American Council of the Blind Scholarships
Scholarship Sponsored by American Council of the Blind
Program Overview
Description: Established in 1982, the American Council of the Blind (ACB) Scholarship Program supports students pursuing post-secondary education. ACB partners with other organizations and individuals to offer scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $7,500. Awards may help cover tuition, fees, room and board, and other education-related costs, including assistive technology.
- Scholarships are available to entering freshmen, undergraduate and graduate students, and technical college students.
- In 2026, ACB awarded $112,300 in scholarships to 21 students.
Eligibility
Eligibility: Applicants must be legally blind and plan to attend a post-secondary institution in the United States. Most scholarships require a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, except where extenuating circumstances apply. Applicants must be full-time students or part-time students who work at least 32 hours per week, and they must be involved in their school and local community.
- Applicants must meet the program’s legal blindness requirement.
- Part-time students must work at least 32 hours per week.
- Most scholarships require a minimum 3.0 GPA.
Application Requirements
Required documents: Applicants must submit the following documents with their completed application. The materials document visual eligibility, academic history, recommendations, and admission status. Students should submit all applicable records for their current or intended level of study.
- Certification of legal blindness from an ophthalmologist, optometrist, or physician. Legal blindness is defined as vision that cannot be corrected to better than 20/200 in the best eye, or a visual field of 20 degrees or less at its widest diameter in the best eye.
- Transcript or transcripts from the school currently attended. Entering freshmen must submit high school transcripts, and graduate students must submit undergraduate transcripts. Unless extenuating circumstances exist, a cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required.
- Two letters of recommendation:
- Personal recommendation: A letter from someone who has known the applicant for at least two consecutive years and understands their goals. Examples include a guidance counselor, teacher, professor, academic adviser, or rehabilitation counselor.
- Extracurricular personal recommendation: A letter from someone who has known the applicant for at least two consecutive years and understands their goals. Examples include a coach, club sponsor, clergy member, community organization president, program director, or performing arts instructor.
- Proof of acceptance from a post-secondary school. Entering and transferring students must submit a notice or letter from the admissions office confirming acceptance or consideration for admission. If the document is not available when the application is submitted, it must be provided as soon as it becomes available. Students continuing at the same school they attended during 2026/2027 do not need to submit this document.
- Recommendation letters must come from individuals who have known the applicant for at least two consecutive years.
- Some students may submit proof of acceptance after the application if it is not yet available.
Scholarship Recipient Experience
Conference and community: Scholarship recipients will attend ACB’s National Conference and Convention in July. The event offers opportunities to meet other students with shared experiences, build friendships, and connect with people who can offer support. Attendees can also participate in sessions about new technology and developments in the community.
- Recipients can connect with peers and community members.
- Conference sessions cover technology and community topics.