Organizations Offering Scholarships for the Blind

A list of Six vision organizations offering scholarships for the blind with specific information concerning scholarship application requirements such as proof of blindness, transcripts, income report, letters of recommendation and statements of academic goals.


1. American Council of the Blind Scholarship:

American council of the blind(ACB) offers more than two dozen scholarships for legally blind students who are full-time at a post-secondary level for both vocational and academic programs.

Application requirements:

Student must be legally blind in both eyes
GPA of 3.3 or better

**ACB offers a memorial scholarship for legally blind students who work full-time and attend school part-time called the John Hebner Memorial Scholarship.


2. Association of Blind citizens Scholarship Program:

The Association of blind citizens(ABC) scholarship Program offers ten thousand dollars in grants to legally blind citizens each year in the form of eight one thousand dollar grants and one two thousand dollar grant. The grants can be used for tuition, accommodations or expenses caused by the citizen’s blindness.

Eligibility requirements:

Completed application
Official transcript from high school or college student plans to attend
Proof of blindness
Two letters of reference
A three hundred to five hundred word essay explaining how the money will help applicant achieve vocational or academic goal of attending a college or university submitted by e-mail and on a disk.


3. American foundation for the blind:

The American foundation for the blind (AFB) offers seven-memorial scholarships with each grant requiring an applicant to meet specific elements of eligibility. Learn more information on each scholarship by visiting the AFB website.

The names of the memorial scholarships include:

Delta gamma - $1,000
Rudolph Dillman - $2,500
Paul and Ellen ruckes - $1,000
R. L. Gillette - $1,000
Gladys C. Anderson - $1,000
Karen D. Carsel - $500
Ferdinand Torres - $2,500


4. The Jewish guild for the Blind GuildScholar Program:

The Jewish Guild for the Blind GuildScholar Program awards 15 scholarships valued at fifteen thousand dollars to high achieving legally blind high school students each year. Any legally blind student who is a U. S. citizen is eligible if the student has achieved high marks in his or her academic area.

Application requirements include:

Academic transcripts
Personal statement of academic goals
Three letters of recommendation
Completed application to selection committee


5. Georgia Council for the blind:

Georgia Council for the Blind offers scholarships of up to one thousand dollars per year to residents of Georgia who are legally blind or have parents who are legally blind (student must be financially dependent on parents). Scholarships are offered for any legally blind students interested in attending a vocational school, college or university including master’s and doctoral programs in the students field of study or area of interest. Students may re-apply on a yearly basis until program of study is completed. Students receiving scholarships must attend the Georgia Council for the Blind’s convention to obtain the grant.

Application requirements include:

Completed financial statement or report
Official transcript
Letter verifying legal blindness of student or parents
Two letters of recommendation
Written statement describing students academic goals
List of extracurricular activities student is presently, involved in
Taped recording of student reading statement of academic goals
Completed application form


6. National Federation of the Blind:

The National federation for the Blind (NFB) offers several grants ranging from five hundred dollars to fifteen hundred dollars. Interested applicants may apply using a single application for one or more scholarships.

Application requirements include:

Completed application form
Proof of U. S. citizenship
Proof of blindness
Personal essay outlining academic goals, work experience, how the student plans to use the money
Official transcript
Proof of acceptance from college or university
Two letters of recommendation


If you have the dream of earning a college degree then, taking the time to learn about the financial help available can make your dream come true.