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Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind

Program Description

Grants are made to states to support services for individuals age 55 or older whose severe visual impairment makes competitive employment difficult to obtain but for whom independent living goals are feasible.

Types of Projects

Funds are used to: provide independent living services to older individuals who are blind; conduct activities that will improve or expand services for these individuals; and conduct activities to improve public understanding of the problems facing these individuals. For example, services are provided to help persons served under this program adjust to their blindness by increasing their ability to care for their individual needs.

Additional Information

The purpose of the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind (OIB) program is to

  1. provide independent living services to older individuals who are blind;
  2. conduct activities that will improve or expand services for these individuals; and
  3. conduct activities to improve public understanding of these individuals’ challenges.

An "older individual who is blind" is an individual age 55 or older whose significant visual impairment makes competitive employment extremely difficult to attain but for whom independent living goals are feasible. Through these services and activities, the program seeks to improve independent living options for older individuals who are blind and increase their independence and self-sufficiency.

Grantees are state vocational rehabilitation agencies for persons who are blind and visually impaired or, in states with no separate agency for persons who are blind, state vocational rehabilitation agencies authorized to serve all individuals with disabilities.

Formula grants for the OIB program are current-funded. However, the Act contains a provision allowing all Title VII grantees to carry over unobligated funds for an additional fiscal year. States participating in the OIB program must match every $9 of federal funds with $1 in nonfederal cash or in-kind resources in the year for which the federal funds are appropriated. Any designated state agency (DSA) is eligible for an award under this program if the DSA (a) is authorized to provide rehabilitation services to individuals who are blind and (b) submits to and obtains approval from the Secretary of an application that meets the requirements of section 752(h) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; and §§ 367.30 – 367.31 of the implementing regulations.

Program Contact
Nikki Jeffords
Nicole.Jeffords@ed.gov
Funding type
Formula and Discretionary Grants
CFDA code
84.177

Legislation, Regulations, and Sub-Regulatory Guidance

Legislation

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended by title IV of WIOA
CHAPTER 2—INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES FOR OLDER INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BLIND 

Regulations

Code of Federal Regulations, Title 34, Part 367 — Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind

See also Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) and Other Applicable Grant Regulations

Sub-Regulatory Guidance related to IL-OIB Information Collections

PD-20-01: Announcement of OMB Approval for Form RSA-7-OB: IL-OIB Annual Report and Word Version

DCL-20-01: Revised Instructions for Completing SF-425 for CAP, IL-OIB, and PAIR 

PD-05-01: Liquidation of Obligations Under RSA’s Formula Grants

See also: Frequently Asked Questions on Period of Performance for Formula Grant Awards.

Awards

Note on this table: the numbers shown represent the awards made during the fiscal year to RSA grantees. There may be additional set-asides for the program which are not shown.

Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind (IL-OIB)

CFDA Number: 84.177
Program Type: Formula Grants

Program Description

RSA makes IL-OIB grants to States under Title VII, Chapter II of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by Title IV of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, to support services for individuals age 55 or older whose severe visual impairment makes competitive employment difficult to obtain but for whom independent living goals are feasible.

Eligibility 

State VR agencies serving individuals who are blind may apply for the formula grant award. 

Types of Projects

Funds are used to provide independent living services to older individuals who are blind, to conduct activities that will improve or expand services for these individuals, and to conduct activities to improve public understanding of the problems facing these individuals. For example, services are provided to help persons served under this program adjust to their blindness by increasing their ability to care for their independent living needs (e.g., meal preparation, housekeeping, grooming, orientation and mobility), and to use assistive technology.

Additional Information

Grantees are State VR agencies for persons who are blind and visually impaired or, in States that do not have a separate agency for persons who are blind, grantees are State VR agencies that serve all individuals with disabilities.

Formula grants for the IL-OIB program are current-funded. However, the Rehabilitation Act contains a provision allowing all Title VII grantees to carry over unobligated funds for an additional fiscal year. States participating in the IL-OIB program must match every $9 of federal funds with $1 in nonfederal cash or in-kind resources in the year for which the federal funds are appropriated. Grantees must obtain approval from the Secretary of an application that meets the requirements of section 752(h) of the Rehabilitation Act and 34 C.F.R. §§ 367.30 and 367.31 of the implementing regulations.

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