Federal Grant Award Summary

The Maine Department of Labor's Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired received a $225,000 formula grant award from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) under the Rehabilitation Services Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who are Blind program (CFDA 84.177). The award, dated October 1, 2025, with performance through September 30, 2026, funds independent living services designed to help older individuals who are blind or visually impaired maintain autonomy and improve quality of life in Maine. Services delivered under this program include vocational assessments, career counseling, job training, assistive technology support, and other specialized independent living assistance tailored to the needs of older blind and visually impaired individuals across the state.

Additionally, the program supports training and technical assistance activities to enhance service delivery and expand awareness of available services among designated state agencies and service providers. As a formula grant, this award is distributed based on population-based allocation formulas to state vocational rehabilitation agencies, with the Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired operating these programs directly to serve Maine residents with visual disabilities without identified sub-partners in the award documentation.