One of the goals of the Alabama Council on Developmental Disabilities (ACDD) is to empower the developmental disabilities community and enhance the productivity and independence of those with disabilities. One of the ways that the Council is reaching this goal is through the Consumer Involvement Fund (CIF). CIF is a program where people with developmental disabilities and their family members are partially reimbursed for attending training sessions, conferences, public forums, or other similar events and activities.

Benefiting from CIF is as easy as your ABC’s. Let’s unpack what that means:

(A)pplication

The first step in benefiting from CIF is completing the application. ACDD provides downloadable individual and organization applications on our website. After submitting an application, you’ll receive either an approval or denial letter. If your application is approved, your letter will include the award amount, details for reimbursement of approved expenses, and an acceptance form.

(B)udget

A critical part of the CIF application is writing out your budget. The application includes a section that helps you report your expenses. There are sections for the costs that you can pay with your own funds or funds from other agencies. Lastly, there is a section for you to list the amount that you’d like from CIF.

(C)osts That Are Reimbursed

In order to be reimbursed, your costs have to meet certain criteria. The event you attended has to be a professional conference, advocacy skills training event, focus group, public forum, or similar. Costs that can be reimbursed include: hotel, mileage, meals, and airfare.

ACDD is dedicated to empowering those with developmental disabilities and their families. If you’re interested in learning more about CIF or our other resources, contact us today.