Scholarship for Underserved Clients Creating Empowering Solutions Successfully
World Services for the Blind (WSB) is pleased to announce a scholarship available to candidates who are unable to be funded by their state’s vocational rehabilitation agency. The Scholarship for Underserved Clients Creating Empowering Solutions Successfully (SUCCESS) Fund provides access to services that will enable the student to take charge of their own destiny. The SUCCESS Fund covers three months of training at a cost of $7,500, and provides WSB’s full suite of comprehensive blindness skills programs, which include: Orientation and Mobility, Assistive Technology, Braille, Low Vision, Adult Education, and more!
With the recent changes in legislation, WSB understands that there are more obstacles to navigate in order to get the critical training needed in order to remain independent despite vision loss. The SUCCESS fund was established at WSB by an anonymous donor to allow those who cannot receive funding to have access to the services that will allow them to live the life they want.
The training will consist of the full menu of offerings under our comprehensive blindness skills which includes:
• Orientation & Mobility
• Techniques of Daily Living
• Braille
• Keyboarding
• Assistive Technology Training
• Adjustment to Blindness Counseling
• Vocational Evaluation and Counseling Travel, room and board, and all meals will be included.
Additionally, the student will receive a laptop with the adaptive software necessary to access programs, and training will be performed directly on that laptop. This training will be offered only to those who do not qualify for VR services, OIB services or other funding sources. The donor will give priority to those who can provide a portion of their tuition, not to exceed $2,500. The student will be encouraged to ask friends, family, church and civic organizations in their area to assist, which will give your student a sense of community and accountability to those who assist them.
The student will be asked to fill out an application, provide proof of blindness, records of last two medical visits and proof of income. It is also necessary that they provide proof that VR will not pay for comprehensive blindness training and why that training has been denied. The student will also be asked to submit an essay explaining why they need and how they will benefit from this training and how it will increase their independence.
If you have any questions regarding the SUCCESS scholarship program, please reach out to Rebecca Reid, our Director of Recruiting and retention, 501-664-7100 extension 265, or email at rreid@wsblind.org.