Federal Grant Award Summary

The State of Iowa Department for the Blind received a $8.5 million formula grant award from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) under the Rehabilitation Services Vocational Rehabilitation Grants to States program (CFDA 84.126). The award, effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, supports the delivery of comprehensive vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with visual impairments throughout Iowa.

Under this grant, the department provides individualized vocational rehabilitation services including career assessments, vocational counseling, job training, workplace accommodations, and assistive technology to help individuals who are blind or visually impaired achieve employment and economic independence. The funding also supports state supported employment services that assist individuals with disabilities in securing and maintaining competitive employment through ongoing support and specialized training. These formula grant funds represent a continuation of annual appropriations distributed to state vocational rehabilitation agencies across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories based on predetermined allocation formulas rather than through competitive application processes.