Bennet Applauds Colorado Springs Business for Securing Education Technology Grant

Proposed Project Uses Technology to Help Individuals with Disabilities

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet praised Colorado Springs business AbleLink for securing a $250,000 grant from the U.S. government.

AbleLink, located in the Springs’ downtown core, uses technology to help individuals with disabilities, such as Autism and Down Syndrome, lead more independent lives. This specific project for which these resources were awarded uses cloud-based technology to support the daily activities for people with disabilities. For example, it is developing a smartphone and tablet application that delivers prompts to users for physical activities and tasks.

“The work that AbleLink is doing for people with disabilities is a perfect example of how creative, forward-thinking business owners are harnessing technology for the greater social good,” Bennet said.  “These sorts of businesses are the foundation of a twenty-first century economy and I’m proud to have them here in our own backyard.”

The grant funds are part of the Department of Education’s Small Business Innovation Research Program, which is designed to stimulate technological innovation in the private sector and help small businesses meet the research and development needs of the Education Department.

Last year, Congress passed a Bennet-backed six year reauthorization of the SBIR program.