Rehabilitation Services Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who are Blind

 

To provide any independent living services that are described in 34 CFR Section 367.3(b) of the program regulations to older individuals who are blind; improve or expand services for these individuals; and conduct activities to help improve public understanding of the challenges of these individuals.

Active 84.177 Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Education B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2016 58,555 individuals received services under the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals who are Blind program, over half of whom were over 80 years of age. Additionally, approximately 33,641 (57 percent) of those individuals were either legally blind or totally blind; 21 percent of individuals receiving services under this program also has some degree of hearing impairment.
Fiscal Year 2017 56,849 individuals received services under the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals who are Blind program, over half of whom were over 80 years of age. Additionally, approximately 33,772 (59 percent) of those individuals were either legally blind or totally blind; 20 percent of individuals receiving services under this program also has some degree of hearing.
Fiscal Year 2018 No Current Data Available.
Fiscal Year 2019 No Current Data Available.
Fiscal Year 2020 Services for Older Individuals Who are Blind (ILOIB) program, 49 percent of whom were over 80 years of age and about 81 percent of whom were still living in a private residence. Approximately 54 percent of these individuals were either legally blind or totally blind, and 20 percent also had some degree of hearing impairment.
Fiscal Year 2021 No Current Data Available.
Fiscal Year 2022 No Current Data Available.
Fiscal Year 2023 No Current Data Available. Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, Title VII, Chapter 2 The State agency in the 50 States, the District of Columbia the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the territories (Guam, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) designated by the State as the State agency authorized to provide vocational rehabilitation services to blind individuals may apply. Older individuals who are blind, as defined in 34 CFR 367.5 of the ILOIB program regulations are the primary beneficiaries of assistance under this program. This term means "an individual aged 55 or older whose severe visual impairment makes competitive employment extremely difficult to obtain but for whom independent living goals are feasible." 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program. Preapplication coordination is not applicable. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. For the ILOIB formula grant award: In order to be eligible for an allotment under this program, States must submit an application for a grant under the ILOIB program in the form and manner prescribed by the Department and the application must contain the assurances listed in 34 CFR 367.31 of the ILOIB program regulations. For the training and technical assistance grant, eligible entities are State and public or non-profit agencies and organizations and institutions of higher education that have the capacity to provide training and technical assistance in the provision of independent living services for older individuals who are blind. A notice of annual allotment to the State for the formula ILOIB award is issued. Initial distributions are subject to reallotment at the end of the fiscal year if the Commissioner determines that the State will not expend its allotment. States receive annual grant award notices and funds may be withdrawn under the Electronic Transfer System. For the training and technical assistance grant: New awards are made based upon the results of a peer review process and the review and approval of staff in various offices within the Department. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines 34 CFR 76.703 governs the approval/disapproval time of State plans in relation to when a State may begin to obligate funds for the ILOIB formula grant. For the training and technical assistance grant: From 90 to 120 days. The State may appeal to the Office of Administrative Law Judges (34 CFR 81). Appeals are not applicable for the training and technical assistance grant. Awards are made on an annual basis under an approved application. For the training and technical assistance grant: Renewals are available only through the new application process. Projects with an approved multi-year project period may be continued based on the availability of appropriated funds and an annual review of accomplishments to determine satisfactory performance. An approved ILOIB application for the formula grant award is a condition for receipt of funds under the OIB program under Chapter 2 of Title VII of the Rehabilitation Act. Application requirements are contained in section 752(h) of the Rehabilitation Act and 34 CFR 367.30 and 367.31. For the training and technical assistance grant, the availability of funds is published in the Federal Register. Applications for discretionary grants are subject to peer review procedures by nonfederal experts that lead to recommendations for approval or disapproval. The next competition for new awards will be held in fiscal year 2025. For the training and technical assistance grant: The Secretary must first set aside not less than 1.8 percent and not more than 2 percent of the funds appropriated to the ILOIB program to be used to provide training and technical assistance to Designated State Agencies or other providers of ILOIB services that receive ILOIB program funds. For the ILOIB formula grants: The designated State agency may use funds awarded under the ILOIB program to carry out the activities described in the program objectives section of this document. Among the independent living (IL) services that can be provided to older individuals who are blind are services to help correct blindness, the provision of eyeglasses and other visual aids, services and equipment to enhance mobility and self-sufficiency, mobility training, Braille instruction, and other services and equipment to help older persons who are blind adjust to blindness, as well as other IL services as defined in the Rehabilitation Act and the IL program regulations. Not applicable. The audit requirements under Subpart F of the Uniform Guidance are applicable. In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, non-Federal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503. The audit requirements under Subpart F of the Uniform Guidance are applicable. Generally, States and subgrantees, as well as the training and technical assistance grantee, must retain records related to grant funds and compliance for a period of 3 years. Statutory Formula: Title VII of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Chapter 2, Section 752

Matching is mandatory. Under section 752(f) of the Rehabilitation Act (34 CFR 367.31(b) and 367.61), the States must contribute not less than $1 for each $9 of Federal grant funding received, in cash or in kind. Matching requirements are mandatory. There is no matching requirement for the training and technical assistance grant.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Awards are made on an annual basis under an approved application. For the training and technical assistance grant: Project support is available for up to 60-months. Electronic transfer. None/Not specified. Nikki Jeffords
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, 400 Maryland Ave., S.W.,
Washington, DC 20202 USA
nicole.jeffords@ed.gov
Phone: (202) 245-6387 https://www2.ed.gov/programs/rsailob/index.html 91-0301-0-1-506 (Project Grants) FY 22$33,317,000.00; FY 23 est $33,317,000.00; FY 24 est $38,317,000.00; FY 21$33,317,000.00; FY 20$33,317,000.00; FY 19$33,317,000.00; FY 18$33,317,000.00; FY 17$33,317,000.00; FY 16$33,317,000.00; - For FY 2023, the estimated range of State awards (including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico) under the distribution formula is $225,000 to $3,316,314, with a median award of $413,107. The statutory amount for each of the four territories is $40,000. Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind, 34 CFR Parts 367; Uniform Guidance, 2 CFR Part 200. Fiscal Year 2017 No Current Data Available.
Fiscal Year 2018 No Current Data Available.
Fiscal Year 2019 No Current Data Available.