Ama AI Awarded $250,000 US Department of Education IES SBIR Phase IB Grant
Funding will extend Ama's personalized support platform into inclusive classrooms for students, peers, teachers and staff.
AMES, Iowa — October 2, 2026 — Ama AI has been awarded a $250,000 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase IB grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences (IES) to bring its personalized AI platform for children with autism and other cognitive differences into the classroom.
Inclusive classrooms are now the norm, but the adults supporting students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) often don't have the time, training or real-time guidance to put those plans into action during the school day. Ama helps families, educators and therapy providers reinforce individualized goals across home, school and clinical settings. Through personalized activities, interactive practice and shared progress insights, the platform is designed to make support more consistent wherever a child spends their day.
The Phase IB award will help Ama extend beyond one-to-one practice and further into the classroom, supporting students, their peers, and the teachers and staff who work alongside them. The funding supports development of an advanced classroom-focused version of the platform and early testing with special education staff and classroom teachers.
"Students' goals don't stop at the classroom door, and neither should their support," says CEO Karri Haen Whitmer. "This award helps us give teachers and staff practical, in-the-moment tools to put IEPs into action."
Ama is looking for special education staff, classroom teachers and administrators to share feedback or pilot test the platform in their schools. Educators can get in touch at hello@withama.ai or learn more at withama.ai.
The R&D described here was supported by the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program contract 91990026C0028 to NarrateAR, Inc. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not represent views of the Institute or the U.S. Department of Education.
About Ama AI
Ama AI is developing a personalized artificial intelligence platform that helps children with autism and other cognitive differences practice communication, social, emotional and daily living skills across home, school and therapy settings.
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