What Grants for Visually Impaired Adults Are Available?
Grants for visually impaired adults provide support to improve the lives of individuals and help them realize their full potential in society.
These grants are often utilized for operating support.
Losing sight can be a traumatic experience! However, grants are available for adults who are suffering from visual impairment.
Financial assistance is provided for whatever circumstances – whether partially sighted, totally blind, or require glasses help is available. Government agencies and organizations provide funding to help.
Grants for Visually Impaired Adults – What qualifies as visually impaired?
Visual impairment is amongst the top 10 disabilities in adults. The leading causes of low vision are cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and diabetic retinopathy (DR).
AMD has affected around 2 million people, and millions of adults are at substantial risk of developing serious vision loss.
In the United States, any individual with a vision cannot be corrected to better than 20/200 in the best eye. A person with 20 degrees or less of visual field remaining is eligible for disability classification.
The terms low vision, partially sighted, legally blind, and blind are used by educational institutions to represent students with visual impairments.
Partially Sighted – It indicates a situation of visual problem, with a need for a person to receive special education in some cases.
Low Vision – It generally refers to a severe visual impairment where a person cannot read at a normal viewing distance, even with eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Legally Blind – It indicates that an individual has less than 20/200 vision in the better eye after contact lenses or glasses.
Blind – A condition in which an individual cannot see at all and learns via braille or other non-visual media.
Grants for Visually Impaired Adults – Grants & Programs
There are numerous grant programs and resources available that help visually impaired adults. Let’s learn about them.
1. Federal Student Aid Grant Programs
The federal government offers grants and funding. Special grant funds are available for students with disabilities who want to attend colleges, career schools, and universities. For more details, visit https://studentaid.gov/
2. State Support
State government agencies offer grants for visually impaired adults. These agencies provide help and support for buying eyeglasses, eye exams, screening, and provide adaptive aids for the home.
Tax deductions are also given for blindness, and you can get the details by contacting your state agency for the visually impaired.
Assistive Technology Resource Project Resources
State AT Projects is funded under the Technology-related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act and support consumer-driven state plans to deliver assistive technology. For more information, visit https://askjan.org/concerns/State-Assistive-Technology-Projects.cfm.
3. Funding Organisations
There are various funding organizations to support visually impaired adults.
The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) & Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU)
The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) members may join the Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) to avail of benefits that assist the disabled.
To take advantage of the services provided by DCU, one must first join the AAPD. For more information, visit www.dcu.org or call 800-328-8797.
National Assistive Technology Technical Assistance Partnership (NATTAP)
State Assistive Technology Act programs are funded under the Assistive Technology Act to improve assistive technology for individuals with disabilities.
The programs support activities that maximize the ability of individuals with disabilities and their family members to obtain and access assistive technology devices and services.
National: International Association of Lions Clubs
Several Lions Clubs provide vocational assistance to persons who are legally blind. The international office of Lions Clubs refers applications for equipment or other support to the relevant district offices. For more information, visit www.lionnet.com
The Assistive Technology Fund (ATF)
The Association of Blind Citizens operates the ATF. The qualified individuals receive funds to pay for 50% of the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of the adaptive device.
The applicant should be legally blind and a resident of the USA. Applications can be submitted only through email ([email protected]. For more details, visit www.blindcitizens.org.
4. Getting Back to Work
Adults who have suffered visual impairment and want to get back to work can take Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), which allows people with disabilities to work and still receive financial help and medical aid.
For more information, visit https://www.disability-benefits-help.org/.
Conclusion
Grants for visually impaired adults are offered to foster independence by making them accessible to tools, opportunities, and resources to lead fulfilling lives.
The funds and programs help them to become productive, integrated, and fully acceptable participating members of society.
See Also
Grants for IVF (In Vitro Fertilization)
Does Medicare Cover Cataract Surgery?
Grants for Weight Loss Surgery
I am a medical student who dedicated herself helping individuals and non profit organizations for finding medical grants for medical bills, medical treatment, medical education, research and medical equipment.
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