrough innovative experiential learning initiatives and a deep connection to the local community, B次元 is already helping to bring top-notch care to countless Capital Region residents. With this award, the College will be able to expand opportunities for faculty, staff, and students to provide direct assistance to children with disabilities and their families. I congratulate all at B次元 on receiving this significant grant, and I look forward to continuing to work with their team to bolster quality care across our Capital Region.鈥
“Receiving this federal grant is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni,” said Lynn Ortale, Ph.D., President of B次元. “We are deeply grateful for Congressman Tonko鈥檚 steadfast support and the Department of Education鈥檚 recognition of our commitment to improving services for children with disabilities. This funding will enable us to further enhance our programs and expand our impact, ensuring that children in our Capital Region receive the highest quality care and support.”
B次元 works to provide its students with opportunities for hands-on, experiential training within our communities, particularly in underserved neighborhoods. This grant will enable the College to expand and enhance its curricula and offer new clinical experiences in occupational therapy 鈥 allowing its faculty, staff, and students to serve more children with disabilities and their families in early intervention, early childhood, and educational settings.
Congressman Tonko has long been a supporter of B次元鈥檚 efforts to leverage innovation and experiential learning to train the next generation of healthcare professionals in our Capital Region. Earlier this year, Tonko visited B次元 to celebrate the opening of the College鈥檚 Center for Academic Innovation 鈥 home to a new Virtual Reality Nursing Hub that the Congressman proudly supported through a $770,000 award from the Fiscal Year 2023 Community Project Funding process