Are you a TVI or O&M specialist in the State of Texas?
Are you a recent high school graduate in Texas, age 18-22, who is blind or visually impaired?
The New Bennett Independent Living Grant is Here!
Grant Options
All Blind Children of Texas (ABCTX) offers two types of grants year round. The grants have been established based on who will benefit from the program funds that are being requested.
- The Expanded Core Curriculum Grant - This type of funding is intended for students who are blind, visually impaired (VI) or deaf-blind(DB), and who are enrolled in a Texas elementary or secondary school.
- The Bennett Independent Living Grant - This grant benefits youth who are blind, visually impaired or deaf-blind and are 18-22 years old. Applicants and youth benefiting from the Bennett Independence Grant must live in Texas and not be enrolled in a secondary school. This grant is intended to assist with expenses related to entering the workplace and moving out into society, or post-secondary education.
Who Should Apply for the ECC Grant?
The board of All Blind Children of Texas appreciates and recognizes the knowledge and experience education professionals have gained through their work with students, who are blind or visually impaired. For this reason, the organization only gives ECC grant funding to the following individuals:
- Texas Teachers of Visually Impaired students (TVI's)
- Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialists (COMS)
- Other professionals who work with Visually Impaired (VI) children
ECC Funding priorities adopted by All Blind Children of Texas include:
- Social and Recreational Activities
- Fine Arts Activities
- Summer Enrichment
- Youth Camp, Outdoor Learning Activities, or class scholarship
- Parent Education and Support
- Assistive Technology or Low Vision Devices (not covered by Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services or some other agency)
- Tutoring and Mentoring
What Is The Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC)?
The term expanded core curriculum (ECC) is used to define concepts and skills that often require specialized instruction with students who are blind or visually impaired in order to compensate for decreased opportunities to learn incidentally by observing others.
Your program must address one or more of the nine ECC areas:
- Assistive Technology
- Career Education
- Compensatory Skills
- Independent Living Skills
- Orientation and Mobility ((O&M)
- Recreation and Leisure
- Self-Determination
- Sensory Efficiency
- Social Interaction Skills
ABCTX funds requests in numerous categories. Summer camps specifically conducted for blind or deaf/blind students frequently ask for financial aid to cover expenses. Camps are a great opportunity for hands-on learning, organized games and sports, and forming new friendships. Additionally, ABCTX has sponsored students to attend specialty events such as Space Camp or band camp.
Much of our resources are allocated for activities to support classroom learning. Some examples of projects ABCTX has funded include field trips to practice mobility training and independent living skills; summer school enrichment activities such as cooking lessons; and art exploration, such as making pottery.
ABCTX also allots funds for individual students so that they might have unique opportunities and experiences. The organization has paid for music, dance, and gymnastic classes, purchased supplies and equipment so individual students could participate in ROTC, soccer, and learning to play musical instruments. The organization has made it possible for students to take part in a choir trip to Hawaii, a performance at Carnegie Hall, and even helped realize the dream of a student marching in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.
All Blind Children of Texas provides ancillary support for the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Examples of this support include purchasing Braille music software, assisting with the annual drama production, obtaining needed technology, and sponsoring student events such as White Cane Day.
ABCTX occasionally funds unique requests like helping parents attend a national conference that focused on the eye condition of their son.
Another example was sending students to compete in the "goal ball"international tournament that took place in Scandinavia.
Who Should Apply for the Bennett Independent Living Grant?
ABCTX Recognizes the unique challenges faced by youth who are blind or visually impaired during the critical phase after secondary school. This grant offers funding and guidance to enhance skills, confidence, and self-sufficiency. By empowering our young adults, the Bennett program fosters their successful integration into society and promotes a more inclusive and accessible future. Eligible applicants must be:
- Texas residents between the ages of 18 and 22, who are seeking help to address specific needs that block their ability to become self-sufficient adults.
The Bennett Grant was created to honor the dedication and commitment of Gloria Bennett, the first coordinator and one of the founders of ABCTX. Bennett Grant Funds may be requested for expenses related to college, trade school, or vocational training; for needs related to work, such as clothing for interviews, or for costs associated with moving out into the community (such as household items).
Bennett Grant Requirements
During the Online application process, applicants will be required to provide
- A form of identification, such as a passport or other state issued ID.
- Verification of the student's vision loss, such as a doctor's statement, proof of enrollment in a special education program, a letter of eligibility from the Social Security Administration, or a letter from a VI teacher.
- A high school diploma, certificate of completion, or transcript.
- At least one (preferably two) character reference(s) from adults, Â who are not relatives, such as a teacher, employer, or extracurricular activity leader.
Application Instructions
Applications should be submitted by completing the form on this website. Funding can be sought for a single student or for group activities. Requests should be based on demonstrated need. Because the financial resources of ABCTX are limited, requests should only be made when other funding sources are not available. To be eligible for funding, all of the questions in the application should be addressed. Applicants should only request the specific amount of financial support needed so that ABCTX can fund as many projects for as many children and youth as possible.
For more information about applying for program funding, please contact us
We Want to Tell Your Story!
A bonus of providing grants to VI students throughout the state is the opportunity to tell others about the potential of children and youth, who are blind or visually impaired. ABCTX features funded projects on the organization’s website and social media platforms. Through follow-up reports and photos or videos of events or initiatives, the public learns about the important work being done to educate and integrate blind children and youth into the community. These success stories are the true currency that allows the organization to extend its reach and do more to help.
Below is the ABCTX Photo/Video Permission Form. This form must be signed by a parent or guardian and returned to ABCTX before any audio or visual material showcasing students can be shared.
Common Application Questions
Q: What is the deadline for submitting a grant application?
A: All Blind Children of Texas Grants are open year round.
Q: How do I apply for the grant?
A: The online application process begins when you press the "Apply Online Now!" button above, read the terms and conditions on the next page and select the "Begin Online Application" button. The application involves submitting a written proposal (Short Synopsis and Expanded Synopsis) and information about the project or program, budget, timeline, and expected outcomes.
Q: What should be included in the Expanded Synopsis?
A: The expanded synopsis should provide a clear and concise overview of the project or program, including its goals, objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes. It should also include any supporting documents or references if they are available.
Q: How will grant applications be evaluated?
A: Grant applications will be evaluated based on a set of criteria that will include the organization's track record, the potential impact of the project or program, the feasibility of the budget and timeline, and the alignment with All Blind Children of Texas' priorities.
Q: How will I be notified if my grant application is approved?
A: If your grant application is approved, you will typically receive a written notification from All Blind Children of Texas. Occasionally, you will be contacted for more information about your project before a decision about your application is made. If your application is not approved, you may also receive a notification explaining the reasons for the decision.
Q: Can I apply for multiple grants from All Blind Children of Texas?
A: You may apply as often as is necessary but frequency of requests is taken into account during the application approval process.
Q: What happens if I receive the grant?
A: If you receive the grant, you will be responsible for implementing the project or program as outlined in the grant proposal. You may also be required to submit periodic progress reports or other documentation to All Blind Children of Texas to demonstrate the project's impact and outcomes or for promotional purposes.
Q: What happens if I do not receive the grant?
A: If your grant application is not approved, you may still have the opportunity to apply in the future or seek funding from other sources. You can also request feedback from All Blind Children of Texas on how to improve your application for future consideration.
Q: What are some tips for writing a successful grant application?
A: Some tips for writing a successful grant application include:
- Read the application carefully and follow its instructions closely.
- Clearly articulate the need for your project and how it aligns with All Blind Children of Texas' mission or goals.
- Use concrete examples and data to support your proposal.
- Make sure your budget is realistic and accurately reflects the costs of the project.
- Have multiple people review your application before submitting it if possible.