The American Council of the Blind Scholarship provides awards to help students with legal blindness pay for post-secondary education. Scholarship recipients are also invited to attend ACB’s conference and convention, where they can connect with other students, learn about technology and build a supportive network.
Scholarship Details
- Awards range from $2,000 to $7,500
- Scholarship funds can help cover tuition, fees, room and board, assistive technology and other post-secondary education expenses
- Scholarship winners have the opportunity to attend ACB’s National Conference and Convention in July
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be legally blind
- Applicants must generally have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, unless extenuating circumstances exist
- Applicants must be full-time students or part-time students who work at least 32 hours per week
- Applicants must attend a post-secondary institution in the United States
- Applicants should be involved in their school and local community
- Entering freshmen, undergraduate students, graduate students and technical college students may apply
Application Process
- Obtain certification of legal blindness from an ophthalmologist, optometrist, or physician
- Obtain a transcript from the school you are currently attending. Entering freshmen should submit high school transcripts, while graduate students should submit undergraduate transcripts
- Obtain two letters of recommendation from a current or recent instructor, career counselor or employer. Each recommendation letter must be submitted separately
- Obtain proof of acceptance from a post-secondary school. Entering and transferring students must submit a notice or letter from the admissions office certifying acceptance or consideration for admission. If this document is not available when the application is submitted, provide it as soon as it becomes available
- Register for an ACB account before submitting the scholarship application online
- Log in to the ACB account and access the scholarship application through the link at the top of the ACB website
- Complete and submit the online scholarship application along with the required supporting documents
The American Council of the Blind Scholarship can provide valuable financial assistance for students pursuing higher education while helping offset the additional costs associated with assistive technology. Applying can be an important step toward making your post-secondary education more affordable.
