Kentucky Council of the Blind Assistive Technology Grant

Kentucky Council of the Blind Assistive Technology Grant Program Guidelines

Please read these guidelines carefully before completing the Kentucky Council of the Blind (KCB)Assistive Technology Grant Application Form. Assistive Technology is referred to as AT throughout this document. The Kentucky Council of the Blind Scholarship and Assistive Technology Grant Committee is referred to as the Committee. If you cannot read these guidelines online or if you need help completing the application, email your name, phone number, and a description of what you need to grants@kentucky-acb.org If you can’t use email, call the Kentucky Council of the Blind at (502) 895-4598 and ask for someone to call you back about the KCB Assistive Technology Grant.

Purpose of this Grant

The Kentucky Council of the Blind (KCB) created this grant program to help fulfill its mission of enriching the lives of visually impaired Kentuckians. Assistive Technology (AT) can be very cost prohibitive. Through this grant program, KCB helps visually impaired Kentuckians and other KCB members obtain assistive technology by partially underwriting the cost of such products and services.

What is Assistive Technology (AT)

Assistive Technology (AT)is hardware, software, electronic devices, subscription services, and equipment that is stand-alone or works in conjunction with a computer or other electronic device and makes it possible for visually impaired and blind people to do things that sighted people can already do without using AT. Items or services covered by this grant must mitigate the consequences of a visual disability. A grant might be awarded to pay for part of the purchase of a device that helps someone read print or travel independently. However, paying for home repairs, or purchasing home appliances would not be funded.

The KCB AT Grant covers both appropriate hardware and software, upgrades and maintenance agreements, subscription services, computers, and other standalone electronic devices. The AT must be new or an upgrade to newer technology.

Items that are typically purchased are included on our List of Assistive Technology Items for the KCB AT Grant on this webpage. Look through this list as you think about what would be most helpful for you.

Amounts Provided by the Grant

The KCB AT Grant is intended to assist persons in acquiring needed AT that they cannot afford easily with their own financial resources or with help from other assistance programs. The Committee may recommend other funding sources to cover all or part of the AT cost.

Depending on availability of funds, grants may be awarded in amounts up to 75% of the total cost of the technology, with the total amount of a grant not to exceed $700.00. Grant recipients would receive 100% funding if all items provided by the grant cost less than $100.00.

Who Can Apply

Persons with blindness or low vision who are Kentucky residents or are KCB members living outside of Kentucky may apply for this grant. Visual impairment is defined as visual acuity of 20/70 or less in the better corrected eye and/or 30 degrees or less visual field in the better corrected eye. Purchases made before a grant is awarded will not be covered. Grants cannot be rewarded more often than once in a three-year period.

How to Apply

You must submit a KCB Assistive Technology Grant Application Form completed online at https://www.kentucky-acb.org/grants/.

If you cannot complete an online form, members of the Grant Committee can complete it during a phone call. To obtain this assistance, email grants@kentucky-acb.org and include your phone number and good times to call you. If you cannot email and do not have anyone to do this for you, call the Kentucky Council of the Blind at (502) 895-4598 and ask for someone to call you back about the Assistive Technology Grant.

On the application, you must include the name of an item selected from our AT Items List or the link for a product page including the name, seller’s name, description, and price of an item not on our list.

After receiving your completed application, we may schedule a telephone interview with you. We may also ask you to provide verification of your visual impairment.

Membership in the Kentucky Council of the Blind

Although membership in the Kentucky Council of the Blind is not required to apply for and obtain this grant, applicants are encouraged to consider the benefits of being involved withKCB and its regional and special-interest chapters. Benefits include the ability to: (1) learn about resources; (2) participate in peer-to-peer support, conferences, workshops and other activities; and (3) keep up with legislative and regulatory issues impacting visually impaired individuals and their families through in-person meetings, conference calls, newsletters, e-mail lists, and the Sound Prints audio magazine. Applicants can learn more about becoming a KCB member by calling (502) 895-4598 or visiting https://kentucky-acb.org.

What Happens After You Apply

You will be contacted no more than 30 days after KCB receives your completed application form to schedule a telephone or Zoom interview to discuss how the technology you want will help you. The Committee may discuss resources and instruction necessary to use the technology and alternative technology that might be more helpful to you and may ask you to provide verification of your visual impairment.

All technology grants recommended by the Committee are subject to final approval by the Kentucky Council of the Blind Board of Directors.

The total amount of funds for technology grants may vary from year to year. If funds are exhausted when KCB receives your application, you will be notified within thirty days of the date the application is received and will be offered the option of keeping the application active for consideration when funds are again available or until March of the next calendar year, whichever comes first.

You will be contacted with results of your grant application no later than 60 days after receipt of your application and all required supporting documents.

Before any grant funds are disbursed by KCB to the seller you must provide your part of the purchase price in one of two ways:

First, you can provide the seller with his/her portion of the purchase price and the seller must invoice KCB for the remaining amount due; or second, you can provide your portion of the purchase price to KCB, and KCB will disburse funds for the entire amount to the seller.

You are required to provide your part of the purchase price within ninety days from the date of the award. Any KCB grant funds that are not disbursed within ninety days will be retained by KCB, and any funds you pay to KCB will be returned to you.

If you receive a KCB AT grant, you will be recognized at the KCB Convention held yearly in November. You must participate in this Convention in person or by phone or computer using Zoom. If you receive a grant, you may also be asked to describe/demonstrate this technology at a meeting of KCB or its chapters in person or on Zoom.

Kentucky Council of the Blind

Assistive Technology Grant Program

148 Vernon Avenue

Louisville, KY 40206

Phone: (502) 895-4598

Email: grants@kentucky-acb.org

List of Assistive Technology Items for the KCB Assistive Technology Grant

The Assistive Technology Grant provided by the Kentucky Council of the Blind (KCB) can be applied to the purchase of assistive technology that helps persons who are blind or who have low vision accomplish tasks that can be done visually by sighted persons. In order to apply for this grant, persons must be either members of the Kentucky Council of the Blind or must reside in Kentucky and must be legally blind or have low vision. Applications must be completed online. If an applicant cannot complete online forms, a member of our Assistive Technology Grant Committee will be glad to help. The KCB Assistive Technology Guidelines explain these requirements and provide an email address and phone number to contact us if assistance is needed with the application.

The assistive technology devices listed below are widely used and are highly recommended by persons in the field of visual impairment. KCB does not endorse any specific product, service, or vendor. These products are listed here as examples of assistive technology that are typically provided by the KCB Assistive Technology Grant. Applicants needing devices not on this list can elaborate on their needs in the KCB Assistive Technology Grant Application Form and can discuss their needs in the interview with us. This list is not intended to restrict assistive technology options but to offer examples of items that are often useful to persons with visual impairments.

Laptop Computers

Basic Laptop Purchase from Computers for the Blind

Check this out at Computers for the Blind:

iPads and Accessories

Apple iPad 11-inch: A16 chip, 11-inch Model, Liquid Retina Display, 128GB, Wi-Fi 6, 12MP Front/12MP Back Camera, Touch ID, All-Day Battery